Mark Hamill Says Bringing Comfort To Terminally Ill Children Is a ‘Responsibility, Privilege, and Gift’

Responding to Tweet, reminded Mark Hamill of his responsibility to be there for terminally ill children. The tweet from a father whose 9-year-old son passed away in April 2017. “As my son Elijah was dying of pediatric brain cancer in 2017, @HamillHimself contributed to a birthday video Lucasfilm put together where several Star Wars actors wished him happy birthday for his ninth bday (April 22). Here is Elijah watching Mark Hamill. He died the next day,” wrote Brad Simpson in response to another tweet about Hamill’s good deeds.

According to The Hollywood Reporter: Hamill saw the post from Simpson and said he was touched all over again. “One look at Elijah’s beautiful face is all you need to know about why I’ve visited countless patients in children’s hospitals over the years. Emotionally harrowing to be sure, but I consider it both a privilege & a gift I’ve been given- a responsibility I’ll never take lightly,” wrote Hamill.

The actor rarely publicizes his goodwill and generosity; fans learn of it from personal posts, such as a story from the late ’90s when Hamill spent a portion of the day with a young fan who was dying of juvenile Batten’s Disease. Because of his state of mind, the fan could not differentiate between Hamill the person and Luke Skywalker the character. However, his father said Hamill was patient and kind, answering all the boy’s Star Wars questions, even if repeated a few times.

One look at Elijah’s beautiful face is all you need to know about why I’ve visited countless patients in children’s hospitals over the years. Emotionally harrowing to be sure, but I consider it both a privilege & a gift I’ve been given- a responsibility I’ll never take lightly.???? https://t.co/dYM1AlZXns

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 20, 2021