
Harrison Ford has led an outpouring of love and grief at the news that Peter Mayhew, the actor who played sidekick Chewbacca alongside his Han Solo in the Star Wars films, has died at the age of 74.

Mayhew, who landed the role of the Wookie due to his towering 7ft 3ins frame, died of a heart attack at his Texas home on Tuesday after suffering years of health complications due to his height.

Ford, who last appeared on screen with Mayhew in 2015's The Force Awakens, said: 'Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character.

'These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him.

'He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience.

'Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. He knew how important the fans of the franchise were to its continued success and he was devoted to them.

'I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all. My thoughts are with his dear wife Angie and his children. Rest easy, my dear friend.'

Mark Hamill, who played Jedi hero Luke Skywalker in the franchise, also spoke out - praising Mayhew as 'a big man with an even bigger heart' and said that he was 'forever grateful' for the memories they had shared.

Mayhew, who was 7ft 3ins and British, played Wookiee warrior Chewbacca in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Revenge Of The Sith (2005) and The Force Awakens (2015). He is pictured here at the premiere of The Force Awakens in London

Mayhew was one of the earliest stars of the Star Wars franchise. He is pictured here with (from left), Harrison Ford who played Han Solo, Anthony Daniels who played the robot C3P0 and Carrie Fisher who played Princess Leia

Gone but not forgotten: His family released an official statement on his verified Twitter page on Thursday, revealing that the actor passed on April 30 (left in 1977 and right in 1980)

Mark Hamill (pictured left with Mayhew on the set of The Empire Strikes Back) paid tribute to the actor, calling him 'a big man with an even bigger heart' (Mayhew is pictured right with Hamill and fellow cast members Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford)

Best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the films, Mark Hamill tonight described Mayhew (pictured during filming of Revenge of the Sith) as 'a big man with an even bigger heart' and said that he was 'forever grateful' for the memories they shared

Tributes for the actor (centre), who played the beloved and furry Chewbacca, sidekick to Han Solo and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, have this evening been led by his co-stars Mark Hamill (right) and Harrison Ford (left))

A message from the official Twitter account of Peter Mayhew was posted by his family, stating that he had died on the evening on April 30

Writing on Twitter (pictured), Mark Hamill said of Mayhew: 'A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile and a loyal friend who I loved dearly'

Writing on Twitter, he said of Mayhew: 'A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile and a loyal friend who I loved dearly. I am a better man for just having known him'

Star Wars creator George Lucas added: 'Peter was a wonderful man. He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature and I learned to always let him win.

'He was a good friend and I'm saddened by his passing.'

Meanwhile Harrison Ford, who played roguish smuggler Solo, praised the actor for his 'great dignity and noble character'. He said: 'These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca.

'We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience.

'Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all.'

Mayhew came to the attention of film casting agents completely by chance while working as an orderly at London's King's College Hospital when a reporter for a local newspaper took his photograph for an article about men with big feet in 1976.

Seeing the picture, producer Charles H. Schneer invited Mayhew to audition for a film he was working on - Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger - and he was cast as the Minoton, a robotic creature based on a Minotaur.

A short time later Mayhew was spotted by George Lucas who was looking for a large man to play the Wookie in his upcoming film, Star Wars.

Lucas had originally cast 6ft 6ins bodybuilder David Prowse in the role, but he ended up playing Darth Vader. Lucas was desperate for a taller actor for Chewbacca, and said all Mayhew had to do to get the part was 'stand up'.

Mayhew was working as an orderly at King's College Hospital, London (left), when his photo appeared in a local newspaper in a story about men with big feet. That led to him being cast in Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger, followed by Star Wars

JJ Abrams, the last director to work with Mayhew on The Force Awakens, posted a touching tribute which read: 'Peter was the loveliest man... kind and patient, supportive and encouraging. A sweetheart to work with an already deeply missed'

Rian Johnson, who directed The Last Jedi, also paid tribute to Mayhew's 'warmth and humor' following news of his death

Joonas Suotamo, a Finnish bsketball player who took over from Mayhew as Chewbacca, was among those praising him

Billy Dee Williams, who played traitorous playboy-turned bureaucrat Lando Calrissian, recalled his time with Mayhew

Star Wars: A New Hope was released in 1977 and became the highest-grossing film of all time. It has been followed by another seven canonical films, with an eighth episode due this December, two standalone films, and has spawned TV series, video games and books.

Incredibly, Mayhew went back to his job at the hospital following the first Star Wars film and continued working there until Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the third film in the original trilogy, was released in 1983.

After that he quit and made his living off the character, giving speeches and appearing at fan conventions.

Mayhew would reprise the role twice more - in 2005 for Revenge Of The Sith and 2015 for The Force Awakens.

By the time Force Awakens was produced, Mayhew had been using a wheelchair because his extreme height had caused weakness in his bones.

Producers gave him a courtesy call to say they would be casting a new actor in the role but Mayhew, who had just undergone a double knee transplant, insisted he could make himself fit enough to play the role one more time.

He underwent a physical training regime for three hours a day, every day, for four months. That was enough to get him out of the wheelchair and he was able to reprise the role alongside Ford as Solo.

Joonas Suotamo was then brought in to take over the role of Chewbacca after The Force Awakens.

Chewie: 'He fought his way back from being wheelchair-bound and stand tall to portray Chewbacca once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' the statement said

Mayhew (pictured left in 2007 and right in 2015) was a mainstay at Star Wars conventions around the world, including the bi-annual Star Wars Celebration, and he was heavily involved in the Make-A-Wish foundation, Wounded Warriors and the Star Wars organisation the 501st Legion, a fan collective that creates authentic props and costumes

The San Diego Comic-Con Twitter account also shared a message of tribute. 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Mayhew,' it said (he is pictured with Harrison Ford at The Force Awakens premiere). 'He was our beloved companion in a galaxy far, far, away. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans. The force will be with you always, Peter.'

Shortly after the news broke, Mayhew's fans and former co-stars paid tribute. Harrison Ford, who played the character of Han Solo, praised him for his 'great dignity and noble character'. His co-star Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the films, passed away in December 2016

He was among those paying tribute on Thursday night, writing on Twitter: 'Devastated to hear about the passing of a dear friend and mentor, the great Peter Mayhew.

'Peter's warm welcome when I came aboard as his double in The Force Awakens meant so much to me. Studying the character he helped create was always a daunting task, but one that was made easier by his tutelage and kindness as we sought to bring Chewbacca to life for a new generation.

'He was an absolutely one-of-a-kind gentleman and a legend of unrivalled class and I will miss him. Rest assured his legacy will live on and the spirit that he gave the character when he first donned the suit will never be forgotten.'

Mayhew is survived by his wife, Angie, and three children. Announcing the star's passing, his family said in a statement tonight: 'The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away.

'Peter was the man behind the mask of Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, episode 3 of the prequels and the new trilogy.

'He fought his way back from being wheelchair-bound and stand tall to portray Chewbacca once more in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

'He also consulted on The Last Jedi in an attempt to teach his successor,' the statement concluded, referring to Joonas Suotamo, the Finnish basketball player who took over as Chewbacca in The Last Jedi.

Mayhew portrayed Chewbacca in five films, most recently in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He is pictured here with the cast of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Pictured left to right: Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Jimmy Smits, Ewan McGregor, Peter Mayhew

Peter Mayhew would attend the premieres of all the major Star Wars movies, including Solo: A Star Wars story (left) and The Last Jedi (right). He did not reprise his role in 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but is listed in the credits as a Chewbacca consultant

Joonas Suotamo took over the role of Chewbacca from Mayhew. Writing on Twitter, he said: 'Devastated to hear about the passing of a dear friend and mentor, the great Peter Mayhew.' (Mayhew is pictured at The Force Awakens premiere in 2015)

Memorial: The statement also confirmed there will be a memorial service for family and friends on June 29th, and with a public memorial in Los Angeles slated for early December (left and right in 2015)

'He put his heart and soul into Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films, from his knock kneed running, firing his bowcaster from the hip, his bright blue eyes, down to each subtle movement of his head and mouth,' the family statement continued.

'But to him, the Star Wars family meant so much more to him than a role in a film,' the statement added.'

Mayhew was a mainstay at Star Wars conventions around the world, including the bi-annual Star Wars Celebration, and he was heavily involved in the Make-A-Wish foundation, Wounded Warriors and the Star Wars organisation the 501st Legion, a fan collective that creates authentic props and costumes.

The San Diego Comic-Con Twitter account also shared a message of tribute. 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Mayhew,' it said.

'He was our beloved companion in a galaxy far, far, away. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans. The force will be with you always, Peter.'

Robert Iger, chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, wrote on Twitter: 'The @WaltDisneyCo mourns the loss of our beloved chewbacca portrayer, PeterMayhew. Peter was larger than life in so many ways...a gentle giant playing a gentle giant. Rest in peace.'

He also established The Peter Mayhew Foundation, which supported 'individuals and families in crisis situations, to providing, 'food and supplies for children of Venezuela during their recent road to freedom.

The beloved actor also appeared in episodes of Glee, Breaking In and the 1981 Dark Tower TV series.

The statement added: 'His kindness and generosity and care will live on in The Peter Mayhew Foundation with Angie taking the helm as his voice'.

The statement also confirmed there will be a memorial service for family and friends on June 29th, and with a public memorial in Los Angeles slated for early December.

The public memorial will be attended by his family, featuring his 'personal effects and collection' at the EmpireConLA convention.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Mayhew's family asks that fans consider donating to The Peter Mayhew Foundation, 'so that they can continue his efforts to help the community.

He also established The Peter Mayhew Foundation, which supported 'individuals and families in crisis situations, to providing, 'food and supplies for children of Venezuela during their recent road to freedom