'Chewbacca' Actor Peter Mayhew Hospitalized For Pneumonia

Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew, who is reprising his role as Chewbacca for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is being treated in hospital for pneumonia. Mayhew, 70, was forced to cancel a personal appearance at a comic book store in Texas.

However, fans of Star Wars need not worry as Mayhew's wife Anna is confident the actor will make a full recovery.

"Thank you for all the well wishes, prayers, good vibes, and happy thoughts," she wrote on Reddit.

"Peter is indeed in the hospital with pneumonia. He will make a full recovery, and hope to be discharged within a few days. Doctors are incredibly happy with his improvements.

"Sorry for the absence, we left our tablets at home, so we have been unable to post to reddit for a bit. I'll make sure he pops in later in the day.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

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A short statement on Mayhew's Twitter page also confirmed the actor's recovery.

"Hey all, @Webmaster_Rick here. Peter is recovering well from his bout of pneumonia. He thanks you for the well wishes!!!"

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by Star Trek helmsman J.J Abrams, is currently in post-production and will be released in cinemas on December 18.

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Born in Surrey, England, Mayhew - at 7ft 3 inches - plays Wookiee Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies. A fierce loyalist to Han Solo, Chewy also serves as co-pilot on Solo's Millennium Falcon. He is one of the few fictional characters to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the MTV Movie Awards.

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