Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, died on April 30 at age 74, his family announced onTwitter. He is survived by his wife, Angie Mayhew, and his three children.
Mayhew’s film career began in 1977 with a role as the Minotaur inSinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, but it wasStar Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which came out the same year, that made him a star. After British actor David Prowse decided to play Darth Vader instead of Han Solo’s faithful companion, George Lucas cast Mayhew as Chewbacca after a very brief audition. AsMayhew told the story, all he had to do was stand up. Lucas took one look at the actor, who stood at 7 feet, 2 inches, turned to his producer Gary Kurtz, and said, “I think we’ve found him.”
After filmingStar Wars, Mayhew went back to working as an orderly at King’s College Hospital in London, but he didn’t stay away from Hollywood for long. Mayhew went on to reprise his role as Chewbacca inThe Star Wars Holiday Special,The Empire Strikes Back,andReturn of the Jedi, and made a brief cameo as the Wookiee inRevenge of the Sith. He suited up again in 2015 forThe Force Awakensbut split acting duties with Joonas Suotamo due to his poor health. Suotamo took over the role for good beginning withThe Last Jedi, although Mayhew continued to serve as a consultant.
Outside ofStar Wars, Mayhew also had roles in the 1978 horror filmTerror, the educational British seriesDark Towers, a voice role inDragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy, and theGleeepisode,Extraordinary Merry Christmas. He also wrote two children’s books with his wife,Growing Up GiantandMy Favorite Giant, and establishedThe Peter Mayhew Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “the alleviation of disease, pain, suffering, and the financial toll brought on by life’s traumatic events.”
Still, Chewbacca remains Mayhew’s best-known and most-loved role, and the actor spent a considerable amount of time visiting children’s hospitals in full costume. “The Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in a film,” Mayhew’s family wrote. “Peter developed lifelong friendships with the other cast members and his fans while on the convention circuit touching the lives of millions.”
A private memorial service for Mayhew’s friends and family will be held on June 29, while fans can pay their respects at an official tribute atEmpireCon LAin early December, just a few weeks before Chewbacca returns to the big screen inStar Wars: Episode IX –The Rise of Skywalker.
