Palpatine is a fictional character in George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. He was introduced in the films Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) as the Emperor, an aged, cowled, and pale-faced figure who walks with a cane. Palpatine appears in the prequel trilogy as a middle-aged politician in the Galactic Republic who rises to power through deception and treachery. The character is featured in the animated miniseries Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005) and in Star Wars literature. Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid portrays the character in the Star Wars feature films.
Palpatine is a major antagonist in Star Wars fiction. Born on the planet Naboo 82 years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), he is a key politician in the Republic who claims to represent peace and democracy. In reality, Palpatine is Darth Sidious, a powerful lord of the evil Sith sect who practices the dark side of the Force. He initiates and manipulates the Clone Wars to destroy the Jedi and usher in the totalitarian Galactic Empire. Palpatine's Sith apprentices include Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and Darth Vader.
George Lucas's original scripts of Star Wars characterize Palpatine as a cunning but weak politician under the control of powerful bureaucrats. However, in Return of the Jedi, the prequels, and Star Wars literature, the character is depicted as the personification of evil and heavy-handed authoritarianism. Palpatine was incorporated into the Star Wars merchandising campaigns that corresponded with the theatrical release of Return of the Jedi and the prequel films. He has since become a symbol of evil and sinister deception in popular culture, particularly in the United States.
