This 'Star Wars' superfan blew his $400 tax refund on glamour shots with the cast

By the time he was 18, James Calabrese helped teach a world history class at his high school that intertwined "Star Wars" canon and philosophy into reality.

So, it should surprise no one that Calabrese later blew his tax refund on photos with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and the rest of the cast from the original movies.

"I think I had a little money leftover," Calabrese laughs on the phone with Tech Insider. "It's a reasonable investment."

In spring 2015, the superfan attended the Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, California, with a variety of themed T-shirts and $400 in tow. He waited in line for about five hours to get photos with the stars in attendance — a popular draw for con-goers.

Hamill, Fisher, and others sat perched on high chairs while fans rotated in and out from the scene. Calabrese, ever the jokester, asked his idols to help him recreate scenes from the movies.

Calabrese honored Mark Hamill with a medal, just like Leia does at the end of "A New Hope" after Luke blows up the Death Star.

Though Hamill was one of the more well-known names on Calabrese's checklist, he wasn't scared. The actor gave off a "just a regular dude" vibe.

When Calabrese asked if he could place his lanyard around Hamill's neck, he remembers the actor leaping up from his chair and saying, "Of course."

Ian McDiarmid stood by as Calabrese struck the classic Emperor Palpatine "Force lightning" pose.

While McDiarmid didn't participate, he let Calabrese have his fun.

The actor turns 72 in August — still younger than his character, Emperor Palpatine.

Anthony Daniels got into position as C-3PO without being asked.

Daniels complimented Calabrese's T-shirt, which depicted C-3PO and his counterpart, R2-D2, immediately. Calabrese didn't hesitate to ask, "Can I be your counterpart?"

"No one's ever asked me that, sure," Calabrese remembers Daniels saying. 

He got on his knees so he would be appear much shorter, and Daniels — without prompting — placed his hand atop Calabrese's head. It was the perfect droid prom photo.