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R2-D2 (also spelled Artoo-Detoo, called R2 for short), is an astromech droid and colleague of C-3PO in the fictional Star Wars universe. R2-D2 was played by Kenny Baker in all six Star Wars films, with many scenes filmed using mechanical versions of the character.
In The Phantom Menace, R2-D2 is a droid belonging to the Naboo, and helps fix Queen Padmé Amidala's starship as it attempts to get past the Trade Federation Blockade. Later, R2 becomes part of Qui-Gon Jinn's party in Tatooine and meets C-3PO and Anakin Skywalker. Later, he serves as Anakin's personal astromech droid on the attack on the Trade Federation Droid Control ship.
Ten years later, in Attack of the Clones R2 is now in Senator Padmé Amidala's possession, and accompanies Anakin and Padmé to Naboo and then Tatooine when her life is threatened. Here, he is reunited with C-3PO, and the two get into various misadventures on Geonosis. He is later present at Anakin and Padme's wedding.
Presumably in Revenge of the Sith R2-D2 gets his memory wiped or altered, and ends up in the possession of Raymus Antilles onboard the blockade runner Tantive IV.
In A New Hope both R2-D2 and C-3PO are on board the Tantive IV along with Princess Leia of Alderaan when they come under attack by the Star Destroyer Devastator. Leia slips R2-D2 a disc containing a distress message and the plans for the Death Star battle station.
Once on the planet Tatooine, R2 and 3PO are stolen by Jawas and bought by Owen Lars, uncle of Luke Skywalker, who discovers the hidden message. Luke seeks the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, and they attempt to deliver R2-D2 to the Rebel Alliance. Along the way, they are captured by the Death Star, but eventually rescue Leia and escape. R2-D2 delivers the plans to the alliance, and becomes Luke's astromech droid during the attack on the station. R2 is severely damaged during the battle, but is restored by the Awards ceremony at the end of the film.
In The Empire Strikes Back R2 accompanies Luke to Dagobah and later to Cloud City, where he helps to rescue and repair a heavily damaged C-3PO. He also manages to fix the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive, resulting in a last-minute escape from the Empire.
In Return Of The Jedi R2-D2 participates in the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, and later joins the Rebel strike team on Endor. He helps to bring down the deflector shield so the fleet can destroy the new Death Star.
The two droids seem to form a funny pair: R2 seems decisive and courageous in comparison to C3PO who acts cowardish in certain circumstances. However R2 shouldn't be characterised as 'courageous', since his lack of fear is maybe because he was made less anthropomorphic so that he will do anything he is commanded to like any computer, and no character or personality traits were programmed to him.
R2-D2 in the Expanded Universe
R2-D2 and C-3PO guest starred in a series of segments on the children's television show Sesame Street, aired in 1980. The two also had their own cartoon series, Droids. In the various Star Wars novels and comics they have played a small but significant role.
R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003.
The name supposedly derives from 'Reel 2, Dialogue Track 2', which is an example of some technical nomenclature used in filmmaking. R2-D2 was derived from the robot IQ-9 in the Japanese animation Star Blazers. R2 toys are common.
In the book Norby, the Mixed-up Robot, Norby is called an "R2" model, apparently after R2-D2.
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