Luke is the twin brother of Princess Leia, and they were separated when they were young. Obi-Wan Kenobi struggled to find a safe family to hide the young Luke in, from the Emperor, and Darth Vader. He approached his sister Beru, and her husband Owen Lars. They took him in, and raised Luke as their own. Throughout this time, Luke referred to them as aunt and uncle, thinking that they were truly his family.
He grew up a curious boy, and always learning new things. During one of their usual purchases from the Jawas, Owen and Luke purchased droids C-3PO and R2-D2.
After cleaning R2-D2 and removing the droid's restraining bolt, the droid runs away, in search of his "former master", Obi-Wan Kenobi, to deliver a message to Princess Leia. Luke goes chasing after him the next morning, and is attacked by Tusken Raiders (Sandpeople). Obi-Wan Kenobi helps the boy regain conciousness, and takes him back to his house.
Luke learns the "truth" about his father's life, and how he was a hero, not a spice navigator as Uncle Owen had said. Luke was told his father was killed by Darth Vader.
The message that R2-D2 was carrying required Ben to make a trip to Alderaan. Luke didn't think it was wise to go. He went home, only to find that Imperial Stormtroopers had attacked the farm with the help of TIE bombers. Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen had been brutally murdered. They were just two of the many victims in the search for the astromech droid who held the stolen technical plans to the DEATH STAR. So Luke, Ben and the droids travelled to Mos Eisley spaceport, in search of a pilot that could take them to the Alderaan system.
In the Mos Eisley Cantina, was smuggler Han Solo and his co-pilot Chewbacca. They agreed to fly to the system for a healthy sum.
On the way, Luke started his Jedi Knight training in the open area of the Millennium Falcon. The ship approached Alderaan, and as they came out of hyperspace, they fell into an asteroid field that contained the remains of the peaceful planet Alderaan. Luke was too late with the droids. The planet had been destroyed by the DEATH STAR's turbolaser.
After being trapped by the Death Star's tractor beam, Luke mounted an attempt to free the princess from the hands of Grand Moff Tarkin. He was successful, and they headed back to the Rebellion's secret base on one of Yavin's moons.
Using the stolen plans, Luke destroyed the DEATH STAR. Their base being found, Luke formed a group of freedom fighters, and they moved to the Ice Planet of Hoth. They were discovered there too, by Lord Vader's Imperial probe droids. The Empire moved in for attack, and Luke headed the Battle Of Hoth. They managed to keep the Imperials at bay, as the Rebels piloted to safety in the transports. They were heading for a neutral system.
Luke headed to Dagobah, away fom the Rebels, to complete his Jedi training with Master Yoda. After having the vision that his friends in Cloud City were going to die, he left his training permaturely, to rescue Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca from the evil Darth Vader.
During a brutal lightsaber fight with Vader, he finds out Vader is his father. Back with the rebels, he Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca start a plan to rescue their companion Han Solo from doom at the hands of Jabba the Hutt.
After one failing attempt, Luke infiltrates Jabba's security, and gains access to the palace. He rescues everyone, and they all leave Tatooine, Luke going back to Dagobah to complete his training. He finds out he needs no more training, and that after he faces Vader one more time, he will be a Jedi.
He rejoins the Rebellion, travelling to the Forest Moon of Endor, to destroy the second DEATH STAR's shield generator. He leaves the expedition, "surrenders" to Darth Vader, and is taken to Emperor Palpatine on the Death Star.
Palpatine makes many attempts at trying to convert Skywalker to the Dark Side, but Luke holds strong, and ensues in another lightsaber fight with Vader. Emotions were running high, because Luke now knew that it was father vs. son. Because Luke would not turn to the Dark Side, the Emperor, began to electrify Skywalker. Darth Vader then realized that his compassion for his son was greater than that of the Emperor, and saved his son's life, at the price of his own.
