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Peter Mayhew (actor)

Peter Mayhew
Peter Mayhew 2015.jpg
Mayhew at the Florida SuperCon, June 2015
Born (1944-05-19) 19 May 1944 (age 72)
Barnes, England, UK
Residence Boyd, Texas, U.S.
Nationality British, American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1976–present
Known for Playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise
Height 7 ft 3 in (221 cm)
Spouse(s) Angie Luker (1999–present)

Peter Mayhew (born 19 May 1944) is an English/American actor who holds American citizenship and is best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series.

Mayhew was born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, South West London, where he was also raised. His height is not a product of gigantism — "I don't have the big head" — but of a connective tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome. His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm).

Mayhew got his first acting job in 1976 when the producers of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger discovered him from a photograph in a newspaper article about men with large feet, and cast him in the role of the minotaur.

When casting his first Star Wars film, producer George Lucas needed a tall actor who could fit the role of the hairy alien Chewbacca. He originally had in mind 6-foot-6-inch (1.98 m) bodybuilder David Prowse, but instead Prowse chose to play Darth Vader. This led Lucas on a search which turned up Mayhew, who was working as an orderly and says that all he had to do to be cast in the role of Chewbacca was stand up.

Mayhew has played Chewbacca in five Star Wars films: the original trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He played the role in the 1978 television film Star Wars Holiday Special and in an appearance on The Muppet Show. He also recorded dialogue for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 finale episode "Wookiee Hunt".


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