Han Solo
Han Solo’s childhood is vague, although most sources agree that he was an orphan with few family ties. As a youth he became an unwilling member of a criminal cartel. While with the cartel, Han met his first Wookie and learned the Wookie language. After escaping the cartel, Han enrolled in the Imperial Academy where he excelled, especially in piloting, before being expelled for saving the life of Chewbacca, a Wookie slave. Chewie swore a life-debt to Solo for this selfless act and remained with Han through many adventures.
As a young man, Solo embarked on his career as a smuggler with Chewie by his side. Han won a Corellian light freighter, the Millennium Falcon, from his friend Lando Calrissian. Chewie and Han made drastic modifications to the Falcon, turning it into one of the fastest ships in the galaxy. As the Empire grew in power, the pair focused their efforts on the Corporate Sector, a vast region of space uncontrolled by the Empire. Several years later, Solo and his partner were forced by Imperial inspectors to dump a shipment of spice they were smuggling for Jabba the Hutt. The enraged Hutt placed a large bounty on Solo and Chewie's heads.
In an attempt to pay back Jabba, Han agreed to transport Ben Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and the droids to Alderaan. This seemingly simple mission lead Solo into the heart of the Rebellion as he helped rescue Princess Leia and joined the Battle of Yavin just in time to save Luke from Darth Vader.
Instead of paying Jabba, Han and Chewie spent the next three years helping the Rebels and eventually ended up at the base on the ice planet of Hoth. In those three years an attraction had begun to developed between Leia and Han, much to the Princess’ consternation. This growing attraction became even more evident as Han, Chewie, Leia, and C-3PO fled the planet after the Empire discovered the base. After taking off, Solo attempted to go to hyperspace, only to discover that the hyperdrive was damaged. While trying to repair the hyperdrive Han and Leia shared a kiss. When the repair is unsuccessful, Solo takes the Falcon to Cloud City to visit Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian. Unfortunately, Vader beat them there and had already made a deal with Calrissian. Not knowing this, Han landed the Falcon and turned it over the Lando for repairs. Han and the others were captured and Solo was tortured as bait to trap Luke Skywalker. Shortly before Han was frozen in carbonite, Leia confessed her love for him. Leia, Lando, Chewie, Luke, and the droids escaped Cloud City, but Solo's frozen form was taken by the bounty hunter Boba Fett.
After returning to the rebel fleet, Lando and Chewie went searching for Han and eventually located him in Jabba the Hutt’s palace on Tatooine. Leia, Luke, and the droids joined them and rescued Solo. Shortly after rejoining the Alliance, Han was made an official member and a general. Han lead a mission to the moon of Endor to disable the shield generator for the second Death Star. After some difficulty, Han and his team disabled the shield and an attack lead by Lando destroyed the Death Star with the Emperor in it.
Four years later, Han and Leia were married. They have three children, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo.
Since their marriage, Han and Leia have been through many trials, including dark Jedi, the Emperor reborn, attempts to kidnap their children, and many attempts on their lives. Han has resigned his commission in the military and occasionally goes on a mission or two for the New Republic.
Compiled from the Behind the Magic CD-Rom and starwars.com