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“Star Wars” actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbecca in the original trilogy, died on Tuesday, his family announced on his Twitter. He was 74.

He died at his North Texas home surrounded by his family, read the Twitter statement.

The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He l… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…—
Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) May 02, 2019

He was discovered by producer Charles H. Schneer while working as a hospital attendant in London, and cast in Ray Harryhausen’s “Sinbad and the Eye of the tiger.” The next year, he was cast as Chewbacca, the 200 year-old Wookiee.