Since 1996, Steve Sansweet has served as the Lucasfilm ambassador to the ever-growing, ever-evolving community of Star Wars fans. Today, Sansweet announced that in April 2011 he will be leaving the company to begin a new chapter in his life. "Nearly 15 years ago I left my post as Los Angeles Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal to follow my bliss and take a 'one-year job' as Lucasfilm's Star Wars ambassador," said Sansweet. "Now it's time for another change and new challenges, while still maintaining an active role in the Star Wars fan community."
"Steve's legacy here is clear: respect and appreciation for our fans -- and ongoing dialog -- are core values at Lucasfilm that will continue in full force. Steve has done an amazing job over the past 15 years of representing the heart and soul of Star Wars fandom within the company," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. "I can't thank Steve enough for his enormous contributions over the years, as well as his friendship and guidance."
Whether as the author of insightful Star Wars books, the owner of the largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the world, or as a representative from Lucasfilm at official and unofficial Star Wars gatherings, fans know Sansweet by many titles, hats and -- occasionally -- colorful costumes. Above all, Star Wars fans know him as one of their own.
While Sansweet worked at the Wall Street Journal, a marketing booklet for the film that he rescued from a colleague's trash was his first Star Wars collectible; that was followed by an invitation to an advance screening in May, 1977. Already a collector of science fiction and robot toys, Sansweet quickly sought out whatever Star Wars keepsakes there were in this early era. This marked Sansweet's first step into a larger world, to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi, the character Sansweet has long cited as his favorite from the films.
His collection outgrew his house in the Hollywood Hills, demanding the addition of two floors of space and a dedicated archivist. Today, the sprawling collection - named "Rancho Obi-Wan" - serves as an essential record of the Star Wars phenomenon and fills up a 5,000-square foot barn adjacent to his home in Petaluma. Though not open to the public, Rancho Obi-Wan has been visited by hundreds of invited fans and collectors from around the world. Readers of StarWars.com were treated to a tour in this article as well as the videos listed below.
The Star Wars fan community got its first glimpse at Sansweet's devotion in a 1990 article that ran in The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine. Lucasfilm Licensing had begun a publishing program of novels, guides and non-fiction books, and with his editorial experience and in-depth knowledge, Sansweet was the obvious choice to create a book about Star Wars collecting. Chronicle Books published Star Wars: From Concept to Screen to Collectible in 1992. Over the years, this would be followed by 13 other books, including The Star Wars Vault, Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles and Star Wars: The Complete Encyclopedia. In addition to being the saga's biggest collector, Sansweet is a recognized authority on all things Star Wars, from the making and marketing of the movies and spin-offs, to the activities of fans worldwide. He has also served as a columnist for official Star Wars magazines.
In 1996, Sansweet would take center-stage at conventions worldwide as an essential figure in the relaunch of Star Wars. Sansweet bore the official title of "Director of Specialty Marketing" and later, "Director of Content Management," though most Star Wars fans know him as Head of Fan Relations. In the late '90s, as Star Wars returned to the public consciousness with the impending release of the Special Edition Trilogy and an all new trilogy of prequels, Sansweet served as the liaison to eager fan groups hungry to know any scrap of information on the return of the saga. Sansweet helped build the first editorial team that would create StarWars.com, the official source of Star Wars news and developments for online fans.
"I was picking up a mantle already established before the first Star Wars movie ever came out. This has always been a very fan-friendly company, and I had the opportunity to expand on the kind of things Lucasfilm had done before, like revealing the first images of the original Star Wars to convention-goers." said Sansweet. "Fans have always been an important part of Lucasfilm's success. I was focusing the attention of fans, dispelling rumors and sharing in the excitement of the return of Star Wars."
Since 1999, Sansweet has played an integral role in the launching of Star Wars Celebrations -- the official fan convention that attracts tens of thousands of enthusiasts from around the globe. In this capacity, he has served as stage host, master of ceremonies, panelist and even officiated at commitment ceremonies among fans expressing their love through Star Wars. Sansweet welcomed the costumed ranks of the fan-created 501st Legion to official fan events, and introduced George Lucas to the awe-inspiring power of the fan community. When Lucas personally requested that over 200 costumed 501st troopers be the centerpiece of the "Star Wars Spectacular" at the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade, Sansweet headed the effort to gather these fans from around the world.
Sansweet will continue at Lucasfilm for the next six months. He will divide his time between his work at the company's San Francisco-based headquarters and Rancho Obi-Wan, as he focuses on new ventures, at least some of them Star Wars related.
"For all the amazing things I've gotten to do, nothing has been more important or more rewarding to me than the chance to interact with all the wonderful people who share my love and passion for Star Wars -- the fans," said Sansweet. "From 6 to 60 years old and above, those fans are the lifeblood of this company. I intend to remain actively engaged with Star Wars and fandom in multiple ways in the years to come, and I'm sure many of our paths will continue to cross."
"It's been wonderful to have had the opportunity to work with Steve and become a good friend," said Lynne Hale, Senior Director, Public Relations. "His deep commitment, integrity, and gigantic heart have endeared him to people inside the company and around the world. Steve has left an indelible mark on Lucasfilm and on all of us who have worked with him, and we look forward to his continued involvement with Star Wars. We wish him the best and know great things lie ahead, because the Force is definitely with him!"
