Peter Mayhew English actor Date of Birth: 19.05.1944 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Peter Mayhew

Peter Mayhew is an English actor best known for his role as Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series. He stands at a height of seven feet and three inches (2.21 meters). Mayhew was born in Barnes, England. Initially, he had no plans to pursue an acting career, as finding roles with his height was quite challenging at the time. However, fate found him when he was working at a hospital in London and was discovered by producer Charles Schneer. It was Schneer who invited Mayhew to play a role in the epic fantasy film "Sinbad & The Eye of the Tiger." After this role, Mayhew was invited to another science fiction film being made at the time - "Star Wars."

After meeting the young director and screenwriter George Lucas, Mayhew was offered two roles - Chewbacca, one of the main characters, or the villainous Darth Vader. Mayhew chose the first option as he wanted to play someone positive, and the role of Vader went to actor David Prowse. Despite his intimidating appearance, Chewbacca won the hearts of millions of children worldwide, becoming more of a lovable pet rather than a monster, even with his signature crossbow. "Star Wars" surpassed "Jaws" at the box office, becoming the most profitable project of that time. Mayhew, along with his co-stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford, became stars.

Subsequently, Mayhew returned to his regular job at the hospital, but the furry character of Chewbacca continued to follow him. The portrayal of the character was significantly enhanced in "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, and in 1983, the final film of the original trilogy, "Return of the Jedi," was released. In addition to these films, Mayhew played Chewbacca in a less-known but focused "Star Wars" holiday special on CBS and in "The Muppet Show." Despite never showing his real face on screen, Mayhew became well-known. He frequently attended science fiction and comic book conventions, where fans would line up to get his autograph. His appearance was not a secret, as two special films, "The Making Of Star Wars" and "SPFX: The Empire Strikes Back," were actively televised at the time and featured Mayhew without his Chewbacca mask.

Mayhew's fan base did not decrease over the years, and in 1997, he received a special achievement award at the MTV Movie Awards ceremony, presented by his co-star Carrie Fisher. It is worth noting that Mayhew truly earned such recognition, as he created a memorable character with limited means, such as growls, head movements, and the use of his expressive blue eyes. In October 2005, Mayhew fulfilled one of his old dreams by finally obtaining US citizenship. Although he no longer acts in films, his life in Texas is far from calm as he continuously travels to various fan events, where he is greeted by generations of fans who appreciate his work.