15 Star Wars Actors Who Also Appeared In Indiana Jones

I was rewatching some classic Star Wars scenes the other night, then jumped over to an old Indiana Jones movie—and suddenly I had this weird sense of déjà vu. Familiar voices, familiar faces… but in totally different roles. It got me curious, so I started digging. And wow, the overlap between these two worlds is way cooler than I expected.

1. Harrison Ford – The Ultimate Double Feature

Let’s start with the most obvious one: Harrison Ford. I mean, the man is literally Han Solo and Indiana Jones. That’s just iconic. One of my all-time favorite Star Wars moments is when Leia says “I love you” and Han just shoots back with “I know.” Totally unscripted too – that was Ford just being Ford. Then on the Indy side, there’s the whole “Why’d it have to be snakes?” moment. He’s got that perfect mix of charm and toughness that made both characters unforgettable.

2. Pernilla August – Mom in One Galaxy, Friend in Another

Pernilla August doesn’t get talked about enough. She played Shmi Skywalker, Anakin’s mom, in Episode I and II. Her role might’ve been short, but it hit hard. Shmi’s death was a huge turning point for Anakin. What surprised me is that she also showed up in a couple of Young Indiana Jones episodes back in the ’90s. Wild how her soft, warm energy ended up tying into both sagas.

3. Anthony Daniels – More Than Just a Droid

Of course, Anthony Daniels had to make the list. He’s C-3PO – fluent in six million languages, but still confused 90% of the time. But get this: he also popped up in Young Indy as a character named François. No golden armor, no stiff droid walk – just Daniels being sneaky with a totally different vibe. I didn’t recognize him at first!

4. Ian McDiarmid – Emperor of the Galaxy… and Also a Professor?

Ian McDiarmid gave us Palpatine – the ultimate “it was me all along” villain. That “Unlimited power!” scream in Episode III still gives me chills. But then I found out he was also in Young Indy, playing as professor Levi in a WWI-era episode. Just imagine the guy who orchestrated the fall of the Jedi casually lecturing college students. What a switch-up.

5. Christopher Lee – Count in Two Universes

Christopher Lee pulled double duty as a Count. First, he was Count Dooku, the fallen Jedi who went full Sith and dueled Yoda. Then, in Young Indy, he was Count Ottokar, an aristocrat caught up in wartime espionage. Lee’s presence is so commanding, it’s like he just belongs in both timelines.

6. Julian Glover – From Imperial Officer to Grail-Seeker

This one made me smile. Julian Glover was General Veers in The Empire Strikes Back – the guy leading the charge in the Battle of Hoth. Then he went full villain again in The Last Crusade as Walter Donovan, the guy who drinks from the wrong Holy Grail and turns to dust. Honestly, that’s one of the most brutal movie deaths ever.

7. Michael Sheard – Two Cameos, Lots of Impact

Michael Sheard had small but super memorable roles. In Star Wars, he played Admiral Ozzel, who Vader Force-chokes for jumping out of hyperspace too close to Hoth. Rough day at work. Then in The Last Crusade, he shows up as Hitler during the book-burning rally. There’s that awkward moment when Indy gets Hitler’s autograph… and Sheard totally nails it with this deadpan expression. He really had a talent for making quick appearances count.

8. William Hootkins – From Porkins to “Top Men”

I have a soft spot for Porkins. William Hootkins played him in A New Hope – that poor Rebel pilot who didn’t quite “hold it.” Then he shows up in Raiders as Major Eaton, one of the government agents who takes the Ark away at the end. You know, the whole “top men” scene. It’s kinda funny seeing him go from blowing up in an X-Wing to moving ancient relics around for the U.S. government.

9. Bruce Boa – Rebel General to Diplomat

Bruce Boa played General Rieekan, the guy running the Rebel base on Hoth. He’s the one who delivers that dry line to Han: “A death mark’s not an easy thing to live with.” Later, he showed up in Young Indy as a British ambassador. Not a flashy role, but still cool that the Rebel general also walked through Indy’s world.

10. Oliver Ford Davies – The Guy Who Called the Invasion

Remember Governor Sio Bibble? “A communications disruption could mean only one thing: invasion.” Yep, that guy. Oliver Ford Davies gave us that classic moment in The Phantom Menace. He also made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the very first Young Indy episode as a ship captain. Just a neat little crossover that I didn’t expect.

11. Max von Sydow – The Wise One in Both

Max von Sydow brought so much gravitas to The Force Awakens, even though his role was short. As Lor San Tekka, he basically kicked off the whole sequel trilogy by handing over the map to Luke. But he also showed up way earlier as Sigmund Freud in Young Indy! Yeah, Freud. He gave young Indy a little heart-to-heart about love. I didn’t expect to see a Star Wars sage turn up in an early 1900s Vienna episode.

12. Pip Torrens – A Blink Here, a Big Role There

Pip Torrens had a small part in The Force Awakens as Colonel Kaplan – part of the First Order staff when they fired Starkiller Base. But he had a bigger role in Young Indy as Howard Carter, the archaeologist who found King Tut’s tomb. I thought that was such a fun real-life tie-in for the Indy side, especially since the show liked blending history and fiction.

13. Adrian Edmondson – From Wild Comedy to Cold Officers

I remember Adrian Edmondson from British comedy, but he popped up in The Last Jedi as Captain Peavey, the guy who dryly says, “I believe he’s tooling with you, sir.” during Poe’s prank call. That deadpan line cracked me up. He also played a German officer in a Young Indy movie – chasing Indy for a rare diamond. I love seeing how he handled both serious and goofy scenes across the two franchises.

14. Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Droid Rebellion and Artifact Hunting

Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought so much personality to L3-37 in Solo. That droid was sassy, loud, and started an entire uprising in the Kessel mines. Even after L3’s body is gone, her “mind” lives on inside the Millennium Falcon. Then, years later, Phoebe comes back as Helena Shaw in Dial of Destiny – Indy’s goddaughter. She’s a bit shady at first, but ends up being a total badass. Her quick wit fits perfectly in both roles.

15. Mads Mikkelsen – Genius or Villain, You Choose

Mads Mikkelsen crushed it as Galen Erso in Rogue One. The man who secretly built the Death Star’s weakness into the design and sent the message that helped destroy it? Yeah, that’s him. Then in Dial of Destiny, he plays Dr. Voller, a villain chasing after a mysterious time-related artifact. Both roles are so different, but Mads brings the same intensity to each one. He just owns the screen.

So yeah, these actors really bounced between two of the most epic film series ever. I love spotting those crossovers – it adds a little bonus moment when you’re watching. Next time you’re rewatching Star Wars or Indy, keep an eye out. Some of those faces might just be traveling between galaxies… or time periods.