Chewbacca Star Peter Mayhew Passes Away at 74

Peter Mayhew , best lie with for portraying Chewbacca in theStar Warsfilms , has pass away at the age of 74 . The worker brought the lovable Wookiee to life in five of the hot - action moving-picture show : the three installments of the original trilogy , Revenge of the Sith , and one last time in 2015’sThe Force Awakens . He also worked as a consultant on 2017’sThe Last Jedi , coaching Joonas Suotamo in the role .

gestate in Barnes , Surrey in 1944 , Mayhew got his first acting job in 1976 , when he was regorge inSinbad and the Eye of the Tigeras a minotaur . Of course , his big break come a small later , when George Lucas was searching for someone tall to play Chewbacca in the originalStar Warsfilm . As the caption go , all Mayhew needed to do was stand up and Lucas knew he found his man .

news show of Mayhew ’s death was confirm by the doer ’s official Twitter account . He expire on April 30 , 2019 surrounded by family in his North Texas home . No reason of death was collapse at the time .

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Mayhew had a smattering of other film and TV credits to his name , but none of them give him the opportunity to touch on as many lives as Chewbacca did . AfterStar Warsbecame the worldwide phenomenon it still is to this day , Mayhew became one of the most prominent and darling figures in the intact community . Over the course of his career , he worked with the famous 501st Legion , Wounded Warriors , and Make - A - wishing ( visiting hospitalized children in - fictitious character as Chewie ) , and establish the Peter Mayhew Foundation . Even as his age further and he play health problem ( stifle substitution , pneumonia , spinal surgery ) , he never have that soften his spirits . In his own Logos , he would"soldier on,“maintaining a great human relationship withStar Warsfans everywhere .

Of course , by the meter Disney acquire Lucasfilm in 2012 and began acquire newStar Warsmovies , Mayhew was unable to treat the physical demand of the role . OnThe Force Awakens , he cleave duty with Suotamo , and thenSuotamo acquire the part over for commodity . Still , Mayhew remained an alive actor in the galax far , far away by serving as what was officially titled a " Chewbacca Consultant " onThe Last JediandSolo . He helped the unseasoned Suotamo captain the Wookiee ’s mannerisms and body voice communication - ensuring the transition was a unseamed one . Suotamo once again reprises Chewbacca in this December’sStar warfare : The Rise of Skywalker .

Mayhew is survived by his wife Angie and three nipper .