We at the Watchers were saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Mayhew. His family confirmed that he passed away on April 30th, at the age of 74.
Mayhew will be forever remembered for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars films. Born in Surrey in 1944, Mayhew stood at 7ft 3ins- although his extraordinary height was not a product of gigantism, but of Marfan Syndrome (a connective tissue disease).
His first film role was in Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger (1977), where he was cast as a Minotaur. The producers saw him in a newspaper article about men with big feet and contacted him. When he was cast as Chewbacca, Mayhew was working at King's College Hospital in London, as an orderly in the radiology department.
Having seen a casting call for Star Wars, Mayhew went to audition. As Mayhew tells the story, he was cast almost immediately as he stood up to greet George Lucas, and Lucas could see his full height. Although, he could have played one of cinema's biggest villains- both he and Dave Prowse were eligible for either the role of Chewbacca or Darth Vader. Mayhew fancied playing a hero and opted for Chewie, while Prowse took on Vader. He also continued to work at the hospital whilst A New Hope was filming at Elstree.
Knowing that he wouldn't be providing Chewie's voice (sound designer Ben Burtt was hired to do that), it was just a physical role for Mayhew. And yet... there's so much character portrayed in that physical performance. Every tilt of the head, every subtle movement, shows so much. As Han's first mate, co-pilot, amd loyal friend, Chewie is an indelible part of the Star Wars mythos and it's a testament to Mayhew's passion and performance that he's so well thought of. His original costume was made of a combination of real yak and rabbit hair knitted into a base of mohair, which sounds... uncomfortable, although he had a new costume for his return in Revenge Of The Sith.
One thing that had annoyed fans was that, at the end of A New Hope, Chewie isn't given a medal (although Han and Luke are). However, MTV decided to rectify this; at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards, Chewbacca was given a Lifetime Achievement Award - so Mayhew, in full costume, went to accept the award - presented to him by Carrie Fisher. He even gave an acceptance speech, composed of Wookiee grunts!
Away from the Star Wars universe, Mayhew also appeared as The Mechanic in the 1978 film Terror, the Dead Man in Yesterday Was A Lie (2008), and as the terrifying Tall Knight in the 1981 children's serial Dark Towers. He also provided the voice for Susha in the English dub of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy. In later years, like many of his Star Wars colleagues, Mayhew took to the convention circuit to meet the fans and to discuss his time on the films. For over 30 years, he travelled to conventions all around the world. He also set up a charity- The Peter Mayhew Foundation- to help individuals and families in crisis. Tribues have been paid from many of his Star Wars colleagues, and many others. Harrison Ford called him 'a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character', whilst Mark Hamill referred to him as 'the gentlest of giants'. JJ Abrams has said Mayhew was 'kind and patient, supporting and encouraging' and Joonas Suotamo called him a 'gentleman and a legend of unrivaled class'.
However, I think The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson says it best: 'To create a beloved character with warmth and humour is a testament to any actor's spirit. To do it under a half ton of yak hair takes a true legend'.
He is survived by his wife Angie, and their three children. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.
The Watchers
(Rhys, Matt, & Tez)
