Mayhew, the 7-foot, 2-inch actor who was cast as Han Solo’s faithful Wookiee companion Chewbacca while working as a hospital orderly, died on April 30. Mayhew played Chewbacca in all three original Star Wars movies, as well as Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens.
Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, died on April 30 at age 74, his family announced on Twitter. He is survived by his wife, Angie Mayhew, and his three children.
Mayhew’s film career began in 1977 with a role as the Minotaur in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, but it was Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which came out the same year, that made him a star. After British actor David Prowse decided to play Darth Vader instead of Han Solo’s faithful companion, George Lucas cast Mayhew as Chewbacca after a very brief audition. As Mayhew told the story, all he had to do was stand up. Lucas took one look at the actor, who stood at 7 feet, 2 inches, turned to his producer Gary Kurtz, and said, “I think we’ve found him.
