What was Peter Mayhew's net worth and salary?
Peter Mayhew, the British actor and comedian, had an estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 2019. He was renowned for his portrayal of Chewbacca in the Star Wars films.
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Peter Mayhew was born in Barnes, Surrey, London, England on May 19, 1944. At the age of 8, he was diagnosed with gigantism, and he eventually grew to a height of seven feet one inch.
Career
Mayhew started his acting career in the mid-70s. Standing at 7 feet 3 inches tall, his first role was playing a minotaur in the 1977 British film "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger." He was discovered and cast after the producers saw his photo in a newspaper article about men with large feet.
Discover the Surprising Fortune of TV Legend Chuck Connors – You Won't Believe His Wealth!He went on to appear in various projects, including the 1978 film "Terror." However, he is most widely recognized for his portrayal of Chewbacca, the towering Wookie companion to Han Solo in the Star Wars trilogy. Director George Lucas was in need of a tall actor for the role and originally considered 6-foot-6 bodybuilder David Prowse, who later played Darth Vader.
Mayhew came across a casting call for Star Wars, which was being filmed at Elstree Studios in England while he was working as a hospital orderly in Croydon, England. When he introduced himself to Lucas, he was immediately cast as Chewbacca. He continued his job as an orderly during breaks from filming. To prepare for the role, Mayhew studied bear behavior and observed animals at the London Zoo.
Discover the Astonishing Wealth of Tom Wilkinson: How Much Is the Acclaimed Actor Really Worth?| Film/TV Show | Role |
|---|---|
| Star Wars | Chewbacca |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Chewbacca |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | Chewbacca |
| The Star Wars Holiday Special | Chewbacca |
| The Muppet Show | Chewbacca |
| Clone Wars (animated series) | Voice of Chewbacca |
In addition to the Star Wars films, Mayhew appeared as Chewbacca in commercials, hospital visits for charity, and on various TV shows such as NBC's "Identity" and "Slice of SciFi." He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 MTV Film Awards for his portrayal of Chewbacca. Mayhew also served as a "Chewbacca consultant" on the more recent Star Wars films, including "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." After retiring from the role, Joonas Suotamo took over as Chewbacca.
Aside from his work as Chewbacca, Mayhew contributed his voice to the movie "Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy" and appeared in "Yesterday Was a Lie." He also authored two books for young adults and children: "Growing Up Giant" and "My Favorite Giant."
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Peter Mayhew married Mary Angelique "Angie" Luker in August 1999. Mary already had three children: Katy, Kathleen, and Sheril, whom Peter became a stepfather to. They lived together in Boyd, Texas, where Peter also owned a business. In 2005, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in Arlington, Texas.
Illness and Death
In 2013, Peter underwent double knee replacement surgery. Prior to the surgery, he had been a full-time wheelchair user for two years, and he still relied on it during the filming of "The Force Awakens." He was hospitalized in 2015 due to pneumonia and had spinal surgery in 2018 to improve his mobility.
Discover the Surprising Fortune of Maurice Benard: How Much Is the Soap Opera Legend Really Worth?Tragically, Peter Mayhew passed away from a heart attack on April 30, 2019, at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife and three children. Instead of flowers, his family requested that fans and friends make donations to the Peter Mayhew Foundation, which helps families worldwide dealing with crisis situations. Mary remains the head of the charity. Mayhew's final resting place is the Azleland Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Reno, Texas.
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