Peter William Mayhew (19 May 1944 – 30 April 2019) was an English-American actor. He is the actor behind the iconic alien Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise, died earlier this week. He dies at the age of 74 by Heart Attack. His family writes that
“The Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in a film,” and that “for more than 30 years Peter traveled all over the world spending time with his fans and friends.”
Mayhew lived with his wife Mary Angelique (“Angie”) in Boyd, Texas. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2005 at a ceremony in Arlington, Texas.
At the early career, Mayhew got his first acting job in 1976 when the producers of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Discovered him from a photograph in a newspaper article about men with large feet, and cast him in the role of the minotaur. Peter Mayhew played one of the iconic character Chewbacca who is the furry sidekick to Harrison Ford’s Han Solo in Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Mayhew remained the figure behind Chewie. He went on to continue to play the character in
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- The Force Awakens(2015)
- Star Wars Holiday Special
Outside Star Wars
He also appears in numerous appearances as Chewbacca in commercials most recently appearing at Star Wars Celebration last month. He had set up a charity foundation.
The Peter Mayhew Foundation, dedicated to the “alleviation of disease, pain, suffering, and the financial toll brought on by life’s traumatic events.”. Mayhew appeared in the 1978 horror film Terror, directed by Norman J. Warren. In the English version of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy, he provided the voice for Susha. He also appeared in Yesterday Was a Lie. Mayhew wrote two books for a younger audience: Growing Up Giant, which explains that being different is a strength instead of a weakness, and the anti-bullying book for children My Favorite Giant.
The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home. pic.twitter.com/YZ5VLyuK0u
— Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) May 2, 2019
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