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Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, did not create the character's distinctive roar. Mayhew played the Wookiee in five Star Wars films, from the 1977 original to 2015's The Force Awakens. He also made appearances as Chewbacca outside of the Star Wars films, including commercials and hospital visits for sick children. Mayhew's Chewbacca had no lines, and his roars were added later in post-production. The actor himself described how he delivered his lines in English on set, and the Wookiee roars were added in later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter William Mayhew |
| Date of Birth | 19 May 1944 |
| Date of Death | 30 April 2019 |
| Age at Death | 74 |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Height | 7 feet 2 inches (2.18m) or 7 feet 3 inches (2.21m) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable Roles | Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series |
| Chewbacca Sounds | Created by sound designer Ben Burtt using animal noises and Mayhew's grunts |
| Chewbacca Dialogue | Mayhew occasionally delivered Chewbacca's lines in English to add context for other actors |
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What You'll Learn
Peter Mayhew's Chewbacca spoke English on set
Peter Mayhew, the British-American actor who portrayed Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series, occasionally spoke English on set while playing the character. Mayhew played the 200-year-old Wookiee in five Star Wars films: the original trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He also played the role in the 1978 television film Star Wars Holiday Special and in a 1980 appearance on The Muppet Show.
In a behind-the-scenes clip from the documentary "Star Wars: Deleted Magic," Mayhew is seen delivering one of Chewbacca's lines, "That old man's mad," in English while filming a scene with Harrison Ford. Mayhew also stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that his Wookiee roars were added later after filming the scenes, and George Lucas originally intended for Chewbacca to be "a mime character."
Mayhew's decision to speak English on set provided context for the other actors and helped them understand Chewbacca's dialogue, which was dubbed over for the final theatrical release. This showcases Mayhew's dedication to his craft and his understanding of the importance of clear communication on set.
In addition to his work in the Star Wars franchise, Mayhew also appeared in other films and television shows. He played a minotaur in the 1977 film Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and had roles in the 1978 horror film Terror and the English version of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy, where he provided the voice for Susha. He also wrote two books, "Growing Up Giant" and "My Favorite Giant," and established the Peter Mayhew Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping those affected by traumatic life events.
Peter Mayhew's talent, kindness, and dedication to his craft have left a lasting impact on the Star Wars franchise and the lives of his fans. His portrayal of Chewbacca, both in English and through his expressive body language and eyes, has made the character a beloved icon in the world of cinema.
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Chewbacca's noises were added later
Peter Mayhew, the actor behind Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, did not provide the voice for the character. While Mayhew did occasionally deliver his lines in English on set to add context for the other actors, he mostly remained silent and mimed the character. All of Chewbacca's iconic roars and growls were added in later during post-production.
Director George Lucas originally intended for Chewbacca to be a "mime character". Sound designer Ben Burtt created the Wookiee's voice using animal noises, including those of bears, monkeys, and gorillas. Burtt also recorded "little grunts" from Mayhew and put them on one tape, then collected sounds covering a range of emotions, such as affection and anger.
Mayhew's contributions to the character were nonetheless significant. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy praised his "skillful use of gesture, posture, and eyes" in bringing Chewbacca to life. Actor Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo to Mayhew's Chewbacca, said, "He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience. Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together."
Mayhew played Chewbacca in five Star Wars films: the original trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He also appeared as the character in commercials and hospital visits for sick children, and made numerous other appearances outside of the Star Wars films.
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Mayhew's Wookiee roars were inspired by animal sounds
Peter Mayhew, the British-American actor who portrayed Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series, did not provide the voice of the 200-year-old Wookiee. The character's distinctive growl was inspired by animal sounds, which Mayhew himself studied to prepare for the role.
Mayhew modelled his performance after researching the behaviour of bears, monkeys and gorillas at the London Zoo. Director George Lucas said that Mayhew was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee, and that he let him win during their chess games.
The Wookiee roars were added later and created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who extracted little grunts and put them all on one tape, according to Mayhew. The animal sounds were then modified to convey a range of emotions, such as affection and anger.
Mayhew's performance brought the character to life, and he is remembered fondly by fans and colleagues alike. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo to Mayhew's Chewbacca, described him as "a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca."
While Mayhew did not provide the voice for Chewbacca, he embodied the character through his body language and expressiveness, including the use of gesture, posture, and eyes. Mayhew's performance added context for the other actors, and he would occasionally deliver his lines in English before the Wookiee roars were added in later.
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Mayhew shared the role with Joonas Suotamo
Peter Mayhew, the original actor who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series, shared the role with Joonas Suotamo. Mayhew played the character in all of his live-action appearances from the 1977 original to 2015's The Force Awakens before his retirement from the role.
Joonas Suotamo is a Finnish actor and former professional basketball player. He is best known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars saga, taking over the role from Peter Mayhew, first as a body double, with Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Suotamo was born in Espoo, Finland, on October 3, 1986. He stands at a towering height of 6'9", 6'10", or 6'11", depending on the source.
Mayhew's advancing age and health issues made it difficult for him to continue in the role. He underwent double knee replacement surgery in 2013 and was a full-time wheelchair user for two years before The Force Awakens began filming. Suotamo took over more physically demanding sequences in The Force Awakens and eventually replaced Mayhew entirely in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Mayhew served as a consultant on The Last Jedi, ensuring continuity in the portrayal of Chewbacca.
Suotamo continued to study and seek insight from Mayhew's performances, praising the veteran actor for the warmth and personality he brought to the character. In an interview, Mayhew expressed his confidence in Suotamo, stating that he "learned very, very quickly" and understood the importance of the fans' devotion to the franchise.
Both actors brought their own physicality and interpretation to the role of Chewbacca, with Mayhew's performance inspired by researching the behaviour of bears, monkeys, and gorillas at the London Zoo. Mayhew's unique height of 7'3" and gentle nature made him, in the words of George Lucas, "the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee." Suotamo, while slightly shorter, still towered over his co-stars, bringing his own athletic prowess and dedication to the iconic character.
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Mayhew played Chewbacca for almost 40 years
Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca, the beloved Wookiee in the Star Wars films, for almost 40 years. Mayhew was born in Barnes, Surrey, in 1944 and was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight. He also had a genetic tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome and grew to a towering height of 7ft 2in (2.18m). He worked as an orderly at King's College Hospital in London before being spotted by film producers for his role in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.
Mayhew's distinctive height and gentle nature made him the perfect choice for the role of Chewbacca, a hairy alien in the Star Wars films. He played the character in all of his live-action appearances from the 1977 original to 2015's The Force Awakens. Mayhew's performance as Chewbacca was so iconic that he became known as an ambassador for the whole Star Wars trilogy. He also made appearances as Chewbacca outside of the Star Wars films, including commercials and hospital visits for sick children.
Although Mayhew did not provide the voice of Chewbacca, he brought the character to life through his body language and expressive eyes. In a behind-the-scenes clip, Mayhew can be seen delivering one of Chewbacca's lines in English to provide context for the other actors. He also modelled his performance after researching the behaviour of bears, monkeys, and gorillas at the London Zoo.
Mayhew shared the role of Chewbacca with Joonas Suotamo in The Force Awakens due to health issues and mobility problems. Suotamo then took over the role completely in subsequent Star Wars films, with Mayhew serving as a consultant on The Last Jedi. Peter Mayhew died in 2019 at the age of 74, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films.
No, all of Chewbacca's iconic roars were added in later. The sounds were derived from recordings of animal noises.
Yes, he occasionally delivered his lines in English to add context for the other actors.
No, Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca in every Star Wars film except Star Wars: The Last Jedi. He retired from the role due to health issues.
Yes, he played Chewbacca in commercials, hospital appearances for sick children, and numerous other appearances outside the Star Wars films.
