PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Mark Hamill, 66, reassures worried fans as he is helped through New York airport in a WHEELCHAIR... two weeks before The Last Jedi opens

The actor told his Twitter followers that it was all just a ploy to throw off autograph hunters who 'constantly badger' him

Published: 18:00 GMT, 28 November 2017 | Updated: 23:31 GMT, 28 November 2017

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He appeared in great shape when he surprised fans at Disneyland less than two weeks ago.

But Mark Hamill looked a shadow of his normal self when he arrived at JFK Airport inNew York in a wheelchair on Tuesday.

The actor, 66, appeared slumped to one side and he was pushed along by airport staff - before later taking to Twitter to reassure his worried fans that it was all merely a ploy to throw off autograph hunters who 'constantly badger' him.

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A disturbance in the Force: A fragile-looking Mark Hamill was helped through New York airport in a wheelchair on Tuesday

The sighting came just two weeks before his highly anticipated film Star Wars: The Last Jedi will open, in which he reprises his role as Luke Skywalker.

Hamill kept his face hidden under a wide brim hat, and didn't speak to anyone as he was helped through the JFK terminal.

The Star Wars legend sat silently with his dog on his lap, flanked by two female assistants.

Fans asked him for autographs as he struggled to get into his waiting SUV.

The Last Jedi star certainly still has use of his legs thankfully; he made an appearance on Ellen on Tuesday, walking onto set and standing for a segment where he took on — and lost to — a ten-year-old superfan in a quiz.

Skyroller: The 66-year-old appeared slumped to one side as he was pushed along by airport staff

Ruff time: The Star Wars legend sat silently with his dog on his lap, flanked by two female assistants

Use the farce! Hamill himself later claimed on Twitter that it was all just a ploy to throw off autograph hunters

Talented: The sighting came just two weeks before his highly anticipated film Star Wars : The Last Jedi will open, in which he reprises his role as Luke Skywalker

However he seemed quite out of breath upon initially making it to his chair.

Another source of concern were the actor's hands, which were noticeably trembling throughout the interview.

Some fans on Reddit noticed similar hand tremors during Hamill's appearance at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando last year.

Hand tremors can be caused by something innocuous, but can also be an early symptom of serious neurological illnesses.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hamill's representatives for comment.

Low key: He kept his face hidden under a wide brim hat, and didn't speak to anyone as he was helped through the JFK terminal

Moving on: Fans asked him for autographs as he struggled to get into his waiting SUV

Fine: The much-loved actor appeared in great shape when he surprised fans at Disneyland less than two weeks ago

It was all a trick! Hamill also posted a snap of him looking back to full health as he posed with his dog, Millie Grace, while celebrating her sixth birthday

Hamill himself later claimed on Twitter that it was all just a ploy to throw off autograph hunters, who 'constantly badger' him.

'HA! Arriving 5AM I tried the old "wheelchair trick" JUST 2 avoid autograph $alesmen/Dealer$ who constantly badger me (& my family) 2 increase value of their items-All the better 2 gouge TRUE FANS later on Ebay,' he tweeted.

He added the hashtags: #TheyCanGoForceThemselves #NoMoreAirportSignings

Hamill also posted a snap of him looking back to full health as he posed with his dog, Millie Grace, while celebrating her sixth birthday.

He wrote: 'We arrived in NYC just in time for the 6th birthday of none other than Millie Grace Hamill! Beloved family pet, world traveler & trusted career advisor. LOVE that PUP.'

The star reprises his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, out December 15. Also in the movie is the late Carrie Fisher.

Fine here: He made an appearance on Ellen on Tuesday, walking onto set and standing for a segment where he took on — and lost to — a ten-year-old superfan in a quiz