Peter Mayhew
When you stand 7'3" tall, you stand out in a crowd -- and sometimes, that can be a good thing. --It was for Peter Mayhew!
He was working as an orderly in a London hospital when film producer Charles Schneer saw his photo, literally standing above the crowd around him. Schneer cast him in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, Ray Harryhausen's newest special effects film.
His appearance in that film led to an audition for Star Wars -- and his life was changed forever. He has since portrayed Chewbacca, the faithful 200 year-old Wookie in all three of the Lucas classics.
"It's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful that it's still as strong a film as it ever was,." he tells interviewers. "With Star Wars fans there's always so much enthusiasm."
Until recently, that enthusiasm seemed dull, but over the last year or so, things have begun to stir....
"Up until six months ago, I didn't realize how great the interest was," Mayhew states. "But when I got invited to do a convention in Pasadena and saw over 3,500 people -- in just one city! It's just such an amazing phenomenon!" --And one that just keeps on growing!
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