Peter Mayhew

Acting · Born 1944-05-19 · Barnes, London, England, UK

Biography

Peter Mayhew (May 19, 1944 – April 30, 2019) was a British-American actor, best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars films. Mayhew was born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, where he was also raised. His height was a product not of gigantism — "I don't have the big head" — but of an overactive pituitary gland secondary to a genetic disease called Marfan Syndrome. The overactive pituitary gland was treated successfully in his mid-teens. His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m)

Known for

• Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey (2016)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
• Jedi Junkies (2010)
• Fanboys (2009)
• Yesterday Was a Lie (2009)
• Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Comic Book: The Movie (2004)
• When Star Wars Ruled the World (2004)
• Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004)
• The Story of Star Wars (2004)
• The Characters of Star Wars (2004)
• Comic Book Villains (2002)
• The Very Best of the Muppet Show (1999)
• The Unauthorized Star Wars Story (1999)
• Return of the Ewok (1994)
• Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983)
• The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• The Making of The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Terror (1979)
• The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
• Star Wars (1977)
• Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)