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How Old Is Obi-Wan Kenobi? A Timeline Breakdown Across the Star Wars Saga

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From Jedi apprentice to Master of sass and sacrifice, Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters. But with appearances in nearly every era of the galaxy—from prequels to posthumous Force ghost cameos—keeping track of how old he is at each stage isn’t as simple as asking a Jedi holocron.

Let’s break down the timeline of Obi-Wan’s life, using the standard Star Wars calendar: BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After the Battle of Yavin). That way, we can properly chart the growth (and grumpiness) of the galaxy’s most emotionally exhausted Jedi.

🍼 Obi-Wan’s Birth – 57 BBY

Age: 0

Obi-Wan Kenobi was born in 57 BBY on the planet Stewjon (a name George Lucas made up on the spot during an interview—seriously). Like many Jedi, he was taken to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant at a young age to begin his training.

🧑‍🎓 The Phantom Menace – 32 BBY

Age: 25

Obi-Wan appears as a fully-trained Padawan under Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. At 25 years old, he’s already wise beyond his years and has a solid grasp of sarcasm.

By the end of the film, he defeats Darth Maul, loses Qui-Gon, and is granted the rank of Jedi Knight. He also takes Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan—because what could possibly go wrong?

⚔️ Attack of the Clones – 22 BBY

Age: 35

Ten years later, Obi-Wan has grown into a respected Jedi Master and mentor to Anakin, who is now old enough to be very dramatic. In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, he uncovers the clone army conspiracy, duels Jango Fett, and watches democracy begin to die (with thunderous applause soon to follow).

🛡️ The Clone Wars (Series) – 22–19 BBY

Age: 35–38

Throughout the Clone Wars animated series, Obi-Wan is at the height of his power—leading troops into battle, negotiating treaties, and constantly trying to stop Anakin from doing something reckless. He also has a heartbreaking romantic arc with Satine Kryze, Duchess of Mandalore.

By the end of the war, Obi-Wan is visibly weary, emotionally scarred, and increasingly aware that the Jedi Order might not have it all figured out.

💔 Revenge of the Sith – 19 BBY

Age: 38

In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, things fall apart. Obi-Wan defeats General Grievous, watches the Republic crumble, and ends up fighting Anakin, now Darth Vader, on Mustafar.

At 38, he delivers one of the most heartbreaking lines in Star Wars history:
“You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.”
Then he drops off baby Luke Skywalker on Tatooine and disappears into exile.

🏜️ Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+ Series) – 9 BBY

Age: 48

Ten years later, the Obi-Wan Kenobi series picks up with a broken man hiding on Tatooine. He’s keeping a low profile, watching over Luke, and trying to reconnect with the Force while dodging Inquisitors.

At 48, Obi-Wan is older, sadder, and carrying a lot of trauma—but by the end of the series, he’s begun to rediscover hope.

🧙‍♂️ A New Hope – 0 BBY

Age: 57

By the time we meet Obi-Wan as “Old Ben Kenobi” in Episode IV: A New Hope, he’s 57 years old. Played by Alec Guinness, he’s living as a hermit, keeping an eye on Luke, and waiting for the moment to step back into the fight.

He sacrifices himself during a duel with Darth Vader on the Death Star, becoming one with the Force and starting his next chapter as a ghostly mentor.

👻 The Original Trilogy (Force Ghost Era) – 0–4 ABY

Age: Physically 57 / Spiritually timeless

Obi-Wan appears as a Force ghost in The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY) and Return of the Jedi (4 ABY), offering sage advice from beyond the veil. Whether ghosts age is a question for the Jedi Archives, but he looks consistently wise and glowy.

🎯 Final Thoughts

From Padawan to Jedi Master to Force ghost, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s timeline spans decades of galactic upheaval. He’s one of the only characters to appear in every era of Star Wars storytelling, and his journey shows the cost of war, the burden of mentorship, and the power of hope—even when everything else has fallen apart.

So the next time you hear “Hello there,” just know it’s coming from a man who’s seen some things.

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