Who Is Charlie Barnett? The Acolyte's Jedi Guardian Actor Explained (2024)

Star Wars: The Acolyte has had several standout performances so far, and one of the most notable came from Charlie Barnett, who plays a Jedi Guardian. Barnett has been a standout, but he's just one member of The Acolyte's cast of characters, which is jam-packed with talented actors and interesting characters. From Amandla Stenberg's mysterious Mae to Dafne Keen's part-Theelin Jecki Lon, there are plenty of compelling figures in The Acolyte. Still, though, Barnett's character has been among the most popular of them, and there's a good reason for that.

Barnett has been consistently acting since 2010, when he appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but he's had a very successful career since. He's appeared in several critically acclaimed movies like We Are Gathered Here Today, where he played Max Stone, as well as successful shows like Chicago Fire, where he played series regular Peter Mills. Barnett brings a lot of acting experience to his role in The Acolyte, which is likely a big reason his character is one of the most popular Jedi on the show.

Charlie Barnett Plays Yord In Star Wars: The Acolyte

In The Acolyte, Barnett plays Yord Fandar, a Jedi Knight and Guardian with a big personality. There are several parts of Yord that stand out, from his historic yellow lightsaber, which he ignites quite often, to the attention he pays to his own appearance, as he even steams his robes. Many viewers found him relatable, and he's even amassed a group of fans who call themselves the "Yord Horde." Much of Yord's likability comes from Barnett's portrayal of him, though, as he's mastered the slightly arrogant and stuck-up yet very naive and genuine act. Barnett even manages to make Yord's reverence for the rules quite endearing.

Yord Fandar

Yord, a Jedi Knight and guardian from the Jedi Temple, is an overachiever and a rule follower. His need to be a by-the-book Jedi can cloud his mind.

Created By

Leslye Headland

Cast

Charlie Barnett

First Appearance

The Acolyte

Alliance

Jedi

This Isn't The First Time Charlie Barnett Has Worked With Leslye Headland

The Acolyte is largely the brainchild of its showrunner, Leslye Headland. She's had quite a bit of creative control, and the fact that she chose Barnett to play Yord makes sense, given the actor and writer have worked together in the past. Barnett previously starred as Alan Zaverri in Russian Doll, a show that Headland worked on as a co-creator and showrunner. It's not at all uncommon for creators to find an actor they enjoy working with and incorporate them into other projects, which seems to be the case for Headland, especially given Barnett's stellar performance in Russian Doll.

Russian Doll

Comedy

Drama

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Not available

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Russian Doll follows a cynical young woman named Nadia on her journey as the guest of honor at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York City. After dying on the night of her party, Nadia keeps repeating the same day - over and over again, with death assured before each day ends. However, when she meets Alan Zaveri, a man who is experiencing the same phenomenon, the pair work together to hopefully break the cycle once and for all.

Cast

Natasha Lyonne , Elizabeth Ashley , Charlie Barnett , Yul Vazquez , Greta Lee

Seasons

2

Directors

Leslye Headland

Showrunner

Leslye Headland , Natasha Lyonne

While he has worked with Headland in the past, Barnett's work speaks for itself and proves he has enough experience to excel as Yord. The young Jedi Knight could easily have come across as annoying, but Barnett's acting abilities transformed Yord's arrogance and sass into endearing qualities, and he's become a fan-favorite as a result. It should be interesting to see what the rest of The Acolyte has in store for Yord, and how Charlie Barnett can continue to charm audiences in the role.

The Acolyte

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Cast

Dafne Keen , Lee Jung-jae , Amandla Stenberg , Jodie Turner-Smith , Joonas Suotamo , Carrie-Anne Moss , Margarita Levieva , Charlie Barnett , Dean-Charles Chapman

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+

Showrunner

Leslye Headland