Family members said Peter Mayhew
BOYD, Texas — Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in Star Wars, has died, his family announced Thursday. He was 74. Family members said in a statement posted to Mayhew’s Twitter account that the actor died the evening of April 30,2019, in his North Texas home. Mayhew was born May 19,1944, in England. He played the iconic character from 1977 until 2015, when he retired for health reasons following his appearance in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Joonas Suotamo then assumed the role.”He put his heart and his 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,” his family said.
