Back in the day, we all enjoyed the Original Trilogy by following the main heroes—Luke’s journey from farm boy to galactic savior, and Leia and Han becoming the heart of the Rebellion.
But fast forward to the modern Star Wars era, and we’ve been treated to so much more. Series like The Clone Wars expanded the galaxy in ways we never imagined, introducing new characters who became just as iconic as the originals.
And now, one of the coolest connections has finally been confirmed: the old Rebel soldier with the white beard, seen fighting alongside Leia and Han on Endor? That’s not just a random trooper. That’s Captain Rex.
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The Guy Was Never Rex at First
Before Captain Rex was ever linked to the Battle of Endor, the bearded Rebel soldier we see in Return of the Jedi was never meant to be anyone special. At the time, the Clone Wars weren’t fully fleshed out—they were only briefly mentioned by Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope, and the concept of clone troopers didn’t really exist yet.
That background extra on Endor was later given the name Nik Sant in both canon and fan databases. According to Star Wars Fact Files No. 44, he was described as “Lieutenant Nik Sant,” a survival expert who had previously served on Kashyyyk. He was the oldest member of the Rebel strike team and earned the nickname “Gramps” from the others.
When Fans Made the Connection
Years later, everything changed with the rise of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Captain Rex, once just one of many clones, had become a major character with a deeply personal arc. In Rebels, we see an older Rex with a thick white beard, a stockier build, and even wearing camo gear during his missions. Suddenly, that random Endor soldier from Return of the Jedi didn’t feel so random anymore.
Fans started putting the pieces together. The resemblance was uncanny. The idea that Rex could’ve fought alongside Han and Leia during the Battle of Endor caught on fast, and the theory spread like wildfire online. People shared side-by-side images, fan art, and lore breakdowns. It didn’t matter that the original extra had no backstory or that the timeline required a little creative thinking. For many, the connection made too much sense to ignore.
And then Rebels gave fans even more fuel. Not only did Rex survive the Clone Wars, but he fully joined the Rebel Alliance. He fought alongside the Ghost crew, became a trusted veteran, and was stationed on Yavin 4, right at the heart of the Rebellion. By the time we see him in the later seasons, Rex is wearing camo fatigues almost identical to the ones worn by the bearded commando on Endor. The vest, the helmet, even the color scheme—it all lined up.
It wasn’t just fan speculation anymore. The visual storytelling was practically begging us to connect the dots. Rex had evolved from a nameless soldier bred for war into someone who chose to fight for something. Seeing him in gear that matched the Endor team made it feel like Dave Filoni and the Rebels team were quietly saying, “Yeah, we see it too.”
Finally, Star Wars Confirmed that the Rebel Trooper We See in RoTJ Is Captain Rex
For years, it was just a fan theory. A really popular one, sure—but unofficial. Then came the moment fans had been waiting for.
It started as a theory—just a fun “what if.” But then Dave Filoni, the man behind Rex’s story in The Clone Wars and Rebels, chimed in, and that changed everything.
At the Star Wars Rebels Season 2 finale premiere in 2016, Filoni spoke to the press and, while being careful not to spoil future stories, let one thing slip:
“I really do think that Rex is that guy on Endor. I really do. Why else is there a bearded old guy on Endor, Tano? Why? It makes no sense. If you don’t want that to happen, do you know what that means? I’m gonna make that happen. I’m getting like Palpatine, I’m getting power crazy.”
And just when fans thought it might stay as Filoni’s playful nod, the theory got another big boost—this time from an official source. The 5-Minute Star Wars Stories (Second Edition) quietly cemented it: Captain Rex was indeed part of the strike team on Endor.
To make it even better, Dee Bradley Baker—the voice behind all the clones—recently reaffirmed the idea during Hasbro PulseCon. When asked which clone was the hardest to say goodbye to, he smiled and said, “I’ve not said goodbye to Captain Rex yet. Captain Rex made it all the way to Endor, so…he’s still with me.“
So yes, Rex made it to Endor. And now it’s more than a theory. It’s Star Wars history.