Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, has died at age 74, his family says. Mayhew passed away on April 30 at his home in Texas surrounded by his family, a statement says.
The British-American actor was well known for playing the giant, Wookiee warrior, Chewbacca, in the original trilogy beginning in 1977 as well as later films.
“He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame,” his family said. They said that “the Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in a film”. “The relationships that began then grew into the friends and family that he would love for decades to come.”
The statement did not release what Mayhew’s cause of death was.
The actor, who was 7ft 2in (2.18m) tall, is survived by his wife Angie and three children.
Read the family’s full statement below.
The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home. pic.twitter.com/YZ5VLyuK0u
— Peter Mayhew Foundation (@TheWookieeRoars) May 2, 2019
(BBC)
