Mark Hamill: Peter Mayhew was 'as kind and gentle as a Wookiee' Star Wars creator George Lucas had wanted a tall actor to play Chewbacca and initially considered 6ft 6in (1.98m) David Prowse for ...

Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca, the gentle giant with a distinctive growl, in Star Wars films for almost 40 years - but how did he find himself inside that huge, hairy costume? The London-born son ...

The walk was different. Do the scenes, come back, take the mask off, Peter was back.” Mayhew, who stood 7 feet, 4 inches (2.24 m) tall, was discovered while working as a hospital orderly in London.