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Mayhew died Tuesday at his home in North Texas, according to a statement from his family.
As a Chewbacca, known to his friends as Chewie, the 7 foot 3 inch Mayhew was a fierce, tender-hearted warrior, Harrison Ford's hapless sidekick and co-driver. of the millennium hawk.
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Mayhew then appeared as the Wookiee in the 2005 edition of "Revenge of the Sith" and shared the role in "The Force Awakens" in 2015 with actor Joonas Suotamo, who took over the role in the following films.
"Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, endowed with great dignity and a noble character," Ford said in a statement released Thursday. "He brought to Chewbacca these aspects of his own personality, as well as his spirit and grace.We were partners in the cinema and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him … My thoughts are going to his beloved wife Angie and her children "Rest easy, my dear friend."
Mayhew defined the famous Wookiee and became a world-renowned actor for most of his life without saying a word or even make a sound – the famous roar of Chewbacca was creating a sound "He put his heart and soul in the role of Chewbacca and it shows in all the movies," says the family release. But for him, the family 'Star Wars' meant so much more for him than a role in a movie. "
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker alongside Mayhew, wrote on Twitter that he was" the sweetest of the giants "- a big Even bigger man who has never failed to make me smile and to a faithful friend that I loved very much.I am grateful for the memories we shared and I am a better man for him. "[19659004] Born in England, Mayhew appeared in a single film and worked as a paramedic in London when George Lucas, who shot the first film in England, found him and l? was thrown in 1977 Star Wars .
Lucas quickly chose when he saw Mayhew, who liked to say that all he had to do to get the role was to get up.
"Peter was a wonderful man," Lucas said in a statement. "He was the closest that a human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, sweet nature … and I've learned to let him always win. C & # He was a good friend and I am saddened by his pbading. "
Then, Star Wars would become Mayhew's life. He constantly appeared in the costume in commercials, television specials and public events. The long, frizzy hair that he saw almost his entire adult life made those who saw him in real life believe that he was Chewbacca, as well as his height.
His height, result of a genetic disorder known as Marfan's syndrome, was at the origin of the constant health complications late in his life. He had breathing problems, his speech became limited and he often had to use scooters and wheelchairs instead of walking.
His family claimed that fighting for this role one last time in "The Awakening of Strength" was a triumph. 196519004] Even after his retirement, Mayhew served as advisor to his successor Suotamo, a former Finnish basketball player who told The Associated Press last year that Mayhew had put him in the camp. drive "Wookiee" before playing the role in "Solo". 19659004] Mayhew spent most of his life in the United States. He became a US citizen in 2005.
This character, more than 200 years old, was compared to a monkey, a bear, and Bigfoot, and carried a shoulder strap with ammunition for his laser rifle. as one of the most alluring elements of the original Star Wars a product from a smaller budget science fiction offering.
The films themselves seemed to recognize him.
"Will someb ody have this big treadmill in my way ?!" Carrie Fisher, as Princess Leia says, in the original Star Wars . It was one of the film's laughing highlights, just like Ford calling Chewie "fuzz ball" in "The Empire Strikes Back".
But Chewbacca would become as durable as an element of the Star Wars galaxy as any other character. His roar – which according to Atlantic magazine was made up of field recordings of bears, lions, badgers and other animals – was as famous as any sound from the # 39; universe.
"Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together," Ford said in his statement.
Mayhew is the third major member of the original cast to die in recent years. Fisher and the actor R2-D2 Kenny Baker died in 2016.
Mayhew's family has declared herself active in various non-profit groups and created the Peter Mayhew Foundation, which is dedicated to alleviating illness, pain, suffering and the financial consequences of traumatic events. The family asked that in the place of flowers, friends and fans donate to the foundation.
Mayhew is survived by his wife Angie and three children. A private service will be held on June 29, followed by a public memorial in early December at a convention in Los Angeles Star Wars .
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