Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca - Biography

Star Wars III, IV, V, VI, Clone Wars, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi

Mayhew, was an English hospital worker that inadvertently found himself catapulted into the film industry. While working as an orderly at London’s King’s College Hospital a reporter took a photo of him which was published in a local paper that would change his life.

That photo demonstrated Peter’s towering 7’3” figure and giant frame. By mere chance, the producers of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger saw this which lead to Peter being cast as the Minoton on his first film. Once Peter finished filming he returned to his job at the hospital only to be called again to audition with a gentleman by the name of George Lucas about his project, Star Wars. George walked into the room, Peter stood up to shake his hand like a proper Englishmen and the rest is history.

Peter was asked to bring the mighty Wookiee back to life for; The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), Empire Strikes Back (1980), The Muppet Show (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983).

Peter was again asked to reprise his role as Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith introducing Chewie’s home planet of Kashyyyk and the world of Wookiees. In 2011 Peter’s relationship with his beloved character came full circle by having him voice Chewbacca in Star Wars The Clone Wars.

In 2013 he had a double knee replacement and after his rehabilitation was complete he was cast to reprise his role as Chewbacca for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens which released in 2015. In 2016 he worked as a Chewbacca Consultant with Neal Scanlan, Ailsa Berk, and the CFX team of The Last Jedi to work on training the new actor that would be portraying Chewie in the upcoming films.