Peter Mayhew who played Chewbacca in the 'Star Wars' films underwent double knee-replacement surgery in Texas on Monday, according to Today.
His family and friends tweeted about his condition saying, "Uncle Peter just got taken back so they can start the surgery. We will keep you updated throughout the day. Thank you for your prayers!" Some photos of his new knee were also posted on his Twitter account.
At 3:31 in the morning, a tweet update was sent out saying, "And he is DONE! Peter is out of surgery and in recovery. Now we begin therapy! I see a wookiee roaring in the future! -WMR." Six hours later, another photo of the recovering seven-foot three-inch actor was posted to his account.
Mayhew, 69, has been using a wheelchair for two years, but hopes the surgery will help him walk again. Born the son of a policeman in England, Mayhew shares on his website he was discovered as an actor after being featured in an article about men with large feet back in the 1970s.
He played the mythological Minotaur in 1977's "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger" before coming to international fame as Chewbacca, Han Solo's trusted companion and co-pilot. The Mayhews live in Texas, and he regularly attends "Star Wars" conventions and other gatherings.
In June, Mayhew was briefly detained by Transportation Security Administration employees at the Denver airport due to his light saber-shaped cane. The Mayhews are using the crowd-funding site Kickstarter to help fund a documentary about the actor's life, called "Standing in the Stars."
