The world is currently mourning the death of Peter Mayhew, the man who brought Chewbacca to life in Star Wars: A New Hope. Interestingly, Mayhew appears to have been committed to making fans happy up until the end. The Empire Strikes Back star was scheduled to show up at a convention on May the 4th. Now, the booth that would have been Mayhew's little spot where he could meet fans has been turned into a memorial.
Mayhew was scheduled to meet and greet fans at Fan Expo Dallas. Unfortunately, the gentle giant had passed away due to a heart attack on April 30. Instead of simply covering up the booth that was meant for Mayhew, the organizers decided to pay tribute to the Chewbacca actor by turning it into a memorial. Check it out below.
Fan Expo Vice President Andrew Moyes told CBS Dallas that "there is a feeling of shock among our team" after learning about Mayhew's passing. He also confirmed that the Star Wars actor, who was a North Texas resident, was a regular at the event and would always be a fan favorite.
"Always a line for him and always a full panel as well. He was a great speaker, he was a great storyteller. And, of course, he created one of the most iconic characters in pop culture," said Moyes.
The memorial is being set up so fans can leave personal messages for Mayhew in a special book. This will then be presented to Mayhew's family after the event.
"There's a sadness but also a warmth when you look at the stories they're sharing about the impact he had on their lives. It's an incredible experience to meet your hero," Moyes said. "And the fans would walk away feeling a couple inches taller because they felt inspired and honored to have met him."
Mayhew was 74 years old at the time of his passing.
Related: Star Wars: Mark Hamill Posts Emotional Tribute To Peter Mayhew
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