Peter Mayhew Star Wars Chewbacca

Peter Mayhew (born May 19, 1944) is an English actor known for playing the Wookiee Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies. His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) tall.

Trade Mark

Chewbacca from the Star Wars films

Trivia

Prior to starring as Chewbacca in the Star Wars trilogy, he was an orderly at London’s King’s College Hospital.

Chewbacca won a Lifetime Acheivement award at the MTV Movie Awards.

Mayhew, like many actors connected with the Star Wars universe, makes frequent appearances at Sci-fi conventions. Although famous guests at these events normally make a charge for autographs, some actors connected with famous movies from the past make their living touring different conventions.

Peter Mayhew

After getting the role of Chewbacca, Mayhew went to the zoo and began studying the movements and mannerisms of various large animals to incorporate into the character of Chewbacca.

Fell sick during the filming of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), which prompted director Irvin Kershner to bring in another extremely tall actor to fill in for him as Chewbacca. All the footage with the double was scrapped and re-shot after Mayhew recovered because Irvin Kershner found that the double’s body movements didn’t match Mayhew’s.

He had the option of either playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca, as did David Prowse. Mayhew chose Chewbacca because he wanted to play a hero, whilst David Prowse chose Vader because he wanted to play a villain.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) premiered on his 55th and 61st birthdays respectively. He appeared in the latter but not the former.

Became a naturalized U.S. citizen, along with 441 other people from 77 countries, in Arlington, Texas on October 17, 2005.

Tim Curry

Timothy James “Tim” Curry (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Curry first became known to audiences with his breakthrough role as Dr. Frank N. Furter in the 1975 cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, then later for his roles as Rooster in the film adaption of Annie, Lord of Darkness in the film Legend (1985), Wadsworth in the movie Clue, and as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the horror film Stephen King’s It. He played Nigel, the father in the Nickelodeon children’s TV show The Wild Thornberrys. He has performed the role of King Arthur in the Broadway hit Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Trivia:

Provided the voice of “Sir” who welcomed visitors to the Alien Encounter attraction in Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World. The Alien Encounter ride was replaced after a few years.

Tim Curry in Legend as Darkness

Has read several times for “The Great Writers Series” in Los Angeles

Performed in Roger Waters’ historic production of “The Wall: Live in Berlin” in July, 1990

Appears as both subject and author in the photography book “Double Exposure, Take Four” by Roddy McDowall.

Was Tim Burton’s second choice for the role of the Joker on Batman (1989). He did go on to playing a crazed “clown” in Stephen King’s It (1990) (TV).

Tim Curry as Pennywise in Stephen King's It

A close friend of Carly Simon and sang backing vocals on her 1979 album “Spy”.

Turned down the role of Mitzi in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Studied Drama & English at Cambridge and at Birmingham University, from which he graduated with Combined Honors.

Tim Curry Rocky Horror

Has earned three Tony Award nominations, the first in 1981 as Best Actor (Play) for portraying the title character Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in “Amadeus” – the second in 1993 as Best Actor (Musical) for “My Favorite Year” – and the third in 2005 for Best Actor (Musical) for his role of King Arthur in “Spamalot”.

Personally paid for his cousin, Keighley Twocker frontman Michael Loftus to have cosmetic surgery

Already an accomplished singer, he performed a cover of the theme song to Disney’s “Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”.

In a Fresh Air interview in 2005, he reported meeting Princess Diana. It turned out she was such a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), she told him, “Thank you for completing my education.”.

Not only was he Tim Burton’s second choice for the role of The Joker, he was the producers’ first choice for the role in the animated television series, until Mark Hamill was cast. Tom Hulce succeeded him in the role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus.

Don’t Look Now (1973) is one of his favorite films.

He was presented with an honorary citizenship of New Orleans and key to the City of New Orleans by Angela Baham, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Administrator Officer Reynard J. Rochon to Mayor Ernest Morial on October 8, 1979 following a concert in New Orleans.

Was working on an album project with Lou Adler in 1976. However only four songs were completed. The best is a cover of The Supremes’ “Baby Love.” Also recorded three albums for A&M Records. “Ready My Lips” (1978), “Fearless” (1979), and “Simplicity” (1981). Though only one charting song, “I Do the Rock,” both it at “Paradise Garage” [from "Fearless"] have become cult hits, having two music videos made for MTV which were often played before showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). His best album is often praised “Fearless,” and his best songs are “Birds of a Feather,” “Alan,” “Sloe Gin,” “I Do the Rock,” “S.O.S.,” “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire,” “Paradise Garage,” “No Love on the Street,” “Something Short of Paradise,” “Working on My Tan,” “Simplicity,” “On a Roll,” “Take Me I’m Yours,” “Out of Pawn,” and “I Put a Spell on You.”.

Was on the 1980 Clash album “Sandinista!” On track 18, “The Sound of the Sinners”, he spoke as a priest mid-song.

Has voiced two royal cats, voicing Prince in “Garfield: A Tail Of Two Kitties” and The Cat King in “The Cat Returns”.

Has a dog named Frank.

Michelle Monaghan

Michelle Lynn Monaghan (born March 23, 1976) is an American actress, known for her roles in Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor and Eagle Eye.

Trivia:

Grew up in the small town of Winthrop, near Cedar Rapids in northeast Iowa.

Studied journalism at Chicago’s Columbia College.

She had scenes deleted from Constantine (2005) and Syriana (2005).

Moved to New York in 1999.

Is married to Australian graphic designer Peter White.

Has two older brothers.

In Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), she plays an actress who did a commercial for a beer called Genaro’s. In Gone Baby Gone (2007) she plays a character named Angie Gennaro.

Michelle and her husband, Peter White, are expecting their first child, due in Fall, 2008 [June 2, 2008].

Gave birth to her first child, a girl named Willow Katherine, on November 5, 2008.

Member of the same Los Angeles gym as Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Jodie Foster, Jason Sarayba, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Ashley Tisdale.

Linda Fiorentino

Linda Fiorentino (born March 9, 1958) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films such as Dogma, Vision Quest, Men in Black, After Hours and The Last Seduction.

Trivia:
Won her part in Men in Black (1997) in a poker game from Barry Sonnenfeld. Besides the part, she won around $1200.
1995: Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars” in film history (#66).
Graduated from Washington Township High School, in Sewell, NJ. Is a graduate of Rosemont College, in Rosemont, PA (just west of Philadelphia).
Director Kevin Smith said in his DVD commentary for Dogma (1999) that Linda wouldn’t even speak to him some days and, in retrospect, he wishes he had given the part of Bethany to Janeane Garofalo instead.
2000: Donated $1,000 to the New York Senate Campaign for Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
She is one of 8 children. Her mother’s name is Clorinda Fiorentino and her sisters include Rose Fiorentino, Catherine Fiorentino, and Terry Fiorentino Christie.
1980: Earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania at 22 years old.
She has been an active photographer since 1987 and has studied it at the International Center of Photography in New York City.
She has optioned the film rights to Colin Patrick Lynch’s play, “One Eyed Jacks and Suicide Kings”.
She has optioned rights to the Jim Curtis’ screenplay about Russian poetess, Anna Akhmatova, in July 2007.

Adam Baldwin

Adam Baldwin (born 27 February 1962) is a US actor known for his roles as Animal Mother in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard, Knowle Rohrer in The X-Files, and Marcus Hamilton in Joss Whedon’s Angel. He also established a cult following as Jayne Cobb in the series Firefly and the movie Serenity.

He currently stars as NSA agent John Casey on the NBC comedy-spy series Chuck.

He is not related to the Baldwin brothers.

Trivia:

No relation to the Baldwin brothers Alec Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, William Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin, who are from Long Island, NY (Adam is from the Chicago area).

Alumnus of New Trier Township High School East, Winnetka, Illinois. Other New Trier graduates include Ralph Bellamy, Charlton Heston, Rock Hudson, Hugh O’Brien, Ann-Margret, William Christopher, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford, Virginia Madsen and Liz Phair.

Avid golfer

Is good friends with Jamie Lee Curtis, and appeared in Molly & Roni’s Dance Party (2005) (V) as a favor to her.

Recorded his own version of the song “The Man They Call Jayne” for use as an easter-egg feature in the DVD collection of “Firefly” (2002).

Son: Devlin Shepard Baldwin (b. October 17, 1996).

Voiced the second Green Lantern Hal Jordan on “Justice League” (2001), and later chosen to voice Superman/Clark Kent for the DVD feature Superman/Doomsday (2007) (V).

One of four actors from “Firefly” (2002) who voiced superheroes on “Justice League” (2001). He voiced Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern, while Nathan Fillion voiced the Vigilante, Gina Torres voiced Vixen and Morena Baccarin voiced Black Canary.

According to the commentary track on Superman/Doomsday (2007) (V), he was the original choice to play the voice of Superman on “Superman” (1996): the Animated Series, but was unavailable at the time. The role then went to Tim Daly.

Irish-American.

During his time away from work, Adam likes to mountain bike, go bowling, play Frisbee and baseball.

Frequently participates in celebrity hockey games.

Was named TV Guide’s Sexiest Newcomer in 2005 even though he started his acting career in 1980.

Both Adam Baldwin and “Angel” (1999) co-star David Boreanaz have provided the voice of DC Comics’ Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Baldwin in “Justice League” (2001) and Boreanaz in Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) (V).

Enjoys listening to hard rock – his favourite band is Led Zeppelin.