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Peter Mayhew

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For other people named Peter Mayhew, see Peter Mayhew (disambiguation).
Peter Mayhew
Mayhew at the Florida SuperCon, June 2015
Born (1944-05-19) 19 May 1944 (age 80)
Barnes, England, UK
NationalityBritish, American
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
Known forPlaying Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise
Height7 ft 3 in (221 cm)
SpouseAngie Luker (1999–present)

Peter Mayhew (born 19 May 1944)[1] is an English actor of American citizenship and previously a hospital orderly. Mayhew was born in Barnes, south west London, now residing in Boyd, Texas. He is 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) tall and best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series, but has also appeared in other films. He has written two books. Mayhew is now active in Star Wars communities.

Early life

Mayhew was born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, in South West London, where he was also raised.[1] His height is not a product of gigantism — "I don't have the big head" — but of a connective tissue disorder called Marfan's Syndrome.[2][3] His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm).[4]

Career

Early work

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.[5][6]

Chewbacca

Mayhew at the Big Apple Con, 14 November 2008, sitting in front of an image of his most famous role as Chewbacca

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 at Mayday Hospital, and says that all he had to do to be cast in the role of Chewbacca was stand up.[5][7][8]

Mayhew has played Chewbacca in five Star Wars films: the original trilogy (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: 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".[9][10]

Mayhew plays the role in commercials and in hospital appearances for sick children and has made numerous appearances as Chewbacca outside the Star Wars films. Mayhew as Chewbacca was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the MTV Film Awards 1997. He was additionally honoured at the release of the new PlayStation Portable where he dressed as Chewbacca and held up the new PSP slim version.

He has made other media appearances without the Chewbacca costume. He appeared on NBC's Identity, where his identity was based on the fact that he played Chewbacca and was a frequent guest in the early days of Slice of SciFi.

Other work

Outside Star Wars, Mayhew has appeared in the 1978 horror film Terror, directed by Norman J. Warren. In the English version of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy, he provided the voice for Susha.

Books

Mayhew has written two books for younger audience: "Growing Up Giant"[11] which explains that being different is a strength instead of a weakness and anti-bullying book for children "My Favorite Giant".[12]

Personal life

Mayhew lives in Boyd, Texas[13] and is a business owner. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2005 at a ceremony in Arlington, Texas.[14] In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he joked that he did not get a medal at this ceremony either, a reference to the Star Wars scene in which Luke and Han get medals but Chewbacca does not. Mayhew noted in an MTV interview that although Chewbacca does not get a medal in the film, he does get the last line, when he roars.[15]

Mayhew underwent double knee replacement surgery in 2013.[16] In January 2015, Mayhew was briefly hospitalized near his home in Texas, due to a bout of pneumonia.[17][18]

As of the year 2013, Mayhew has been crowned as "Emperor for Life" by the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus. [19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger Minoton Uncredited
Star Wars Chewbacca
1978 Terror The Mechanic
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Chewbacca
1982 Return of the Ewok Chewbacca Video short
1983 Return of the Jedi Chewbacca
1987 Star Tours Chewbacca Short, uncredited
2004 Comic Book: The Movie Himself
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Chewbacca
2008 Yesterday Was a Lie Dead Man
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Chewbacca

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Donny & Marie Chewbacca Episode # 3.1
1978 Star Wars Holiday Special Chewbacca TV Special
1980 The Muppet Show Chewbacca Episode: The Stars of Star Wars
1981 Dark Towers The Tall Knight 5 episodes
1985 The Kenny Everett Television Show Various Episode #3.3
2011 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chewbacca Episode: Wookiee Hunt, voice
Glee Chewbacca Episode: Extraordinary Merry Christmas

References

  1. ^ a b "Entertainment". Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter. 2009-05-19. p. C6.
  2. ^ Karl Quinn (12 April 2014). "Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew in Melbourne for Supernova fan convention". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  3. ^ Vankin, Jonathan (20 January 2015). "'Star Wars' actor, Peter 'Chewbacca' Mayhew, 70, stricken with pneumonia - sends fans message from hospital". Inquisitr. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Peter Mayhew". Petermayhew.com.
  5. ^ a b Clark, Mark (2015). Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN 978-1480360181.
  6. ^ Hutchinson, Sean (19 May 2015). "15 Chewbacca Facts in Honour of Peter Mayhew's Birthday". Mental Floss. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  7. ^ Gonzalez Jr., Arturo F. (26 September 1977). "Unzipped from His Wookie Suit, Peter Mayhew of Star Wars Is Zapped into Near Penury". People. 8 (13). Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  8. ^ Mayhew, Peter. "Peter Mayhew David Prowse at Salt Lake City Comicon". YouTube. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  9. ^ Remaking Wookiee: Chewbacca Becomes a Character on 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars', retrieved 2011-05-31
  10. ^ "The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Wookiee Hunt", StarWars.com, retrieved April 1, 2011
  11. ^ Peter Mayhew; Angie Mayhew (19 November 2013). My Favorite Giant. One Mans Posse Production. ISBN 978-1-62098-826-8.
  12. ^ My Favorite Giant by Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), by Carrie Goldman
  13. ^ Malone, Megan (February 9, 2012). "Chewbacca Making Dallas-Area Appearances" NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth". KXAS-TV.
  14. ^ "Star Wars actor who played Chewbacca to become American citizen". The Canadian Press. 2005-10-12. p. 16.
  15. ^ "'Star Wars' actor, others pledge their allegiance", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, People Watch, Metro Section, page B2, October 18, 2005.
  16. ^ "Wookie knee repair: 'Star Wars' actor Peter Mayhew hopes to walk again after Fort Worth surgery". The Dallas Morning News. September 11, 2013
  17. ^ Sacks, Ethan (January 19, 2015). "‘Star Wars’ star Peter Mayhew hospitalized for pneumonia: report ". Daily News (New York).
  18. ^ Parker, Ryan (January 19, 2015). "'Star Wars' actor Peter Mayhew hospitalized with pneumonia ". Los Angeles Times.
  19. ^ http://chewbacchus.org/parade/parade-archive/chewbacchus-2013-return-of-the-wookiee/
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