Wooof

Wooof was a Kadas'sa'Nikto smuggler in the employ of Jabba Desilijic Tiure, working as one of the crime lord's best pilots on the planet Tatooine during the Galactic Civil War.

Biography

Wooof was a Kadas'sa'Nikto male native to the planet Tatooine. He was a freelance smuggler and pilot, until he found himself in debt to the Hutt crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure in the early Rebellion era. As a result, Wooof became one of Jabba's perpetually indentured servants,^[1] living in his palace^[4] on Tatooine.^[3] He piloted a manner of spacecrafts^[1] and served as a skiff guard for the Hutt.^[5] Wooof was one of Jabba's best pilots,^[6] earning the honor^[7] of flying Jabba's space yacht,^[6] the Star Jewel.^[8] The Nikto also occasionally piloted an AST-5 Armored Sentinel Transport.^[9]

In 4 ABY,^[2] Wooof was in Jabba's throne room, sitting in an alcove with the Elom Tanus Spijek, when Luke Skywalker, let in by a mind-tricked Bib Fortuna, arrived to negotiate the release of Solo. Wooof and other members of Jabba's court surrounded Skywalker as he demanded that his allies be set free. Jabba was not interested in Skywalker's proposal, and Skywalker used the Force to take Nizuc Bek's DL-18 Blaster Pistol. The Hutt, however, opened the trapdoor of the throne room, and Skywalker fell into the pit of Jabba's rancor. Skywalker prevailed in the fight against the Rancor. Along with the Human guard Fozec, Wooof retrieved Skywalker, Solo and the Wookiee Chewbacca to bring them into the throne room, pointing a DL-18 Blaster Pistol^[3] and leering at Skywalker^[7] while Jabba sentenced them to execution. After Skywalker, Solo, and Chewbacca were sentenced, Wooof and Fozec escorted Chewbacca out of the throne room and left with the rest of the court.^[3]

When Skywalker was captured and sentenced to death, along with his allies, in the Pit of Carkoon, Wooof observed the execution from the lower deck of the barge, taking refreshments served by the Jedi's astromech droid R2-D2.^[3] As Skywalker escaped and boarded the sail barge, Wooof rushed to the upper deck, charging the Jedi Knight alongside the Gamorrean Thok,^[10] and was killed^[1] by his own blaster fire, deflected back at him by his Skywalker's lightsaber.^[3]

Personality and traits

Though he flew the Star Jewel, Wooof preferred to fly combat starfighters.^[6] He had green skin, black eyes, clawed fingers,^[3] and was considered to be rather ugly.^[11]

Skills and abilities

Wooof was one of Jabba's best pilots.^[6] The Nikto had slightly above average intelligence and fighting ability, average strength and speed, and low diplomacy. He was not Force-sensitive.^[1]

Equipment

Wooof wielded both a BD-1 Cutter vibro-ax and a DL-18 Blaster Pistol.^[12]

Behind the scenes

"The Green Nikto seen in Jabba's palace was called Klaatu, though Wooof was one of the production names used for this character."

―Leland Chee's original statement, later revised by The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia^[13]

Wooof in profile, misidentified as Klaatu by the Star Wars Customizable Card Game.

Wooof was played by Michael Stevens, the same actor who portrayed Airen Cracken.^[14] The 1998 Jabba's Palace Limited set of Decipher's Star Wars Customizable Card Game used the character's image for cards depicting both Wooof^[6] and Klaatu.^[15] The 2001 Masters of the Force expansion of Decipher's Jedi Knights Trading Card Game likewse identified this character as "Klaatu."^[5] In a 2006 blog post, Lucasfilm employee Leland Chee identified the Kadas'sa'Nikto seen in Jabba's throne room wearing kama-like fur clothing as "Klaatu", while acknowledging "Wooof" as a name used for the character during the production of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.^[13] In 2008, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia revised the characters' naming by identifying Wooof as the Kadas'sa'Nikto^[16] called both Wooof^[6] and Klaatu in the Customizable Card Game,^[15] and Klaatu as the Kadas'sa'Nikto^[17] that the same card game had identified as Yotts Orren.^[18]

The "Klaatu" action figure made by Kenner in 1983 is based on Wooof's likeness.^[19] In the same year, Kenner also produced a "Klaatu (in Skiff Guard Outfit)" action figure which bears the likeness of the real Klaatu.^[20] A new Wooof action figure, bearing the correct apparel and name, was included as part of the 2010 Hasbro The Vintage Collection line.^[12]