Peter Mayhew
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
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| Peter Mayhew | |
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- "This [Star Wars] has been the best thing that ever happened to me. In the last 25 years, I've been able to travel all over the world, get paid for it. I never have to pay for a thing. I can go out in public without being recognized. If I want to be recognized in public, it will happen. Star Wars was great to me. I'm set for life."
- ―Peter Mayhew[src]
Peter Mayhew (born May 19, 1944 in Barnes, London, England) is best known for his portrayal of Chewbacca in the Star Wars films.
He received the part of Chewbacca about ten seconds after meeting George Lucas. All he did was stand up. George Lucas needed two tall actors to be Chewbacca and Darth Vader. At 7 feet 3 inches, Peter Mayhew was tall enough. David Prowse, who was also tall, and Peter Mayhew were given the option of which giant character they wanted to play. Peter wanted to be a good guy and David wanted to be a bad guy so they got their respective parts.[1] In addition to his work as Chewbacca in the films, he has appeared in-character in various commercials and for hospital appearances for sick children.
Mayhew now lives in Granbury, Texas, and is the owner of his own business. He took the oath to become an American naturalized citizen of the United States on October 17, 2005 at a ceremony in Arlington, Texas.[2] In an interview with the Fort Worth Star Telegram, he jokingly noted that he didn't get a medal at this ceremony either; a reference to the Star Wars scene in which Luke and Han get medals but the Wookiee gets none.
He was kind enough to make a cameo as himself in the Paducah Imperials FanForce feature length fan film Star Wars Fanboy, scaring off stormtroopers with Wookiee noises, some of which he made himself on set.
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[edit] Star Wars filmography
| Title | Release Date | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope | May 25, 1977 | Chewbacca |
| The Star Wars Holiday Special | November 17, 1978 | Chewbacca |
| The Muppet Show Episode #4.17: "Mark Hamill/Star Wars" | January 16, 1980 | Chewbacca |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back | May 21, 1980 | Chewbacca |
| Return of the Ewok | 1982 | Chewbacca |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi | May 25, 1983 | Chewbacca |
| 1997 MTV Movie Awards | June 7, 1997 | Chewbacca |
| Live with Regis and Kelly: Episode dated May 17, 2005 | May 17, 2005 | Himself (as Chewbacca) |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | May 19, 2005 | Chewbacca |
