Biography for
Peter Mayhew (II) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

19 May 1944, Barnes, England, UK

Height

7' 1¾" (2.18 m)

Mini Biography

Now residing in Texas, this former resident of Yorkshire, England, was working as a hospital attendant at the King's College Hospital in London when film producer Charles H. Schneer saw his photo, literally standing above the crowd around him. Charles H. Schneer cast him in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977), Ray Harryhausen's newest special effects film. It was just over a year later that he was asked if he wanted to do another role. Mayhew was told it was for a big hairy beast. It was the role of Chewbacca, the faithful 200 year-old Wookiee in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and his life was changed forever. Following the original Star Wars trilogy films Mayhew has done several commercials in the wookiee costume including one for Cingular and Orange associated with Revenge of the Sith, Episode III. In 1997 the twentieth anniversary celebrations of Star Wars were announced with the release of the "Special Edition" and all the conventions started. He is now active on the "Star Wars" convention circuit where he signs autographs. He enjoys woodworking as a hobby when time permits and has a woodworking shop in his garage

IMDb Mini Biography By: Sujit R. Varma

Spouse

Angie Luker

(1999 - present)

Trade Mark

Chewbacca from the Star Wars films

Towering height

Trivia

Prior to starring as Chewbacca in the Star Wars trilogy, he was an orderly at London's King's College Hospital.

Chewbacca won a Lifetime Acheivement award at the MTV Movie Awards.

Mayhew, like many actors connected with the Star Wars universe, makes frequent appearances at Sci-fi conventions. Although famous guests at these events normally make a charge for autographs, some actors connected with famous movies from the past make their living touring different conventions.

After getting the role of Chewbacca, Mayhew went to the zoo and began studying the movements and mannerisms of various large animals to incorporate into the character of Chewbacca.

Fell sick during the filming of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), which prompted director Irvin Kershner to bring in another extremely tall actor to fill in for him as Chewbacca. All the footage with the double was scrapped and re-shot after Mayhew recovered because Irvin Kershner found that the double's body movements didn't match Mayhew's.

He had the option of either playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca, as did David Prowse. Mayhew chose Chewbacca because he wanted to play a hero, whilst David Prowse chose Vader because he wanted to play a villain.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) premiered on his 55th and 61st birthdays respectively. He appeared in the latter but not the former.

Became a naturalized U.S. citizen, along with 441 other people from 77 countries, in Arlington, Texas on October 17, 2005.

Personal Quotes

It's curious that when you look down at people you see their defects, their irregularities more clearly. I like my bird's-eye view. I think it's what gives Chewie his pride, his bigness. Bigness of heart.

When I go to restaurants I can never get my legs under a table. I bump my head in planes. People who sit behind me in the theater hate me. But I have given up apologizing to the world.