Actor Peter Mayhew, best known for playing Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, died Tuesday at his home in Texas, his family announced Thursday. He was 74.
"He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films," his family said in a statement. Mayhew enjoyed traveling around the world meeting Star Wars fans, they added, and developed lifelong bonds with his co-stars.
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