Peter Mayhew, the actor behind the expensive Star Wars Chewbacca, dies at the age of 74

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "The & nbsp;Star wars& nbsp; Today's world cries the death of one of the most valued members of the franchise: Peter Mayhew, the actor who starred in five films with Chewbacca, died Tuesday at age. 74 years old. "data-reactid =" 31 "> The Star wars The world is in mourning as today we learn of the death of one of the most beloved members of the franchise: Peter Mayhew, the 7-foot-2 actor who played Chewbacca in five films, is died Tuesday at the age of 74.

Mayhew's family made the announcement on the official Twitter account of the actor on Thursday afternoon.

"Peter Mayhew's family, with deep love and sadness, regrets sharing the news of Peter's death," they wrote. "He left us on the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home."

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Mayhew wore the iconic"fuzzball"Han Solo's hairy and unintelligible wookiee coachman costume in the first three Star wars movies (1977 New hope1980s The empire counter-attack and from 1983 The return of the Jedi) as well as the 2005 prequel The revenge of the Sith. He also played Chewie in & nbsp;the famous special holiday of Star Wars in 1978, who focused on Chewbacca's family as she prepared to celebrate the Wookie Day at the day of life. "data-reactid =" 36 "> Mayhew wore the iconic" fuzzball "costume as the first two Wickiee, the hairy and unintelligible sidekick of the Wookiee. Star wars movies (1977 New hope1980s The empire counter-attack and from 1983 The return of the Jedi) as well as the 2005 prequel The revenge of the Sith. He also played Chewie in the infamous 1978 holiday special, which focused on Chewbacca's family as she prepared to celebrate Wookiee Day, the day of life.

More

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Originally from Barnes, Surrey, United Kingdom, Mayhew returned to the shaggy role for 2015 the force awakens. But because of his chronically bad knees (he spent most of his time on the screen in a wheelchair or with his cane-shaped lightsaber), Mayhew had to part with Joonas Suotamo, a new Finnish basketball player. Although he was physically unable to perform after this film, Mayhew has been consulting with Suotamo for 2017. The last Jedi and the spin-off of last year, Solo: A story of Star Wars"data-reactid =" 57 "> Born in Barnes, Surrey, UK, Mayhew took over the shaggy role for 2015 the force awakens. But because of his chronically bad knees (he spent most of his time on the screen in a wheelchair or with his cane-shaped lightsaber), Mayhew had to part with Joonas Suotamo, a new Finnish basketball player. Although he was physically unable to perform after this film, Mayhew has been consulting with Suotamo for 2017. The last Jedi and the spin-off of last year, Solo: A story of Star Wars.

More

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "At the time, Suotamo & nbsp;posted on Instagram& nbsp; "Peter's advice and kindness were invaluable gifts that warmed my mind and prepared me for this trip. I aspire to make Peter proud and bring Star Wars fans the Chewie they know and love. "Data-reactid =" 78 "> At the time, Suotamo wrote on Instagram that" Peter's advice and kindness were invaluable gifts that warmed my mind. I aspire to make Peter proud and bring Star Wars fans the Chewie they know and love. "

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "A" devastated "Suotamo responded to the death of Mayhew Thursday. "The warm welcome from Peter when I arrived on board for his double the force awakens meant so much to me, "he said in a statement on Twitter. "Studying the character he helped to create was always a difficult task, but his tutelage and kindness made it easier for him as we sought to bring Chewbacca to life for a new generation. He was an absolutely unique gentleman and a legend of an unparalleled class and I will miss him. "Data-reactid =" 79 "> Suotamo" devastated "reacted Thursday to the death of Mayhew." Warm welcome to Peter when I got on board as his double on the force awakens meant so much to me, "he said in a statement on Twitter. "Studying the character he helped to create was always a difficult task, but his tutelage and kindness made it easier for him as we sought to bring Chewbacca to life for a new generation. He was an absolutely unique gentleman and a legend of an unparalleled class and I will miss him. "

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Star wars The Mark Hamill icon also paid tribute to Mayhew on & nbsp;Twitter, writing that his longtime co-star "was the sweetest of the giants. A tall man with an even bigger heart who has never failed to make me smile … a faithful friend that I loved very much. I am grateful for the memories we shared [and] I am a better man to have just known. "" Data-reactid = "82">Star wars icon Mark Hamill also paid tribute to Mayhew on Twitter, writing that his longtime co-star "was the sweetest of the giants. A tall man with an even bigger heart who has never failed to make me smile … a faithful friend that I loved very much. I am grateful for the memories we shared [and] I am a better man to have just known.

Mayhew's family announced that two memorial services were planned for him: one for friends and family on June 29 in an undisclosed location, and an additional event for fans in early December at EmpireConLA in Los Angeles.

Mayhew is survived by his wife Angie and three children.