Peter Mayhew

Peter William Mayhew (Barnes, London, May 19, 1944-Texas, United States, April 30, 2019) was an Anglo-American actor known for his role as Chewbacca in the series of Star Wars movies.

Biography

In 1976, Mayhew, who lived in Yorkshire, was working as an attendant at King's College Hospital in London, when film producer Charles Schneer found him. Schneer hired him for Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, a Ray Harryhausen film with the most modern special effects to date.

It was barely a year before he was asked if he wanted to play another role: that of a huge furry creature. Mayhew was cast because of his tall, 7-foot-12 height, playing the role of Chewbacca, the loyal 200-year-old Wookiee in Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope . His life changed forever. In the following films of the Star Wars trilogy, Mayhew reprized the role, and later did some commercials in the Chewbacca costume.

In 1997—the 20th anniversary celebration of Star Wars—the creation of the Special Edition was announced. Mayhew appeared at the Men Behind the Masks convention. On the Star Wars convention circuit, he signed autographs, made speeches to fans and kept interest in his character high.

Peter Mayhew brought Chewbacca back to life in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and in the film Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, released in December 2015.

Mayhew did not reprise his role as Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi due to ill health. Joonas Suotamo, who co-starred with Mayhew in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, took over as Chewbacca in the film.

Filmography

Cinema and television

Death

On May 3, 2019, through a statement on his Twitter account, the relatives published a tweet where they mourned and commented that Mayhew passed away on April 30, 2019 at his home in the north from Texas in the company of their relatives.