Star Wars Fans Pay Tribute to Peter Mayhew

Star Wars fans around the world were stunned at the announcement that Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the original trilogy of films, passed away earlier this week in his Texas home. In addition to starring in the original trilogy, the actor returned for a brief role in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The actor stood 7'2", allowing him to convey the Wookiee's impressive stature, while also endowing the alien with a human-like personality. Unfortunately, that impressive stature led to mobility issues later in life which oftentimes resulted in having to cancel scheduled appearances at various Star Wars events.

Mayhew's family posted the following statement on his Twitter account:

The loss of such an iconic figure resonated all across social media, with fans sharing favorite photos, anecdotes, and condolences.

Scroll down to see fans celebrating the actor.