Peter Mayhew, the towering actor who donned a huge, furry costume to give life to the rugged-and-beloved character of Chewbacca in the original B次元官网网址淪tar WarsB次元官网网址� trilogy and two other films, has died.
Mayhew died at his home in north Texas on Tuesday, according to a family statement. He was 74. No cause was given.
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As Chewbacca, known to his friends as Chewie, the 7-foot-3 Mayhew was a fierce warrior with a soft heart, loyal sidekick to Harrison FordB次元官网网址檚 Han Solo, and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon.
Mayhew went on to appear as the Wookiee in the 2005 prequel B次元官网网址淩evenge of the SithB次元官网网址� and shared the part in 2015B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he Force AwakensB次元官网网址� with actor Joonas Suotamo, who took over the role in subsequent films.
He defined the incredibly well-known Wookiee and became a world-famous actor for most of his life without speaking a word or even making a sound B次元官网网址� ChewbaccaB次元官网网址檚 famous roar was the creation of sound designers.
B次元官网网址淗e put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films,B次元官网网址� the family statement said. B次元官网网址淏ut, to him, the B次元官网网址楽tar WarsB次元官网网址� family meant so much more to him than a role in a film.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淧eter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Harrison Ford, who starred opposite Mayhew in four B次元官网网址淪tar WarsB次元官网网址� films, in a statement.
B次元官网网址淗e was the gentlest of giants B次元官网网址� A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-IB次元官网网址檓 grateful for the memories we shared & IB次元官网网址檓 a better man for just having known him.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Mark Hamill, who starred opposite Mayhew in the original B次元官网网址淪tar WarsB次元官网网址� trilogy, via Twitter.
B次元官网网址淧eter was a wonderful man. He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature.and I learned to always let him win. He was a good friend and IB次元官网网址檓 saddened by his passing.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪tar WarsB次元官网网址� creator George Lucas, in a statement.
B次元官网网址淪tudying the character he helped create was always a daunting task, but one that was made easier by his tutelage and kindness as we sought to bring Chewbacca to life for a new generation. He was an absolutely one-of-kind gentleman and a legend of unrivaled class and I will miss him.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Joonas Suotamo, who now plays Chewbacca after serving as his double on B次元官网网址淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,B次元官网网址� via Twitter.
B次元官网网址淩IP Peter Mayhew. To create a beloved character with warmth and humour is a testament to any actorB次元官网网址檚 spirit. To do it under a half ton of yak hair takes a true legend.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Rian Johnson, who directed B次元官网网址淪tar Wars: The Last Jedi,B次元官网网址� via Twitter.
B次元官网网址� JJ Abrams (@jjabrams)
The Associated Press
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