Copyright Parade
Mark Hamill revealed what he considers the “best decision” he’s ever made, and it surprisingly has nothing to do with his iconic acting career. The Star Wars star, 74, attend the San Diego Film Festival on October 16, where he received the Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence. While the award honored his acting career, Hamill closed out the speech by making a special statement about his wife. “In 1978, I married my former dental hygienist, Marilou Hamill — the best decision I ever made,” he said, per Variety. He went on to say that Marilou, 70, “gave me three beautiful children.” “She’s been with me through thick and thin and the ups and downs in this crazy business. I can’t thank her enough. I love you,” Mark concluded in his speech. The couple, who got married in 1978, share adult kids Nathan, Griffin and Chelsea. After they met during his visit to the dental office Marilou worked in, Mark soon became a household name when he was cast as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars trilogy. Also during his speech, Mark said he wanted to share the award “with the countless people who have helped me over the years because a career in this business is a composite endeavor.” “I think of all the writers, directors, other actors and crew. You can’t do it alone. There are so many people who helped me get to where I am today,” he said. Mark also admitted in the speech that he he “didn’t have high aspirations” for himself at the beginning of his career. “My goal was to become a working stiff, do what I loved, be able to make a living at it to pay the bills and hopefully support a family,” he shared. The recent event isn’t the first time Mark has opened up about his relationship with Marilou. Back in August, the couple revealed their secrets of how they have been able to maintain a successful marriage while speaking to People. Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 “Don’t sweat the little stuff,” Marilou said when asked how they have remained a solid unit after nearly five decades of marriage. “And also, go in knowing you’re not going to change anyone. So you have to accept their quirks and their behavior.” After Mark said he agreed with everything Marilou said, he added that “acceptance” and “communication” are essential parts to making a relationship work. “I just think that when you find the right one, the odds are against you,” Mark continued. “But if you do get lucky, you just have to hang on and be grateful that you were able to find that one.”
