In case you missed it, the 92nd Academy Awards paid tribute to all the talented artists that we lost in the past year. Sadly, one of the names that were honored was Peter Mayhew, who is best known for playing Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy. Not surprisingly, the new actor who had taken over Mayhew's iconic role also posted a touching message for the man who first portrayed the beloved Wookiee.
Joonas Suotamo took to his official Twitter account to post an awesome tribute for the late Mayhew. Take a look at his tweet below.
"I was glad the #Oscars honored my dear mentor, predecessor, & friend Peter Mayhew. The Star Wars family will remember him for the greatness of his spirit & I'll always cherish our time collaborating on The Force Awakens as we sought to bring back Chewbacca to a new generation," Suotamo wrote.
Mayhew was cast as Chewbacca in 1977's A New Hope after George Lucas' original choice bodybuilder David Prowse chose to play Darth Vader. At 7'3", Mayhew was the perfect choice to take on the role of the Wookiee. He would continue to appear in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Mayhew also shared the role with Suotamo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens before his retirement.
Mayhew passed away on April 30, 2019, after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 years old.
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