Tag Archives: peter mayhew

Chewbacca Actor Gets New Knees and Hopes to Walk Again

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I’ll readily admit to liking the Star Wars saga, they are some of my favorite movies (at least the first three).  Though I’m not such a hardcore Star Wars geek that I know all the actors that were in the original trilogy. Specifically, this may be the first time I’ve ever heard the name of the man who actually played Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew.

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As it turns out, the 69-year-old Mayhew lives only a short distance from me in the Fort Worth suburb of Boyd, Texas.

One of things that landed Mayhew the part of playing the Wookiee was the fact that he is 7’3″ tall. Mayhew, who was born in England, suffers from gigantism. In his younger days he was able to play the part of Chewbacca, but as he aged he began to have problems associated with his condition. Reports indicate that the actor recently underwent surgery to have a double knee replacement after having to use a wheelchair for the last two years. He also reportedly had a tendon stretching procedure to help stabilize his legs.

Here’s hoping Peter a speedy and full recovery. Chewie won’t be the same without you!

[via Key103]

Chewbacca Has a Run in with the TSA

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Man, the TSA can suck. Who knew that going from point A to point B would ever become such a nightmare. Yeah, this isn’t the same country that many of us grew up in. Our rights mean very little these days it seems. And when they harass the likes of Chewbacca, they have finally gone too far.

peter mayhew

For one thing a Wookiee can rip your arms out of it’s socket. For another, when you harass 69-year-old Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca, you will piss off a whole planetful of geeks. The man was just trying to get his large lightsaber cane and be on his way while traveling after attending Denver Comic Con.

Apparently having the incident tweeted encouraged them to release the cane. Wise move TSA. Now go grope Jar-Jar. BTW, how awesome is it that he has a lightsaber cane?

[via Neatorama]