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| Peter Mayhew, the Actor Behind Chewbacca’s Mask in ‘Star Wars,’ Dies at 74 | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Peter Mayhew, the British-born actor best known for portraying the gentle giant Chewbacca in the “Star Wars” movie franchise, died on Tuesday at his home in North Texas. He was 74. | Peter Mayhew, the British-born actor best known for portraying the gentle giant Chewbacca in the “Star Wars” movie franchise, died on Tuesday at his home in North Texas. He was 74. |
| His family confirmed the death in a statement on Thursday but did not specify where he died. In recent years he had lived in Boyd, in Wise County. A representative for Mr. Mayhew said he died after having a heart attack. | His family confirmed the death in a statement on Thursday but did not specify where he died. In recent years he had lived in Boyd, in Wise County. A representative for Mr. Mayhew said he died after having a heart attack. |
| Mr. Mayhew, who was 7-foot-3, climbed into a shaggy costume to play Chewbacca, the menacing-seeming yet cuddly Wookiee who is Han Solo’s sidekick and co-pilot aboard the spaceship Millennium Falcon. | Mr. Mayhew, who was 7-foot-3, climbed into a shaggy costume to play Chewbacca, the menacing-seeming yet cuddly Wookiee who is Han Solo’s sidekick and co-pilot aboard the spaceship Millennium Falcon. |
| He appeared in all three films of the original “Star Wars” trilogy, as well as in the prequel “Revenge of the Sith” in 2005 and the sequel “The Force Awakens” in 2015. | He appeared in all three films of the original “Star Wars” trilogy, as well as in the prequel “Revenge of the Sith” in 2005 and the sequel “The Force Awakens” in 2015. |
| “He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca,” the family statement said, “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.” | “He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca,” the family statement said, “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.” |
| Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, said in a statement on Thursday that Mr. Mayhew was “a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character.” | Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, said in a statement on Thursday that Mr. Mayhew was “a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character.” |
| Peter William Mayhew was born in London on May 19, 1944. He had a form of gigantism and had grown extraordinarily tall by his teens. | Peter William Mayhew was born in London on May 19, 1944. He had a form of gigantism and had grown extraordinarily tall by his teens. |
| He was in his 30s and working as an orderly in a London hospital when a film producer spotted him in a photograph. He was cast as Minoton, a towering bronze figure, in the 1977 movie “Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.” | He was in his 30s and working as an orderly in a London hospital when a film producer spotted him in a photograph. He was cast as Minoton, a towering bronze figure, in the 1977 movie “Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.” |
| Recommended to the director George Lucas, who was casting about at the time for someone to play Chewbacca in the original “Star Wars,” Mr. Mayhew got the job. That movie was also released in 1977. | Recommended to the director George Lucas, who was casting about at the time for someone to play Chewbacca in the original “Star Wars,” Mr. Mayhew got the job. That movie was also released in 1977. |
| Wearing the Wookiee costume, Mr. Mayhew had no lines, per se: The creature’s voice was provided by a sound engineer using recorded animal sounds. | Wearing the Wookiee costume, Mr. Mayhew had no lines, per se: The creature’s voice was provided by a sound engineer using recorded animal sounds. |
| But the role altered the course of Mr. Mayhew’s life. In addition to appearing in the “Star Wars” films, he appeared in commercials involving the character and took on consulting roles. | But the role altered the course of Mr. Mayhew’s life. In addition to appearing in the “Star Wars” films, he appeared in commercials involving the character and took on consulting roles. |
| In a statement, Mr. Lucas said of him, “He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature.” | In a statement, Mr. Lucas said of him, “He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature.” |
| After knee surgery in 2013 made it necessary for Mr. Mayhew to use a wheelchair, it was unclear whether he would be able to portray Chewbacca again. But after a period of rehabilitation he was able to reprise his role one more time in “The Force Awakens.” | After knee surgery in 2013 made it necessary for Mr. Mayhew to use a wheelchair, it was unclear whether he would be able to portray Chewbacca again. But after a period of rehabilitation he was able to reprise his role one more time in “The Force Awakens.” |
| In 2011, Mr. Mayhew and his wife, Angie Mayhew, started the Peter Mayhew Foundation, whose website states that it is “devoted to the alleviation of disease, pain, suffering and the financial toll brought on by life’s traumatic events” by providing financial and other resources to help those in need. In one instance, in 2016, it helped a young woman get approved for a lifesaving lung transplant. | In 2011, Mr. Mayhew and his wife, Angie Mayhew, started the Peter Mayhew Foundation, whose website states that it is “devoted to the alleviation of disease, pain, suffering and the financial toll brought on by life’s traumatic events” by providing financial and other resources to help those in need. In one instance, in 2016, it helped a young woman get approved for a lifesaving lung transplant. |
| Ms. Mayhew will continue to run the foundation, the family said. In addition to her, Mr. Mayhew is survived by three daughters and one grandchild. | Ms. Mayhew will continue to run the foundation, the family said. In addition to her, Mr. Mayhew is survived by three daughters and one grandchild. |
| Mr. Mayhew was popular with fans at conventions and on social media. He was known to carry a cane that resembled a lightsaber, a favorite weapon in the “Star Wars” films. | Mr. Mayhew was popular with fans at conventions and on social media. He was known to carry a cane that resembled a lightsaber, a favorite weapon in the “Star Wars” films. |
| Once, at an airport, his lightsaber drew the attention of Transportation Security Administration workers, who investigated it briefly before waving him on. Mr. Mayhew enjoyed the moment and tweeted about it. | Once, at an airport, his lightsaber drew the attention of Transportation Security Administration workers, who investigated it briefly before waving him on. Mr. Mayhew enjoyed the moment and tweeted about it. |