Chewbacca actor to become U.S. citizen

The British actor who played "Star Wars'" Chewbacca has decided to become a U.S. citizen.

Peter Mayhew, 60, is to take the oath of citizenship during a ceremony in Arlington, Texas, Monday, the BBC reported Friday.

Mayhew is married to a Texan and met the citizenship qualification of living in the United States for three years, the BBC said.

"I know that I have the best of both worlds with the dual nationality," Mayhew said. "Whatever people say about America, it is still one of the most wonderful countries in the world, despite the politics, religion and everything else that goes on."

The London native was a hospital orderly when he was featured in a newspaper article about men with big feet, the BBC said. The producers of 1977's "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger" saw the article and started Mayhew in show business by casting him as the Minotaur. Next came "Star Wars" and his career from then on has been wookie history.

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