25 most heartbreaking Star Wars character deaths of all-time

Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru

Speaking of being roasted, let’s talk about Star Wars’ first-ever heartbreaking death: the deaths of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

Owen Lars was the stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker, the son of Cliegg Lars who remarried Anakin’s mother before she was kidnapped and killed by Tusken Raiders. When Luke’s mother Padme dies in childbirth at the end of Episode III, Luke is put into the care of Owen, since he is the only family Luke has left and Obi-Wan was determined to keep Luke away from Darth Vader.

Years later, Luke and Owen –who are living on Tatooine– purchase C-3PO as well as the droid R2-D2, who holds secrets plans for the Death Star’s destruction and a message from Princess Leia Organa meant for Obi-Wan.

While Luke is out of the house, Stormtroopers track down the droid and interrogate Uncle Owen and his wife Aunt Beru, eventually setting fire to them and their home. Luke coming home to the bloody, skeletal remains of his family was quite the tone switch from the happy, loving, humble life he had grown up with. His world was shattered, and so was the audience, who couldn’t believe what they had witnessed.