Some very sad news this evening, as it has been announced that actor Peter Mayhew – best known for his iconic role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies – has passed away aged 74.
“The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away,” reads a statement from the family on Twitter. “He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home.”
Born in Surrey in 1944, Mayhew began his career as an actor in 1976 with a role as the minotaur in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and was working as an orderly in King’s College Hospital London when he found himself cast as the beloved Wookiee in George Lucas’ Star Wars.
Mayhew went on to reprise the role of Chewie in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as serving as ‘Chewbacca Consultant’ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story, having passed on the role to Joonas Suotamo due to health issues.
