- Peter Mayhew was a famous actor
- He is known for starring as "Chewbacca"
- Learn more about his career in memoriam
Peter Mayhew was born on May 19th, 1944 in Surrey, England. He was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome which led to his incredible height. At one point he reached 7 feet 3 inches!
The Man Behind Star Wars' "Chewbacca"
His first role was in 1977's Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, where he cast because he was seen in a news article about men with big feet. Peter landed his gig in Star Wars when he stood up to shake George Lucas' hand who gave him the role of "Chewbacca" immediately then and there.
Peter Mayhew In Star Wars
Peter had been working as an orderly for a hospital where he continued to work until the 3rd Star Wars film! He studied the movements of bears and gorillas at the London Zoo to create the "Chewbacca" character. The distinct "Wookie" roar he made was not his own but everything else was.
He truly made the character lovable with his subtle hilarious reactions and movements. Peter grew a successful career in portraying "Chewbacca" and loved interacting with fans at conventions. He even reprised his role for the Star Wars reboot The Force Awakens.
Also Interesting:
He's been in 'Star Wars' and 'Harry Potter'!
Then And Now
Peter married his Texas sweetheart Angie Luker in 1999 and they had 3 children together. He committed to becoming a US Citizen and was naturalized in 2005 where he joked he did not get a medal at that ceremony either, a dig at his character not receiving a medal at the end of Star Wars: A New Hope.
Peter passed away from a heart attack in his Texas home on April 30th, 2019. The film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was dedicated to him.
Rest in peace, Peter!
