<P> Mayhew was born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, South West London, where he was also raised . His height is not a product of gigantism--"I don't have the big head"--but of a connective tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome . His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm). </P> <P> Mayhew got his first acting job in 1976 when the producers of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger discovered him from a photograph in a newspaper article about men with large feet, and cast him in the role of the minotaur . </P> <P> When casting his first Star Wars film, producer George Lucas needed a tall actor who could fit the role of the hairy alien Chewbacca . He originally had in mind 6 - foot - 6 - inch (1.98 m) bodybuilder David Prowse, but instead Prowse chose to play Darth Vader . This led Lucas on a search which turned up Mayhew, who was working as an orderly and says that all he had to do to be cast in the role of Chewbacca was stand up . </P> <P> Mayhew has played Chewbacca in five Star Wars films: the original trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Force Awakens . He played the role in the 1978 television film Star Wars Holiday Special and in an appearance on The Muppet Show . He also recorded dialogue for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 finale episode "Wookiee Hunt". </P>

Who played chewbacca in star wars new hope