British-born actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca the Wookiee, the loyal, furry companion of space buccaneer Han Solo in five of the "Star Wars" movies, has died at age 74, his family said.
Mayhew, whose face was never seen in the "Star Wars" films — his entire body was always clothed in his Wookiee costume — died at his north Texas home on Tuesday, according to the family's statement on Twitter Thursday. No cause of death was given.
The lanky performer made his first appearance as the beloved, bleating Chewbacca character in the landmark 1977 sci-fi fantasy thriller "Star Wars," and went on to co-star in four more films in the blockbuster series — "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi," "Revenge of the Sith" and "The Force Awakens."