Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in Star Wars, dies aged 74
Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford at the European premiere of the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens in London in 2015. Source: Jonathan Short/AP/Press Association Images
“He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films from his knock-kneed running, firing his bowcaster from the hip, his bright blue eyes, down to each subtle movement of his head and mouth,” the statement said. The role was unconventional to say the least — a giant, hairy, 200-year-old humanoid from the planet Kashyyyk.
Mayhew’s family said he had “fought his way back from being wheelchair-bound to stand tall and portray Chewbacca once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, which was released in 2015.As news of Mayhew’s death became public, tributes began to pour in on social media, including from several of his Star Wars co-stars and Lucas himself.
He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience. Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the iconic films, described Mayhew as the “gentlest of giants — A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile and a loyal friend who I loved dearly”.
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