The guy who originally played Chewbacca has become one (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/05/chewbacca-actor-peter-mayhew-is-dead-at-74/) with the Force
QuotePeter Mayhew, who portrayed Chewbacca in all the character's live-action scenes until 2015's The Force Awakens, has died at his home in Texas. The British-born actor was 74 years old.
Mayhew was an aspiring actor working as a hospital orderly in 1976 when George Lucas tapped him to play the part. Mayhew's primary qualification for the job was his height: he stood 7 feet 3 inches tall (220 cm). That was tall enough to tower over Darth Vader, played by the six-foot-six (200 cm) David Prowse. Mayhew didn't utter Chewbacca's famous grunts and growls—those were voiced by sound-effects legend Ben Burtt.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mayhew went back to his hospital work after playing Chewie in Star Wars. He came back to play the character again in The Empire Strikes Back and then Return of the Jedi. By that point, his character had become famous enough that he could make his living on the convention circuit.
:(
This is a really sad day. Mark Hamill tweeted a very touching tribute to Peter.
Mark Hamill
Verified account @HamillHimself
He was the gentlest of giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I'm grateful for the memories we shared & I'm a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete #RIPPeterMayhew #Heartbroken @TheWookieeRoars
There are some super sad comments after Mark's tweet. Ugh.
https://twitter.com/HamillHimself/status/1124093358798929920
Truly sad news. :(
RIP Peter :bluesad:
:(
R.I.P
One of his first roles was as the mechanical minatour in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger While Harryhausen provided most of the stop-motion effects for the character, Peter Mayhew would don a suit to portray it in some shots.
(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/55/b9/f0/55b9f0ff09b79c825984209da76755cc.jpg)