This resident of Yorkshire, England, was working as a hospital attendant at the King's College Hospital in London when film producer Charles H. Schneer saw his photo, literally standing above the crowd around him. Charles H. Schneer cast him in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, Ray Harryhausen's newest special effects film. It was just over a year later that he was asked if he wanted to do another role. Mayhew was told it was for a big hairy beast. It was the role of Chewbacca, the faithful 200 year-old Wookiee in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and his life was changed forever. Following the original Star Wars trilogy films Mayhew has done some commercials in the wookiee costume. He has made a lot of appearances at children's homes and hospitals. Since 1991 he has also been running various companies. With the money from the films he started a bed frame company. It was a nice little business, but he closed it down in order to start the tour circuit as he didn't have time for both. In 1997 the twentieth anniversary celebrations of Star Wars was announced with the release of the "Special Edition" and all the conventions started. He was involved with the convention - the "Men Behind the Masks". He is now active on the "Star Wars" convention circuit where he signs autographs to fans willing to pay for them, talks to fans and keeps their interest up. He enjoys playing golf with his friends as a hobby if he has the time for it.
Prior to starring as Chewbacca in the Star Wars trilogy, he was an orderly at London's King's College Hospital. Chewbacca won a Lifetime Acheivement award at the MTV Movie Awards. Mayhew charges for his autograph at Sci-fi conventions. $20 for a picture he provides or $15 to have him sign your own item. After getting the role of Chewbacca, Mayhew went to the zoo and began studying the movements and mannerisms of various large animals to incorporate into the character of Chewbacca. Fell sick during the filming of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, which prompted director Irvin Kershner to bring in another extremely tall actor to fill in for him as Chewbacca. All the footage with the double was scrapped and re-shot after Mayhew recovered because Irvin Kershner found that the double's body movements didn't match Mayhew's. He had the option of either playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca, as did David Prowse. Mayhew chose Chewbacca because he wanted to play a hero, whilst David Prowse chose Vader because he wanted to play a villain. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith premiered on his 55th and 61st birthdays respectively. He appeared in the latter but not the former. Became a naturalized U.S. citizen, along with 441 other people from 77 countries, in Arlington, Texas on October 17, 2005.