Chewie was my friend... I loved him
Harrison Ford pays tribute as Chewbacca star dies at 74
HARRISON Ford paid tribute to Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew yesterday, saying he loved him.
He said he would never forget his 7ft 2in co-star, who played Chewbacca in the original film trilogy.
London-born Mayhew died aged 74 on Tuesday and Ford led tributes to the man who brought the Wookiee to life.
‘Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character,’ said Ford, 76.
‘These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him.
‘He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience. I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all. My thoughts are with his dear wife Angie and his children. Rest easy, my dear friend.’ Ford’s character Han Solo piloted the Millennium Falcon with the giant furry creature memorably called ‘a big walking carpet’ by Princess Leia.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, tweeted: ‘A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile and a loyal friend who I loved dearly – I’m grateful for the memories we shared and I’m a better man for just having known him.’
Mayhew is the fourth actor from the original trilogy to pass away after Carrie Fisher and Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2, both died in 2016. Sir Alec Guinness, who played Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi died in 2000.
Star Wars creator George Lucas said: ‘ He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature... and I learned to always let him win.
‘He was a good friend and I’m saddened by his passing.’
Mayhew was born in Barnes, south- west London and was working as an orderly in the radiology department of King’s College hospital when he was spotted by the producers of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger after his photo appeared in a local newspaper.
His role as the minotaur led to 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope set ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.’ At the audition where he met Lucas for the first time, Mayhew stood up on instinct, something he attributed to living in England.
Lucas looked up, shook hands and turned to producer Gary Kurtz and said: ‘I think we found him.’ Mayhew studied large animals at the zoo to find a suitable way for Chewbacca to move.
He did not provide his voice – that was created by the film’s sound designer who mixed the growls of different animals. Mayhew reprised the role in 2005 for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and the first film in Disney’s revival of the franchise, The Force Awakens.
The actor once said that landing the role was the best thing that ever happened to him.
He added: ‘I’ve been able to travel all over the world, get paid for it. I never have to pay for a thing. I can go out in public without being recognised.’
He is survived by his wife and three children.
‘I never have to pay for a thing’