Star Wars Actors We've Lost
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2 min readWhen Peter Mayhew died in April 2019, the "Star Wars" family lost their beloved Chewbacca, and costars mourned alongside fans and friends. It's a fandom that's still hurting from the 2016 loss of Carrie Fisher, the actress, writer, and activist they first came to know as the unforgettable Princess Leia. These icons, like their "Star Wars" comrades, have been woven into the cultural fabric of our lives since 1977, as familiar to us as any childhood fairy tale. Join us as we take a look back at some of the brilliant stars, gone too soon, whose talents were responsible for bringing us to a galaxy far, far away.
Peter Mayhew (1944-2019)
WireImage / Frank Mullen
Peter Mayhew brought life and warmth (and height, too) to his character, even though he never spoke and audiences could only see his eyes. The 7'3" British actor played Chewbacca, the lovable Wookiee who was Han Solo's copilot and best pal, in the original trilogy as well as in "Revenge of the Sith" and "The Force Awakens" before retiring from acting and serving as "Chewbacca Consultant" in "The Last Jedi" and "Solo."
Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Getty Images / Corbis / Sunset Boulevard / Lucasfilm
Carrie Fisher was the iconic Princess Leia, a new breed of princess for a generation of feminists. Leia was a leader of the rebel alliance in the original three "Star Wars" installments, a princess whose grace and beauty were secondary to her bravery and resourcefulness. She wielded a blaster with ease as she fought the evil Empire alongside brother Luke Skywalker and love interest Han Solo. When "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opened in 2015, a new generation met Leia, now General of the Resistance and a powerful inspiration for the film's young freedom fighters.
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