List of The Mandalorian characters
The Mandalorian, an American space Western web television series set in the Star Wars universe created by Jon Favreau and released on Disney+, features an extensive cast of characters. Since the show's debut on November 12, 2019, only two characters have appeared in every episode: the protagonist and title character, a bounty hunter best known as "The Mandalorian", and "The Child", a young alien of the same species as Star Wars character Yoda and the show's hugely popular breakout character, colloquially known among fans and writers as "Baby Yoda".
Several supporting characters appeared in at least three episodes of the first season of The Mandalorian. These include allies of the Mandalorian such as Cara Dune, Greef Karga, IG-11, Kuiil, and The Armorer. The primary villains of the series belong to a remnant of the Galactic Empire, which is led by Moff Gideon and includes such agents as The Client and Dr. Pershing. A handful of guest characters made appearances in single episodes, including villagers from the planet Sorgan in "", a band of mercenaries in "", and several minor antagonists.
Main characters
The Mandalorian / Din Djarin
"The Mandalorian", sometimes abbreviated as Mando, is a sobriquet for Din Djarin, the protagonist of The Mandalorian television series. Introduced as a bounty hunter, he is a member of the Mandalorian culture, as evidenced by his Beskar armor and his distinctive helmet, which he never removes in front of anyone. He was a "foundling" who was rescued at a young age by the Mandalorians and adopted into their culture prior to the events of the series, after his parents were murdered by Separatist battle droids during the Clone Wars, which resulted in his intense hatred of droids. In the television series, the Mandalorian encounters a young alien known as "The Child", whom he attempts to protect from a remnant of the now-fallen Galactic Empire.The Mandalorian is portrayed and voiced by Pedro Pascal, and stunt actors Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder perform as body doubles when Pascal is unavailable. Pascal has cited Clint Eastwood as an influence on the character, and many comparisons have been drawn between the Mandalorian and Eastwood's Man with No Name. The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau suggested Pascal watch Akira Kurosawa's samurai films and Eastwood's Spaghetti Westerns as preparation for the role. The Mandalorian character and Pascal's performance have been well received by audiences and critics.
The Child
The Child, colloquially referred to by fans and writers as "Baby Yoda", is a young alien of the same unidentified species as popular Star Wars character Yoda. Although 50 years old, he is still an infant by the standards of his species, and although he cannot yet speak, he demonstrates a strong natural ability with The Force. A remnant of the Galactic Empire led by Moff Gideon is seeking the Child for unrevealed reasons, and the bounty hunter known as "The Mandalorian" is hired to track him down. Instead of turning him over, however, the Mandalorian attempts to protect the Child from the Imperials. By the end of the first season, the Child is adopted into the Mandalorian culture as a "foundling", and the Mandalorian is tasked with reuniting the Child with others of his kind.The Child has been hugely popular with fans and reviewers, becoming the show's breakout character, and the subject of many Internet memes. The character was conceived by Jon Favreau out of a desire to explore the mystery around Yoda and his species, and was developed in early conversations about the series between Favreau and executive producer Dave Filoni. The Child is mostly a creation of animatronics and puppetry, although accentuated with computer-generated imagery. The Guardian called Baby Yoda "2019's biggest new character", and many have described him as a key part in the success of the Disney+ streaming service.
Recurring characters
Several recurring characters have been featured in The Mandalorian.Greef Karga
Greef Karga is a leader of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, who serves as both an ally and adversary to the Mandalorian at different points in the show's first season. Operating out of the planet Nevarro, Greef gives assignments to bounty hunters and ensures everyone follows the guild's code. Greef provides the assignment that leads the Mandalorian to meet the Child. When the Mandalorian refuses to turn the Child over to the Imperials, Greef leads a group of bounty hunters in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Child from him. Greef later devises a plan to kill the Mandalorian and return the Child to the Imperials, but when the Child saves his life, Greef has a change of heart and helps protect him from the Empire.Greef Karga is portrayed by Carl Weathers, whom Jon Favreau knew through the Directors Guild of America. Weathers accepted the part under the condition that he could direct future episodes of The Mandalorian in the second season. Greef was originally to appear only in a handful of episodes, but Favreau and the writers liked the character so much that the part was expanded. Weathers performs his own stunts in the role. The character has received generally positive feedback from fans and reviewers.
The Client
The Client is a mysterious and unnamed agent of the Imperial remnant. He hires the Mandalorian, as well as several other bounty hunters, to recover the Child on behalf of his superior, Moff Gideon. The Client does not reveal why he wants the Child, but he orders his colleague, Dr. Pershing, to "extract the necessary material" from him. The Mandalorian delivers the Child to the Client, but later rescues him back. The Client conspires to recapture the Mandalorian and the Child, but after the Mandalorian returns to him, the Client is shot and killed by stormtroopers under Gideon's orders.The Client is portrayed by German film director Werner Herzog, who was recruited for the part by Jon Favreau. Herzog accepted the role in part to help finance his film Family Romance, LLC. Herzog was not familiar with Favreau's previous work, nor had he ever seen a Star Wars film, but he was impressed with the screenplays and filmmaking style of The Mandalorian. Herzog strongly urged the show's filmmakers to use puppetry for the Child character and not computer-generated imagery, calling them "cowards" for considering using CGI in its place. The Client character and Herzog's performance have received generally positive reviews from critics.
Dr. Pershing
Dr. Pershing is a doctor and scientist affiliated with the Imperial remnant who works with the Client in his attempts to capture the Child. He has appeared in two episodes of The Mandalorian, starting with the series premiere "", in which he is present on an Imperial compound on Nevarro when the Client hires the Mandalorian to track down and deliver the Child. When the Client says he is willing to pay half-price for proof of termination, Pershing objects and says the child should be delivered alive. Pershing appears again in "Chapter 3: The Sin", when the Mandalorian delivers the Child to the Client. Later, when discussing the Child, the Client orders Pershing to "extract the necessary material and be done with it", but Pershing again protests, noting their employer has explicitly ordered them to bring the Child back alive. The Mandalorian later returns to the Imperial compound to rescue the child, killing all the stormtroopers there and finding Pershing with the Child, who is sedated and strapped into laboratory equipment. When the Mandalorian threatens Pershing, the scientist pleads for mercy and insists he protected the Child and prevented him from being killed. The Mandalorian takes the Child and leaves Pershing unharmed.Pershing is portrayed by Omid Abtahi, who previously voiced a Mandalorian character named Amis in the animated series '. Pershing's costume includes a patch on his right arm with an insignia similar to one worn by clones in the cloning facility on the planet Kamino in the prequel film '. This has led to speculation among some fans and writers that Pershing's plans for the Child involve cloning. Pershing also wears glasses, making him the first human live-action character in Disney's Star Wars canon to do so. This was contrary to a rule Star Wars creator George Lucas imposed, before selling the franchise to Disney, that no character wear glasses in the Star Wars universe. Pershing's costume, which also included a grey shirt with white shoulders and a high collar, was ranked eighth on a Screen Rant list of the ten best costumes in the first season of The Mandalorian. Inverse writer Allie Gemmill called Dr. Pershing an interesting character, particularly due to the mystery behind his possible association with Kamino.
The Armorer
The Armorer is the leader of a tribe of Mandalorian warriors on Nevarro, which includes the show's title character. She provides spiritual guidance for the clan, and forges and repairs their armor, including a new set of armor she makes for the Mandalorian. In the first season finale "Chapter 8: Redemption", the Armorer instructs the Mandalorian to watch over and protect the Child, and to reunite the Child with others of his own kind. The character was partially inspired by the films of Akira Kurosawa, as well as the history and culture of the samurai, particularly in the character's deliberately-paced movement and aura of authority.The Armorer is portrayed by Emily Swallow, who provides both the character's voice and live-action performance, while her stunts are performed by Lauren Mary Kim. When Swallow auditioned for the role, she knew little about the character and did not know it was for a Star Wars series. Aspects of The Mandalorian director Deborah Chow's personality influenced Swallow's portrayal of the character. Kim's combat style in the Armorer's fight scenes was inspired by the Filipino martial art known as Kali. The Armorer has been received positively by fans and reviewers alike, and has been described as a fan favorite.
Kuiil
Kuiil is an alien of the Ugnaught species, and a former indentured servant of the Galactic Empire. He is living in solitude on the planet Arvala-7 when he encounters the Mandalorian, who comes to the planet to find and capture the Child. Kuiil assists him, and then later helps him rebuild his ship when it is dismantled by Jawas. Kuiil also rebuilds the bounty hunter droid IG-11 after the Mandalorian destroys him. Kuiil and IG-11 later join the Mandalorian on a mission to protect the Child from the Imperial remnant on the planet Nevarro, where Kuiil is shot and killed by Imperial Scout Troopers while attempting to bring the Child to safety.Kuiil is voiced by Nick Nolte, who completed his recordings for all the character's dialogue in a single afternoon. Kuiil's motion capture performance was done by Misty Rosas, who during filming wore a face mask brought to life through animatronics and puppetry, with its electronics and wires concealed in the backpack and pockets of Kuiil's costume. Kuiil has been received positively by reviewers and fans alike. Several critics have called him the best character on the show, and his signature line "I have spoken" became one of the better-known and best-liked lines of dialogue from the series.
IG-11
IG-11 is a bounty hunter droid who initially attempts to capture and kill the Child, but is later reprogrammed to become its nurse and protector. The Mandalorian first encounters IG-11 when both attempt to collect the bounty on the Child. They work together to extract the Child from a gang of mercenaries, but when IG-11 tries to kill the Child, the Mandalorian instead shoots and kills the droid. IG-11's remains are recovered by Kuiil, who repairs and reprograms him. The droid later joins the Mandalorian on a mission to Nevarro to protect the Child from the Imperial remnant, and though the Mandalorian does not initially trust him, IG-11 ultimately sacrifices his own life to protect the Child and his allies.IG-11 is voiced by Taika Waititi, who was offered the part by Jon Favreau based on their work together on Marvel films. Waititi said he tried to create a voice that lacked human emotion while still maintaining some semblance of humanity, describing it as a cross between Siri and HAL 9000. IG-11 was mistaken for the Star Wars bounty hunter IG-88 when first unveiled due to the resemblance between the two characters. IG-11 has been received positively by reviewers and fans alike, with some calling him one of the best droids in the franchise.
Cara Dune
Cara "Carasynthia" Dune is a former Rebel shock trooper who became a mercenary after the fall of the Empire. Originally from Alderaan, Cara is a highly trained warrior and skilled battle tactician. She harbors an intense hatred for the Galactic Empire, and is having trouble readjusting to post-war life. Cara first encounters the Mandalorian on the planet Sorgan, where they work together to protect a local village from raiders. He later recruits her to help protect the Child from the Imperial remnant.Cara is portrayed by former mixed martial artist Gina Carano, for whom Favreau specifically created the character, without auditioning any other actresses. Favreau sought to create a powerful and independent character, but one different from Princess Leia or other strong Star Wars female characters. Carano performed many of her own stunts, and she credits Bryce Dallas Howard, who directed the character's first appearance in "", with helping translate the character from the script to the screen. Cara has been received positively by reviewers and fans, and has been described as a feminist role model. Some critics called her unique even among the Star Wars franchise's female characters due to her physicality and combat skills.
Moff Gideon
Moff Gideon is the leader of the Imperial remnant and the primary antagonist of The Mandalorian. Few details of his backstory have yet been revealed. He was previously an operative in the Imperial Security Bureau, a covert intelligence arm and secret police for the Empire, and played a role in past efforts to eliminate the Mandalorians. In The Mandalorian, Moff Gideon is attempting to abduct the Child for undisclosed reasons, and he briefly traps the Mandalorian and his allies on Nevarro in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain the Child. Gideon reveals he knows secret details about the Mandalorian and his allies, and is the first character in the series to reveal the Mandalorian's real name, Din Djarin. In the final scene of the first season finale ", it is revealed that Gideon possesses the Darksaber, a Mandalorian lightsaber.Gideon is portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito. He was recruited for the part by Jon Favreau, who had previously worked with Esposito on several projects. Gideon has been received positively by reviewers and fans.
Guest characters
Several characters have been featured in The Mandalorian in guest roles or significant cameo appearances.Mythrol
An alien of the species Mythrol appears in the opening scenes of the series premiere "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", in which the Mandalorian captures him to collect a bounty on him. Blue-skinned and ambitious, with fins on his face, the Mythrol is ultimately delivered to the Bounty Hunters' Guild.The Mythrol is portrayed by comedian Horatio Sanz, a long-time fan of Star Wars.
Paz Vizla
Paz Vizla is one of the warriors in the Mandalorian tribe on Nevarro. Strong and physically imposing, he is a heavy infantry fighter. He appears in the episode "Chapter 3: The Sin", where he initially quarrels with the Mandalorian for working with the Empire, but later comes to his assistance when the Mandalorian is being attacked.Paz Vizla is voiced by Jon Favreau, who previously voiced a similarly-named Mandalorian warlord named Pre Vizsla on the series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Stunt performer and former mixed martial artist Tait Fletcher was the live-action body double for Paz Vizla.
Omera
Omera is a krill farmer and widow living on a village on Sorgan with her daughter, Winta, in the episode "Chapter 4: Sanctuary". When the villagers hire the Mandalorian and Cara Dune to protect them from Klatooinian raiders, Omera befriends the Mandalorian, and the two appear attracted to each other. She participates in the village's successful defense of the village and elimination of the raiders.Omera is portrayed by Julia Jones. "Chapter 4" director Bryce Dallas Howard said it was challenging directing emotional scenes between Omera and the Mandalorian because he always wears a helmet, but that the scenes worked because "Julia is deeply connected to her emotions and you can just feel them on her face." Brendan Wayne, a body double for the Mandalorian character, said his scenes with Jones were so emotional that they made him cry. The character of Omera has received positive to mixed reviews from critics.
Winta
Winta is the young daughter of Omera, living in a village on Sorgan in "Chapter 4: Sanctuary". She develops a close friendship with the Child after the Mandalorian brings him to the village.Winta is portrayed by Isla Farris.
Caben and Stoke
Caben and Stoke are krill farmers in a Sorgan village in "Chapter 4: Sanctuary". The two hire the Mandalorian to provide protection from Klatooinian raiders attacking the village.Caben is portrayed by actor and comedian Asif Ali, and Stoke is played by actor and comedian Eugene Cordero. The two were included on Vultures list of the show's 15 best cameo appearances from season one, in which writer Jackson McHenry described them as "a delightful pair of goofy villagers".
Riot Mar
Riot Mar is a bounty hunter who attempts to recover the Child from the Mandalorian in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger". Riot pilots a starfighter and attacks the Mandalorian's ship, but is killed by the Mandalorian after a brief dogfight.Riot Mar is portrayed by Rio Hackford.
Peli Motto
Peli Motto is a mechanic who manages a spaceport on Tatooine in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger". The Mandalorian hires her to repair his ship, and she also comes to take care of the Child. The bounty hunter Toro Calican briefly takes Peli and the Child as hostages in an unsuccessful attempt to abduct the Mandalorian.Peli is portrayed by actress and comedian Amy Sedaris, who had previously worked with The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau on the film Elf. Sedaris said she enjoyed working with the animatronic Child puppet, which she said made everyone on the set happy: "The minute you looked into Baby Yoda's eyes you just got lost." The character and Sedaris' performance drew acclaim from fans and reviewers, so much so that Sedaris became a trending topic on Twitter after the episode first became available.
Toro Calican
Toro Calican was a young bounty hunter who encountered the Mandalorian in episode "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger". He recruits the Mandalorian's help capturing the assassin Fennec Shand. It is Toro's first bounty hunting assignment, and he hopes it will help him get into the Bounty Hunters' Guild. Toro later double-crosses the Mandalorian and attempts to turn him over to the Guild, but is instead shot and killed by the Mandalorian.Toro Calican is portrayed by Jake Cannavale. The character received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
Fennec Shand
Fennec Shand is an assassin and mercenary for the galaxy's top crime syndicates, who is sought by Toro Calican for his first bounty hunting assignment. Calican catches Fennec with assistance from the Mandalorian. When Fennec tries to convince Toro to free her so they could capture the Mandalorian and deliver him to the Bounty Hunters' Guild, Toro instead kills Fennec and seeks to capture the Mandalorian himself. Her body is later approached by an as-yet-unidentified character.Portrayed by actress Ming-Na Wen, Fennec Shand is the first major Star Wars villain character portrayed by an Asian actress. Elements of the character's personality were inspired by characteristics of the fennec fox, including its trickiness, stealthiness, maneuverability, and ability to survive. The fox also influenced the design of Fennec's costume and hairstyle. Costume designer Joseph Porro incorporated orange accents into Fennec's black costume, and Wen recommended the character's hair include braids inspired by the fennec fox. Fennec Shand has been received positively by reviewers and fans alike, and has been described as a fan favorite. Several reviewers felt the character was eliminated too quickly and did not get the chance to live up to her potential, and some critics have speculated that the character could still be alive.
Ranzar Malk
Ranzar "Ran" Malk is the leader of a group of mercenaries that operate out of a space station in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". He develops a plan for his crew to infiltrate a New Republic prison ship and rescue Qin, an imprisoned Twi'lek. After the mission, Ran tries to have the Mandalorian killed, but instead his space station is attacked by New Republic X-wing fighters, which were led there by the Mandalorian.Ran is portrayed by Mark Boone Junior. Fans reacted positively to Ran's character and Boone's performance, and the character was included on Vultures list of the show's 15 best cameo appearances from season one.
Mayfeld
Mayfeld is a former Imperial sharpshooter who leads a crew of Ranzar "Ran" Malk's mercenaries in their attempt to rescue Qin from a New Republic prison transport ship. He uses two blaster pistols, as well as a third blaster controlled by a droid arm attached to his backpack. Mayfeld clashes repeatedly with the Mandalorian during the mission, and ultimately attempts to betray him, but instead the Mandalorian incapacitates Mayfeld and locks him in a cell on the transport.Mayfeld is portrayed by actor and comedian Bill Burr, who was not a fan of Star Wars and repeatedly mocked the franchise and its fans before he accepted the role. Jon Favreau offered the part to Burr, believing his past criticism of the franchise would make his casting that much more amusing. Burr was extremely impressed with the filming of The Mandalorian, complimenting the technical aspects of filming as well as the writing style of the series. The character of Mayfeld received a generally positive response from reviewers, and several critics noted that Mayfeld's sardonic personality and hard-edged sense of humor are similar to Burr's real-life comedic style.
Xi'an
Xi'an is a female purple-skinned Twi'lek who appears in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". A former love interest of the Mandalorian, she is part of the rescue team sent by Ranzar "Ran" Malk to rescue her brother Qin from a New Republic prison transport. She attempts to betray the Mandalorian during the mission, but instead he incapacitates Xi'an and locks her in a cell on the prison transport.Xi'an is portrayed by Natalia Tena, the only actress who has appeared in Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and the Harry Potter film series. She is also the second Game of Thrones star to also appear in The Mandalorian, along with Pedro Pascal. Xi'an has received mixed reviews from critics, and several reviewers compared her to the comic book character Harley Quinn.
Burg
Burg, a red-skinned Devaronian, is the "muscle" of Ranzar "Ran" Malk's mercenary party sent to rescue Qin from a New Republic prison transport ship in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". Extremely strong, he repeatedly mocks the Mandalorian during their time together, at one point attempting to forcibly remove his helmet. Burg attempts to betray the Mandalorian during the mission, but the Mandalorian defeats him in a fight, and locks him into a cell on the prison transport.Burg is portrayed by Clancy Brown, who also voiced the Mandalorian bounty hunter Montross in , Savage Opress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Ryder Azadi in Star Wars Rebels. Burg was well received by reviewers, with several comparing him to the fictional superhero Hellboy.
Q9-0
Q9-0, also referred to simply as Zero, is a droid who acts as the pilot, navigator, and hacker for the mercenary crew sent by Ranzar "Ran" Malk to rescue Qin from a New Republic prison transport ship in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". During the mission, Q9-0 discovers there is a high bounty on the Child, whom he attempts to kill, but the Mandalorian shoots and destroys Q9-0 before he can do so.Q9-0 is voiced by Richard Ayoade. The character received generally positive reviews from critics. The Federalist writer Brad Jackson suggested the droid's nickname "Zero" could be a reference to a droid named "0-0-0", or "Triple Zero", a murderous droid in the comic book series that resembles C-3PO. A Funko Pop figurine of Q9-0 has been released.
Qin
Qin is a male purple-skinned Twi'lek who was being held captive on a New Republic prison transport ship in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". Qin blamed the Mandalorian for his imprisonment. Ranzar "Ran" Malk arranges for a mercenary party to rescue Qin, which includes the Mandalorian. After the team infiltrates the ship and recovers Qin, they lock the Mandalorian in Qin's cell and attempt to abandon him there, but he escapes. The Mandalorian returns Qin to Ran's space station, but also leads the New Republic to their location, and the station is attacked by X-wing fighters while Qin is aboard.Qin is portrayed by Ismael Cruz Córdova. The character received positive to mixed reviews from critics.
Davan
Davan is a soldier with the New Republic and the sole non-droid crew member of a New Republic prison transport ship in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". Despite efforts by the Mandalorian to save him, Davan is murdered by a gang of mercenaries who board the ship to rescue the prisoner Qin.Davan is portrayed by Matt Lanter, who also provides the voice of Star Wars protagonist Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as other minor characters. Syfy Wire writer Bryan Young noted that Lanter's performance as Davan sounds nothing like his voice for Anakin, which Young said "speaks to his skill as an actor".
Trapper Wolf, Jib Dodger and Sash Ketter
Trapper Wolf, Jib Dodger and Sash Ketter are a trio of New Republic X-wing starfighter pilots, who investigate a homing beacon activated from a New Republic prison transport ship in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner". The pilots follow the beacon to a space station operated by mercenary Ranzar "Ran" Malk, which they attack.Each of the three pilots are played by directors of first season episodes making cameo appearances: Jib is portrayed by Rick Famuyiwa, Sash is played by Deborah Chow, and Trapper is portrayed by Dave Filoni. Famuyiwa directed and co-wrote the episode in which he appeared. Trapper Wolf's name was inspired by Filoni's love of wolves.