Chewbacca Actor Comforts Grieving Star Wars Fan

2 minute read
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Panel At San Diego Comic Con - Comic-Con International 2015
Peter Mayhew at the Hall H Panel for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” during Comic-Con in San Diego, CA on July 10, 2015.Michael Buckner—Disney/Getty Images
By Nolan Feeney

The actor who plays Chewbecca gave a young Star Wars fan some warm fuzzy feelings—and not because of his character’s wild hair.

A woman whose 7-year-old brother Sam died in accident earlier this year told Reddit that his friend Liam had promised to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens with him on Christmas this year. News of a grieving Liam made its way to Peter Mayhew, the British actor behind Chewbacca in the new film, who wrote a letter to comfort him.

“I know Sam would have loved to know that Chewy knows who he is,” Sam’s sister wrote after posting a picture of the note. Mayhew confirmed to Radio Times that he wrote the note, saying that Liam’s grandmother was a friend of his sister-in-law. “I hope my words were of some comfort to him,” he said.

Read Mayhew’s letter, below:

Liam,

I am sorry to hear that you won’t be able to see the new Star Wars movie with your friend Sam. I know that sometimes things happen and we can’t figure out why and all we feel is sadness. It’s important to remember the fun you had with Sam. Best friends are never really gone, they live on forever in our hearts and memories. I know that you are going to love Star Wars: The Force Awakens and I bet you make some new friends that also love Star Wars. I wish you the very best, and May The Force Be With You!

Cheers, Peter ‘Chewbacca’ Mayhew

[Mashable]

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Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com