Chewbacca actor dead at 74
PETER Mayhew who played Chewbacca in Star Wars has died aged 74, his family have said.
They said he passed away "with his family by his side" at his North Texas home on April 30, The Sun reports.
In a statement they said: "Peter was the man behind the mask of Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, episode 3 of the prequels and the New Trilogy.
"He also consulted on The Last Jedi in an attempt to teach his successor.
"He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films from his knock kneed running, firing his bowcaster from the hip, his bright blue eyes, down to each subtle movement of his head and mouth.
"But, to him, the Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in the film."
The actor, who set up the Peter Mayhew Foundation, is survived by his wife Angie and three children.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
