Peter Mayhew, the actor who portrayed the iconic Star Wars character Chewbacca, has passed away at the age of 74.
His family released an official statement on his verified Twitter page on Thursday, revealing that the actor passed on April 30.
‘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,’ the statement began.’
RIP: Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, has passed away at the age of 74
Gone but not forgotten: His family released an official statement on his verified Twitter page on Thursday, revealing that the actor passed on April 30
‘Peter was the man behind the mask of Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, episode 3 of the prequels and the new trilogy,’ the statement continued.
‘He fought his way back from being wheelchair-bound and stand tall to portray Chewbacca once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ the statement said.
‘He also consulted on The Last Jedi in an attempt to teach his successor,’ the statement read, referring to Joonas Suotamo, the Finnish basketball player who took over as Chewbacca in The Last Jedi.
Chewie: ‘He fought his way back from being wheelchair-bound and stand tall to portray Chewbacca once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ the statement said
The 7-foot-2-inch tall Mayhew was plucked from obscurity in 1976, when he was working as an orderly at London’s King’s College Hospital.
Producer Charles H. Schneer cast him as a minotaur in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger after seeing a photograph of Mayhew in an article about a man with large feet.
That lead to Mayhew being cast as Chewbacca in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, and the rest is history.
Before Chewie: The 7-foot-2-inch tall Mayhew was plucked from obscurity in 1976, when he was working as an orderly at London’s King’s College Hospital
‘He put his heart and soul into Chewbacca 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,’ the statement continued.
‘But to him, the Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in a film,’ the statement added.’
Mayhew was a mainstay at Star Wars conventions around the world, including the bi-annual Star Wars Celebration, and he was heavily involved in the Make-A-Wish foundation, Wounded Warriors and the Star Wars organization the 501st Legion, a fan collective that creates authentic props and costumes.
Heart and soul: ‘He put his heart and soul into Chewbacca 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,’ the statement continued
He also established The Peter Mayhew Foundation, which supported ‘individuals and families in crisis situations, to providing, ‘food and supplies for children of Venezuela during their recent road to freedom.
The beloved actor, who also appeared in episodes of Glee, Breaking In and the 1981 Dark Tower TV series, is survived by his wife Angie and his their three children.
‘His kindness and generosity and care will live on in The Peter Mayhew Foundation with Angie taking the helm as his voice,’ the statement added.
Foundation: He also established The Peter Mayhew Foundation, which supported ‘individuals and families in crisis situations, to providing, ‘food and supplies for children of Venezuela during their recent road to freedom
The statement also confirmed there will be a memorial service for family and friends on June 29th, and with a public memorial in Los Angeles slated for early December.
The public memorial will be attended by his family, featuring his ‘personal effects and collection’ at the EmpireConLA convention.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, Mayhew’s family asks that fans consider donating to The Peter Mayhew Foundation, ‘so that they can continue his efforts to help the community.
Memorial: The statement also confirmed there will be a memorial service for family and friends on June 29th, and with a public memorial in Los Angeles slated for early December