Kanan Jarrus is a survivor of Order 66 and a major character in the Star Wars franchise. He is the main protagonist of the Kanan comic book series, one of the two main protagonists of A New Dawn (alongside Hera Syndulla), the deuteragonist of Star Wars Rebels, and a minor character in the Sequel Trilogy as a voice cameo in The Rise Of Skywalker.
Born Caleb Dume, Kanan became the Jedi Padawan of Jedi Master Depa Billaba. After order 66 was enacted, Caleb changed his name to Kanan Jarrus and hid his Force-sensitivity until he met Twi'lek Hera Syndulla and joined her crew, earning the codename Spectre 1.
Among the members of the Ghost, Kanan is the father figure of the motley crew. After meeting Lothalite teenager Ezra Bridger, Kanan realized the boy was Force-sensitive and took Ezra under his wing as his Padawan despite not finishing his own Jedi trials. However, though Kanan doubted he was unable to train Ezra, he gained the confidence to teach him over the course of the series.
Background
Never knowing his parents, Kanan Jarrus was born Caleb Dume. As with all the Younglings, young Caleb was taught by Yoda, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order and was once classmates with Ahsoka Tano, whom he briefly sparred with when she was Anakin's Padawan. He first met his Master, Depa Billaba, when she was submerged in the bacta tank after being severely injured in battle. Caleb immediately felt a connection to Depa, enough to wake her from her coma. Since then, Caleb hoped to become her apprentice when he reached the rank of Padawan, and was more motivated when he learned she did not have one. Caleb passed his trials, as well as his friends Uzuma and Quid. Caleb attended classes led by Jocasta Nu, where Masters chose their Padawans, and one by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who Caleb had given the idea to light a beacon for Jedi not to return to the Jedi Temple should a dangerous situation arise.
When Caleb told his "friends" that he wanted to become Depa's apprentice, they found it highly unlikely and told him that she was still damaged from a defeat on Haruun Kai. Caleb went to Depa and asked her what had happened. As their conversation went on, it was interrupted by Rackham Sear, a captain of the Confederacy of Independant Systems, who was planting bombs. However, Depa saved Caleb from the upcoming explosion, but the CIS captain decided to committ suicide. Impressed with Caleb, she asked him to become her apprentice, and he accepted; however, one of Caleb's friends warned him he wouldn't be safe with her; However, Caleb refused and accepted becoming Depa's Padawan to get a kyber crystal for his new lightsaber. Together, the two fought side by side in the Clone Wars with the Clone Troopers under their command. However, when Palpatine issued Order 66, turning all the troopers against Caleb and Depa. Depa urged Caleb to run while she held them off, promising to be right behind him. However, Caleb watched as his Master was gunned down by the men who once served her. Taking his own lightsaber, Caleb survived Order 66 but with extreme guilt that his master died protecting him. Having to keep his identity as a former Jedi Padawan a secret, Caleb discarded his Padawan braid and formed a partnership with Janus Kasmir before finally leaving and calling himself Kanan Jarrus. He had to hide his Force-sensitivity.
Before the series, Kanan met Hera Syndulla, daughter of Clone Wars hero Cham Syndulla and her Droid C1-10P (called Chopper). He accidentally revealed he had the Force when he used it to save Hera's life on Gorse, where they had several run ins with Grand Admiral Rae Sloane. Soon, they were joined by the Lasat, Garazeb Orrelios and the Mandalorian girl, Sabine Wren and Lothalite boy, Ezra Bridger, who Kanan took on as a Padawan.
Personality
Before he became a Padawan, young Caleb Dume wanted to become the apprentice of Depa Billaba, despite his so-called friends putting doubt that she would ever chose him as a Padawan. Caleb was always curious and inquisitive towards Depa, who would sometimes tease him about. However, when order 66 was enacted, Caleb became hardened from the experience due to the loss of his Master, who sacrificed herself so Caleb could live. He would not understand about sacrificing to save those he cared about until his later adulthood. After his time as a pirate, Caleb became known as "Kanan Jarrus," a young man who cut himself off from the Force using the method "Force-stealth." He remained elusive and secretive and told no one of his Jedi heritage.
Before he met Hera, Kanan was both a drunk and a womanizer, flirting with a bunch of other women. However, when he fell in love with her, he changed into a better person, even saving her with the Force. After her misison on Gorse, he turned his back on his old ways and joined the Ghost crew. When Zeb and Sabine joined the group, Kanan revealed his identity as a Jedi to his teammates when he trusted them and became the father figure of the Ghost crew.
Upon first meeting Ezra Bridger, Kanan decided to take the boy under his wing as his apprentice. However, he still doubted his skills as a teacher due to his limited training. However, when they first encountered the Grand Inquisitor, Kanan realized he had to learn to be a master as much as Ezra had to learn to be a Jedi. Apart from this, Kanan was a fatherly figure for Ezra, often giving him advice and support. However he initially struggled to be a teacher due to not passing his own Jedi training when they first encountered the Grand Inquisitor, Kanan realized he had to learn to be a master as much as Ezra had to learn to be a Jedi. Later, he desired to protect Ezra from falling to the dark side, which was his greatest fear. He also mentored Sabine, who became something of a daughter figure towards him and helped her overcome her dark past when he taught her train with the Darksaber. He was one of the few individuals to get along with Chopper and often get Zeb to behave himself.
After becoming blind, Kanan distanced himself from his friends and coming into conflict with his own Padawan. However, after meeting the Bendu, Kanan was able to see things differently by looking through the Force and finally reconciled with his friends. At the end of his life, Kanan stopped a fuel depot from going off by holding back the explosion so Hera, Ezra and Sabine could escape, protecting the ones he loved.
Star Wars Rebels
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
While Hera, Zeb, Ezra and Chopper are set up to meet with Gold Squadron in delivering Mon Mothma to Dantooine, Kanan went off on a supply run with other rebels. ("Secret Cargo")
In the middle of the night, Kanan saw Ezra was near the broken Jedi and Sith holocrons, where his Padawan says he heard Maul talking to him. During the briefing, Ezra believed something was wrong on Tatooine and that Kenobi was in danger. However, Kanan dissuades Ezra, believing Maul is trying to bring him into a trap, just like the incidents on Malachor and Dathomir. Ezra disobeyed Kanan and Hera and went to Tatooine to find Obi-Wan. The next day, Ezra returned to Atollon. Ezra apologizes to Kanan, Hera and Zeb for running off, where he now realizes that his true place is in the rebellion with his family. It causes Kanan, Hera and Zeb to accept his apology while placing their hands on Ezra's shoulders to emphasize their support for him. ("Twin Suns")
Season 4
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Kanan's Force-ghost is heard by Rey Skywalker, encouraging her to use her power to defeat her grandfather. He tells her that the Jedi's greatet strength is their heart.
The Clone Wars
Season 7
Kanan makes a cameo appearance in season 7, standing next to Depa Billaba while the Jedi discuss the Clone Wars.
