From Rags to Riches: The Accidental Ways Celebrities Found Their Way to the Spotlight

Some of you might not be familiar with Peter Mayhew, but we’re all familiar with Chewbacca, right? Even if you aren’t a Star Wars enthusiast, you know who Chewbacca is and what he looks like. Well, behind every iconic TV character stands a great man (or woman), and in this case, it’s Peter Mayhew.

Born in England in 1944, Peter Mayhew began his acting career at the age of 33. He appeared in small roles on television and in films throughout the 1970s before landing the role of Chewbacca in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope. Mayhew’s unusual height of 7’3″ (!) and accordingly large foot size made him a perfect match for the role of the legendary Wookiee warrior.