Peter Mayhew
Peter Mayhew was an English-American actor. He is best known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series.
Peter was born on 19th May 1944 in Barnes Surrey. He first started his acting career in 1977 where he played a role in Sinbad and The Eye of The Tiger. The producers discovered him from a photograph in a newspaper article about men with large feet. So the producers cast him with the role of a minotaur.
Peter Mayhew Works
Peter had his major success from the Star Wars. The director George Lucas needed a tall actor who could fit the role of a hairy alien Chewbacca. Mayhew did research for the character by observing the behavior of bears, monkeys, and gorillas at the zoo.
After that Peter Mayhew played in five Star Wars movies listed as below.
the original trilogy Star Wars,
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi),
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Pater Mayhew also played on commercials and made appearances for sick children at hospitals. He also made appearances as Chewbacca outside Star Wars films. Mayhew had to retire his role as Chewbacca due to health issues. However, he was a consultant for Chewbacca role for the Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In 1997 he was awarded MTV Film Awards.
His other works include 1978 horror film Terror. He also provided the voice for Sasha
in the English version of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy.
Mayhew wrote two books for younger audiences. Growing Up Giant is about being different and making it as your strength. His other
book is My Favorite Giant that explain about anti-bullying.
Personal Life
Peter Mayhew was married to Mary Angelique on 7 August 1999. They have three children, Katy, Sheryl, and Kathleen. They had a foundation named Peter Mayhew Foundation for individuals and families in crisis situations to food and supplies for children of Venezuela
Peter Mayhew passed away due to heart attack on 30th April 2019 at the age of 74. He was only weeks away from 76th birthday. A memorial service for friends and family would be held on 29 June, and a separate memorial for fans would take place in December at EmpireCon La.
Celebs responded to his death with tweets on Twitter.
He was the gentlest of giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I'm grateful for the memories we shared & I'm a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete #RIPPeterMayhew #Heartbroken @TheWookieeRoars pic.twitter.com/8xbq9HEWF2
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 2, 2019
He was the gentlest of a giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I’m grateful for the memories we shared & I’m a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete #RIPPeterMayhew #Heartbroken @TheWookieeRoars
Much more than Chewie to me…My heart hurts…I will miss you my dear friend…thanks for the great memories! #RIPPeterMayhew #StarWars pic.twitter.com/0DfCo59zpG
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) May 3, 2019
Much more than Chewie to me…My heart hurts…I will miss you my dear friend…thanks for the great memories! #RIPPeterMayhew #StarWars
