Peter Mayhew, The Man Who Played Chewbacca Has Died.

By jsmith on May 2, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 09: Actor Peter Mayhew attends the premiere of Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at The Shrine Auditorium on December 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Peter Mayhew.  The “Gentle Giant” behind Han Solo’s furry co-pilot Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, passed away this week.  He was 74 years old.

According to his Twitter account, his family was by his side in his Texas home when he passed on Tuesday.

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Mayhew first played Chewie in 1977, and continued his role until 2015 with The Force Awakens.  He was even there for the now infamous “Christmas Special” in which we meet Chewbacca’s Family.   Most fans credit Mayhew’s body language and expressiveness which made Chewie more than just a “Walking Carpet”.

 

ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 13: Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew and Mark Hamill attend the 40 Years of Star Wars panel during the 2017 Star Wars Celebrationat Orange County Convention Center on April 13, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney)

Over the summer he had undergone spinal surgery, hoping to improve his mobility.

A private memorial will take in June,  Mayhew is survived by his wife Angie and three children.

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