‘Star Wars’ Baddie Adam Driver Is A Real-Life Badass

In the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film, which is set 30 years after Darth Vader’s death, the Dark-sided leader’s shoes are filled by the character Kylo Ren, a twisted, younger version of the man in black.

Actor Adam Driver plays the evil Kylo, but in real life he’s actually an amazing fella. Mainly known for being the TV boyfriend to Lena Dunham, yes, that Lena Dunham, on the HBO series Girls, Driver has been quickly making the rise to stardom with key roles in Jason Bateman and Tina Fey’s This Is Where I Leave You, Ben Stiller’s While We’re Young, and Spielberg’s Lincoln.

But before Driver, who’s stepdad is a Baptist minister and mom is a librarian, started his journey to Hollywood stardom, he found himself in Marine Corps boot-camp being transformed into the lean mean fighting machine known as a Jarhead.

Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks he joined the Marines and was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion as an 81mm mortar man. He served almost 3 years before being medically discharged after breaking his sternum.

Though he went on to the famous Juilliard School for the performing arts and then on to television and film success, he’s never forgotten about the Corps. As a way to serve the men and women of the military, he started a non-profit called “Arts in the Armed Forces” that “bridges the cultural gap between the United States Armed Forces and the performing arts communities by bringing the best modern American theater to the military free of charge.”

“AITAF programming accentuates the shared humanity of all Americans by using performance to unite artists and service members and encourage dialogue. AITAF enlists artists of the highest quality and chooses thought-provoking content with an eye to what might speak to this particular audience,” the non-profit’s mission statement explains.

About his goals for the organization, Adam says, “Were hoping to show that language is a powerful tool, that self expression is a powerful tool. It’s just as valuable as any rifle you carry or any tool you can put in your pack.”

Trailer for the Vice News doc on Adam and his program below…

For the full 30-minute Vice documentary following Driver, his wife Joanne, and the many talented actors traveling to bases and hospitals near and abroad performing for troops, click below…

For more info on the group and their work, click here.