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Thursday morning, I knew I was looking at a day filled with computer work, chores around the house, and some outdoor activity that required a big comfy t-shirt.
I dug out my Chewbacca t-shirt with a blocky, stylized image of the Wookiee sitting at Dejarik (the little round creature chess table) accompanied by the words “Let the Wookiee Win.”
It’s in terrible condition, and the image has long faded, but I just can’t bring myself to get rid of it or designate a car-washing rag quite yet. I mean, you can’t just toss out Chewie!
That afternoon, I found out Peter Mayhew had passed away at age 74 on April 30, just a couple of weeks before his birthday. He was at his home and surrounded by his family and friends, which is what I would hope is the final fate of all of us when our time comes. Really, we can learn much from Mayhew and his alter ego.
Simplicity is the key to success. Anyone with a little knowledge or appreciation of concept art knows Chewbacca was going to be a little more complicated and cat-like (a design which eventually inspired Zeb in Star Wars Rebels), but the simple furry, tall beast Chewbacca became is one of the most easily recognized character designs in the universe. Mayhew could give him a range of emotion through simple head tilts or gestures. When added to the amalgam of animal cries sound…
