(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Peter Mayhew, the actor best known for playing the Wookiee Chewbacca in the original round of "Star Wars" films, has passed away at the age of 74, his family announced Thursday.
Mayhew died Tuesday at his North Texas home with his family by his side, according to an announcement on Mayhew's Twitter page.
The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home. pic.twitter.com/YZ5VLyuK0u
— Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) May 2, 2019Mayhew, a London native, was a 7-foot-3-inch-tall hospital attendant who drew the notice of "Star Wars" director George Lucas when that 1977 film was being made; it was partly shot in Britain. The science fiction adventure, or space opera, about Luke Skywalker's fight against the evil Empire featured a colorful cast of characters, including Chewbacca, a giant beast with a ruglike coat of fur and a distinctive growl. "Chewie," as he was also known, was the co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon spaceship.
The film was a major success upon its release and was followed by two sequels, "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980 and "Return of the Jedi" in 1983.
Mayhew was featured in the original trilogy and reprised the Chewbacca role in 2005's "Revenge of the Sith," and "The Force Awakens" in 2015, according to the actor's Internet Movie Database page. Actor Joonas Suotamo took over the role.
Mayhew had undergone spinal surgey in July in hopes of improving his mobility, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
