Who is the Jedi Knight who appears as a blue Force ghost alongside Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of Episode VI?

The story behind the answer

At the Ewok village celebration in Return of the Jedi, Luke sees his redeemed father appear as a luminous Force spirit beside Obi-Wan and Yoda, symbolizing his return to the light after destroying the Emperor. In the original 1983 release he appears as an older man (Sebastian Shaw); the 2004 Special Edition replaced him with Hayden Christensen to align with the prequels.

It’s not Luke (he’s alive), not Qui-Gon (who pioneered the technique but doesn’t appear in this scene), and not Mace Windu (never shown as a Force ghost). The ability to manifest after death was a secret passed from Qui-Gon to Yoda and Obi-Wan, letting certain Jedi retain consciousness within the Force. This final vision underscores themes of redemption and balance that define the saga.