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Chewbacca Actor Peter Mayhew From ‘Star Wars’ Dies at 74

“Star Wars” actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbecca in the original trilogy, died on Tuesday (Wednesday), his family announced on his Twitter. He was 74.
He died at his North Texas home surrounded by his family, read the Twitter statement.

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.

Mayhew went on to appear in “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Return of the Jedi,” “Revenge of the Sith,” “The Force Awakens” and “The Star Wars Holiday Special.”

He was active on the “Star Wars” convention circuit and wrote two books, “Growing Up Giant” and “My Favorite Giant.”

His height was not due to gigantism, but he measured 7 feet 3 inches at his highest. George Lucas originally had his eye on bodybuilder George Prowse, but Prowse decided to play Darth Vader instead and Lucas went with the even taller Mayhew.

Nein Nein Nein! German police seize 100 supercars 'racing up to at 155mph' after putting speed traps on world-famous autobahn during rally
The Eurorally participants were driving between Oslo to the Czech Republic
German police intercepted the drivers as they headed towards the Polish border
Officials accused the supercar owners of racing each other on the Autobahn

German police have stopped more than 100 sports cars taking part in a pan-European rally after receiving reports of drivers racing.

Up to 150 cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porches and highly modified BMWs, Volkswagens were travelling between Oslo, Norway to Prague in the Czech Republic.

German police in the north eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern swooped on the cars as they stopped in a service station on the A20 east of Wismar.

Officers claimed the rally's participants were racing each other on the autobahn, which is against German law - even though sections of the road do not have any speed limits.

Racing on the Autobahn is regarded as a danger to other road users.

The Eurorally organisers claim their event is not a race, but an opportunity for car enthusiasts to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime.

Participants left Oslo and headed south to Gothenburg to Sweden where they got onto an overnight ferry to Kiel, Germany.

The drivers had planned to spend the following night in Szczecin, Poland, but German police intercepted the group.

The participants then planned to go to Legnica and finally to Prague in the Czech Republic.

German police had further checkpoints along the planned route to prevent any participants from racing each other.

Around 30 per cent of Germany's autobahns have speed limits, however some politicians want to impose a 80mph top speed.