Actor Peter Mayhew, 70, who has played Chewbacca throughout the Star Wars franchise and reprises his role in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has been hospitalized with pneumonia.  A message on Mayhew's Twitter page indicates that the actor, who stands 7-foot-three, "is recovering well from his bout of pneumonia."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mayhew’s wife Angie confirms that, while the actor is to remain hospitalized for the next few days, he is expected to make a full recovery.