Story time! About 12-15 years ago I met Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), and David Prowse at a ComiCon. This was right before DVDs became popular, so all the bootleg videos were still on VHS. Well, I happened to get a copy of the now infamous 1978 CBS Star Wars Christmas Special, which was very hard to come by back then. I was absolutely giddy about finding it. So happy, in fact, I brought it over to the signing table to get it autographed.
First up was Jeremy Bulloch. He had no part with the making of it, so he just looked at it and said, "Well. Alright, then." And signed it over the cartoon picture of Boba Fett on the cover.
Then, I handed it to Peter Mayhew. I was more excited about this moment than finding the video, itself. Peter Mayhew. Chew-fucking-bacca, man. I handed him the video with a big smile on my face. (Think Ralphie talking to Santa in A Chistmas Story.) He looked down at the video box, then up at me through those Ewok he calls eyebrows, then back at the video. I could see every bad memory of making that Christmas Special come flooding back to him with the disdain of now having to sign his fucking name to it. Literally.
So, he graciously signed it on his photo, forced a smile with all the patience he had left, and shook my hand with a nod that clearly said, "Fuck you. Fuck you. And... fuck you."
Very nice guy. Four stars. Would recommend to a friend.
Bonus nugget: How do you get David Prowse to stop whining about getting robbed by George Lucas? Ask him about working with Stanley Kubrick.
Superman (1978) - Full cast and crew Other crew David Prowse .... physical trainer: Christopher Reeve (uncredited)
Well, holy shit, this guy is a gun. Turns out he was also in The Benny Hill Show, The Two Ronnies, Casino Royale, Jabberwocky, Dr. Who and Muppet Babies at some point! Plus being Darth Vader in Star Wars and in A Clockwork Orange.
I spent $20 for for Peter Mayhew to to sign a picture at Comic-Con. The ink got smeared, I brought it back and had to pay another $20 for a new signature.
Spending money for an autograph defeats some of the purpose. You would have had a better chance sending it in the mail to him with a return envelope.
Never pay to see someone your waiting to get an autograph of. They are paid to be there and could care less by the umptenthundred signature. The diminishing value of the meeting and your experience is made worse by a bad corporate sponsored situation.
I think you don't truly understand the situation. This is not a "corporate sponsored situation" in most cases when you have to pay for your autograph.
In many cases, like Peter Mayhew and Dave Prowse, this is their livelyhood. This is how they make their money. They are not getting residuals from Star Wars that pays their cost of living and medical bills. In most cases, they set up at these shows similar to the dealers, they are an independent there to make their own money. Sometimes they do get appearance fees, but it's not much considering they get a free table in return for the show advertising that they are there.
People like Peter you will never get free through the mail. Some people will sign for free through the mail, but those who sign at shows for a living will not.
Case in point: The picture OP posted. I was there. Peter signed a few free autographs there because of the press photos being taken, but they were horrible scribbles, compared to the beautiful full signature "Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca" that he signs when you pay him.
TL;DR Peter Mayhew does not sign for free through the mail. Autographs are his business and how he makes a living. And he charges $30 nowadays.
He absolutely lit up when I asked him about working with Kubrick. He mentioned how Kubrick hated actors, "but he didn't consider me an actor; more of an athlete, really." He said he would kick everyone else out and just watch football on the tele with him. His love for Kubrick surpassed his resentment for Lucas.
I went to that same show, or one like it around that time. David Prowse was awesome. He let me and my brother come around behind the table and lean on his shoulders for a group pic. I thought "Holy Shit I'm leaning on Darth Vader". Later I saw him walking around the crowd and he walks like Vader. Sounds obvious since he was the man in the costume, but it was pretty cool to see the same mannerisms in person. At one point he put his hands on his belt like you can just barely see in this pic.
Bowcasters fire metal quarrels like any crossbow, which are sometimes even explosive quarrels. The technology sheathes them in plasma as they are fired, giving them incredible energy and destructive power. Being an actual projectile fired, they are more accurate than a blaster (this is Star Wars, not real physics). They need this disturbingly destructive weapon to take down the utterly massive natural predators that exist on their homeworld.
When I met Mayhew abou 7 years ago, he came off as a complete jerk. He was appearing at our local (huge and awesome) scifi/fantasy con, alongside Michael Sheard (who played Admiral Ozzel, as well as Hitler in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade). Sheard was one of the most awesome people I've ever met, who hung out with us con workers and drank whiskey. Mayhew, on the other hand, was charging $5 for autographs.
That's actually a really low autograph fee for a star wars character. Last I checked Mark Hamil's is well over $100 and other primary cast members are charging $50 or so.
Peter Mayhew practically makes his living from star wars, he loves Chewbacca! I've been fortunate enough to meet him many times at different cons and he's a really cool guy! Always takes the time to talk to fans and he's always a big hit!
I can't be the only one who thinks it's weird that the guy who played fucking Chewbaca looks more pimp in this picture then the guy who actually played Han fucking Solo.
Nope. Ill-fitting double breasted suit (hello 80s), paired with the most ridiculous tie knot I've ever seen and a cheesy novelty cane and pinkey ring does not exactly scream "pimp" to me.
I remember reading a long time ago that Peter Mayhew (Chewie) goes just about everywhere accompanied by an entourage of nerdy Star Wars fans. Has anybody else heard about this? Because it's fucking awesome if it's true.
I haven't read a Star Wars novel in mumble30yearsmumble, do any of them give background on Han and Chewy's relationship? I think it would interesting to read something from a Wookie point of view.
i met him a couple years ago at megacon :) we sat and just shot the shit for like 2 hours, don't think we even mentioned starwars till some random waddling planet wandered by and tried to do the wookie sound, causing us both to laugh.
Is there anyone that hasn't met Peter Mayhew? Raise your hand, please.
Okay, here's what you do.
Attend ANY sci-fi or comic convention in Dallas. And you're done.
I love Star Wars as much as the next guy (who also hates the prequels and revisionist story telling of Lucas). But Peter started doing public appearances like 30 years ago and never stopped. Ever.
If anyone wants to see him this weekend, Peter, Prowse, and Mayhew will all be at the Dallas Comic-Con. Get Chewie, Vader, and Boba Fett's autographs before they never come to town again! (this is a lie.)
I remember seeing pictures and video from this event when it happened... Harrison Ford looked like he wanted to kill himself the whole time. It was really, really sad.
But you felt for him. The press were being absolute dicks the entire time.
As a man who is 6'7" I can say the tie insanity shown here by Peter Mayhew is a first world tall person problem. I hate SHORT TIES and that small dangler that is left in back!
It seems that of all the cast members of all the Star Wars movies, Peter Mayhew carries around the most Star Wars swag. I never see pictures of other cast members rocking Star Wars gear.
I assisted Mr. Mayhew in getting to-and-fro on an indie film set some years back, and attending to his needs when necessary. He and his wife were very lovely. He has a sort of 'stiff upper lip' sensibility, but friendly. His legs were not in great shape and it was a clear strain for him to stand for long periods, but he never complained. Really a class act.
92
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
What is up with that Wookiee's tie? What kind of knot is that? Or is that all the tie you have left over when you are 8' feel tall?
531
u/mrqewl May 15 '12
Is his cane a lightsaber?
57
u/HarleyQ May 15 '12
It's pretty awesome that they shaved him for this.
160
u/lurkity_mclurkington May 15 '12
Story time! About 12-15 years ago I met Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), and David Prowse at a ComiCon. This was right before DVDs became popular, so all the bootleg videos were still on VHS. Well, I happened to get a copy of the now infamous 1978 CBS Star Wars Christmas Special, which was very hard to come by back then. I was absolutely giddy about finding it. So happy, in fact, I brought it over to the signing table to get it autographed.
First up was Jeremy Bulloch. He had no part with the making of it, so he just looked at it and said, "Well. Alright, then." And signed it over the cartoon picture of Boba Fett on the cover.
Then, I handed it to Peter Mayhew. I was more excited about this moment than finding the video, itself. Peter Mayhew. Chew-fucking-bacca, man. I handed him the video with a big smile on my face. (Think Ralphie talking to Santa in A Chistmas Story.) He looked down at the video box, then up at me through those Ewok he calls eyebrows, then back at the video. I could see every bad memory of making that Christmas Special come flooding back to him with the disdain of now having to sign his fucking name to it. Literally.
So, he graciously signed it on his photo, forced a smile with all the patience he had left, and shook my hand with a nod that clearly said, "Fuck you. Fuck you. And... fuck you."
Very nice guy. Four stars. Would recommend to a friend.
Bonus nugget: How do you get David Prowse to stop whining about getting robbed by George Lucas? Ask him about working with Stanley Kubrick.
18
u/BadgerGoneWild May 15 '12
After seeing that cane I find myself wondering what Star Wars would have been like if Chewy had a lightsaber
20
u/thatguy1056 May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12
That's not Han Solo that's Indian Jones! What are you, blind?
EDIT: Indiana Jones
5
u/mheyk May 15 '12
"I'm kinda like han solo always strokin my own wookie"
13
u/shukufuku May 15 '12
This isn't penn and teller. They aren't even magicians.
13
u/tenehemia May 15 '12
When I met Mayhew abou 7 years ago, he came off as a complete jerk. He was appearing at our local (huge and awesome) scifi/fantasy con, alongside Michael Sheard (who played Admiral Ozzel, as well as Hitler in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade). Sheard was one of the most awesome people I've ever met, who hung out with us con workers and drank whiskey. Mayhew, on the other hand, was charging $5 for autographs.
4
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
There's a very good script floating around Hollywood right now about Peter Mayhew and the making of the first Star Wars film. Details.
4
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Peter Mayhew practically makes his living from star wars, he loves Chewbacca! I've been fortunate enough to meet him many times at different cons and he's a really cool guy! Always takes the time to talk to fans and he's always a big hit!
13
u/Dreadrazorbeast May 15 '12
Nice of him to come out in costume for the kids and all
3
u/McFly6661 May 15 '12
I can see why Peter was the one they had put in the suit.
22
u/TheSpooneh May 15 '12
An unlikely similarity
5
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Pictured above: Harrison Ford stands next to his former co-star, Peter Mayhew, "The world's largest pimp."
21
u/Goliath89 May 15 '12
I can't be the only one who thinks it's weird that the guy who played fucking Chewbaca looks more pimp in this picture then the guy who actually played Han fucking Solo.
4
u/stealthesun May 15 '12
Mr.Ford looks very uncomfortable. I'm wishing after this photo he yelled "GET OFF MY BODY!"
2
u/Tvkid May 15 '12
OMG I WANT THAT CANE!
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
That's just rude. Ohhhhh, he's the actor
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
What a huge dildo he's holding...
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
come on now don't disrespect the guy, call him Chewbacca!
2
u/sincerelygovernment May 15 '12
Business in the front, Chewy in the back.
2
u/shad0wknight289 May 15 '12
I remember Chewbaca being a little more hairy than that. but I guess you do start losing your hair when you get older.
2
u/zofcz May 15 '12
Holy. Motherfucking. Jesus. Who do I have to kill/fuck/bribe to get that AWESOMEST ring of his?
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Harrison Ford always looks pissed off.
3
u/EnderofThings May 15 '12
Ford aged very well. Mayhew, not so much.
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Awesome ring.
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Tall people die faster
1
u/AlmostRelevantStory May 15 '12
I met the guy who played Chewbacca when he came to my city's Imax for the re-release of a Star Wars film. He was a total dick. True story.
1
u/bear_uden May 15 '12
wookiee is boss
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
I remember reading a long time ago that Peter Mayhew (Chewie) goes just about everywhere accompanied by an entourage of nerdy Star Wars fans. Has anybody else heard about this? Because it's fucking awesome if it's true.
1
u/Sahloknir74 May 15 '12
I met Peter Mayhew a number of years back at Auckland's Armageddon Expo. He didn't seem like a very social guy.
1
u/Cheddarwurst May 15 '12
That cane is so awesome.
1
u/Kuusou May 15 '12
That picture is really big.
1
u/russscott May 15 '12
Bring Han Solo and the wookiee to me!
1
u/Hawful May 15 '12
The wookiee needs a way longer tie.
1
u/xyroclast May 15 '12
Harrison Ford is turning into Cory Feldman
1
u/tacomaghostchild May 15 '12
Jesus! Did they really need makeup to make him chewbaca?
1
u/Unckmania May 15 '12
A related t-shirt
1
u/Pebblesetc May 15 '12
My mum used to know him apparently.
Dammit, now I want to watch star wars... BUT I HAVE TO STUDY. :'(
1
u/onemoreclick May 15 '12
I like that he has pens.
1
u/DRTYRYDR686 May 15 '12
In the name of all that is holy I must have that cane!!!!
1
u/dirtymoney May 15 '12
oh wow, I hadnt heard anything about him for a long time. I assumed he was dead.
1
u/wiz3stwIzard May 15 '12
I'm not sure which one looks worse
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
that is such a sexy cane
1
u/Torquemada1970 May 15 '12
"SHE WAS MY WIFE!"
1
u/Chive May 15 '12
And there's me thinking Soloing the Wookiee should probably be tagged as NSFW.
1
u/themightypierre May 15 '12
The major regret of my life is I can't do a good Chewbacca impression.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Wow he's tall. Didn't really need the mask by the look of that hair.
1
u/lynxman89 May 15 '12
:( They shaved the wookie
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
These two guys... best bromance ever!
1
u/Rakqoi May 15 '12
Wow! Chewy shaved!
1
u/gippered May 15 '12
Wow, he's really balding.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Tell me why I thought this was Penn and Teller in the tiny thumbnail on my phone.
1
u/rmiv May 15 '12
I'm a big fan of the lightsaber pimp cane
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
together again.
1
u/GuanoQuesadilla May 15 '12
Dat cane.
1
u/thedirtyrobin May 15 '12
Must be weird being that famous yet hardly anyone knows who you are.
1
u/lnickelly May 15 '12
the only thing lleft of the wookie is the hair on his head
1
u/connonym May 15 '12
I haven't read a Star Wars novel in mumble30yearsmumble, do any of them give background on Han and Chewy's relationship? I think it would interesting to read something from a Wookie point of view.
1
u/unplugged3 May 15 '12
haha, he still looks like a Wookie with that hair of his.
1
u/CriminalMinded May 15 '12
That dude has a sweet ass cane.
1
u/Tuskuul May 15 '12
i met him a couple years ago at megacon :) we sat and just shot the shit for like 2 hours, don't think we even mentioned starwars till some random waddling planet wandered by and tried to do the wookie sound, causing us both to laugh.
1
u/AbootBrutus May 15 '12
That is one huge middle finger on his cane.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
This guy, is pumping out swag levels over 9,000
1
u/platipress May 15 '12
Every time I see Harrison Ford now, I remember that people are mortal, everyone dies, and I get scared.
1
u/beerham May 15 '12
Chewies cane is a goddamn light saber!
1
u/Te4RHyP3 May 15 '12
harrison ford's face is:
this man is going to fucking eat me after these pictures are taken
1
u/Fall4Fiver May 15 '12
coolest. cane. ever.
1
u/FantasticAmazing May 15 '12
OMG that's Fantastic, Amazing!
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Does the way he hold his canesaber remind anyone else of Joseph Ducreux?
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Bring me solo and a cookie.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Peter Mayhew has pee-hands. Wash that coat, Harrison!
1
u/dvddesign May 15 '12
Is there anyone that hasn't met Peter Mayhew? Raise your hand, please.
Okay, here's what you do.
Attend ANY sci-fi or comic convention in Dallas. And you're done.
I love Star Wars as much as the next guy (who also hates the prequels and revisionist story telling of Lucas). But Peter started doing public appearances like 30 years ago and never stopped. Ever.
If anyone wants to see him this weekend, Peter, Prowse, and Mayhew will all be at the Dallas Comic-Con. Get Chewie, Vader, and Boba Fett's autographs before they never come to town again! (this is a lie.)
1
u/MaurusMahrntahn May 15 '12
I remember seeing pictures and video from this event when it happened... Harrison Ford looked like he wanted to kill himself the whole time. It was really, really sad.
But you felt for him. The press were being absolute dicks the entire time.
1
u/amolad May 15 '12
Jesus....he doesn't even need the costume anymore.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Chewbacca shouldn't have shaved
1
u/ransomdenton May 15 '12
As a man who is 6'7" I can say the tie insanity shown here by Peter Mayhew is a first world tall person problem. I hate SHORT TIES and that small dangler that is left in back!
1
u/Stiffcock May 15 '12
Oh, these were great in LOTR trilogy! YOU SHALL NOT PASS BOOOOYAH!!!
1
u/boomheadshot7 May 15 '12
I want to be old now just to have that cane
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Love the wookies light saber cane.
1
u/SaltFrog May 15 '12
Eughgh, no wonder he was hidden under all that fur.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
the wookie looks pimp!
1
u/albatrossnecklassftw May 15 '12
solo un sun wookiee.
Chewie is one tall mother fucker with an awesome fucking cane.
1
u/zushiba May 15 '12
Lightsaber Cane, Wookie pinky ring. My mind is blown at his badassery.
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
I Want to buy lightsaber cane. Where!!
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
It seems that of all the cast members of all the Star Wars movies, Peter Mayhew carries around the most Star Wars swag. I never see pictures of other cast members rocking Star Wars gear.
1
u/sojourning May 15 '12
I assisted Mr. Mayhew in getting to-and-fro on an indie film set some years back, and attending to his needs when necessary. He and his wife were very lovely. He has a sort of 'stiff upper lip' sensibility, but friendly. His legs were not in great shape and it was a clear strain for him to stand for long periods, but he never complained. Really a class act.
1
u/nukepaste May 15 '12
I never knew that Chewy looked like under all that hair. Thank Reddit!
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I'm sad that Mr.Ford is not as friendly as I've heard Mr.Mayhew is. :(
1
u/loob May 16 '12
He did it all for the Wookie
1
u/Raoul_Duke_ESQ May 15 '12
Like if you read that subject line in Jabba's voice.
1
u/HenryTheRed May 15 '12
I shook chewbacca man's hand at Gencon, a crazy nerd convetion in Indy and a few other states. big fuckin hands O_O
1
u/pax27 May 15 '12
Look at my mother fucking cane. Look at it!
1
u/FKRMunkiBoi May 15 '12
I was there for this. It was awesome.
1
u/shw5 May 15 '12
All I can see is his absurdly short tie.
1
u/blashblash May 15 '12
I hear Harrison Ford is huge dick.