Joonas Suotamo

Joonas Suotamo is a Finnish actor and former professional basketball player best known for bringing one of cinema's most beloved characters to life as Chewbacca in the Star Wars saga. Standing at 6'11" (2.11 m), Suotamo has built an extraordinary career that combines athletic achievement with a passion for performance, earning recognition from fans around the world through his work in one of the most iconic franchises in film history.

Born in Espoo, Finland, Suotamo developed an early interest in acting, music, and filmmaking while also excelling in basketball. He attended Pennsylvania State University, where he played for the Penn State Nittany Lions as a power forward and center while studying film and video. A standout student-athlete, he was twice named to the Academic All-Big Ten team before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following university, Suotamo returned to Finland to continue his professional basketball career, spending seven seasons in the Finnish leagues, including four in the country's top-tier Korisliiga, while also representing Finland at the national level.

Suotamo's life changed in 2015 when he was cast as the body double for the legendary Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As Mayhew's health made the physically demanding role increasingly difficult, Suotamo gradually assumed the mantle of Chewbacca, becoming the character's principal performer beginning with Star Wars: The Last Jedi. He reprised the iconic role in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, preserving the legacy of one of the franchise's most enduring heroes while bringing his own physicality and emotional depth to the beloved Wookiee.

Beyond Chewbacca, Suotamo has continued to expand his acting career across major productions. He portrayed the Wookiee Jedi Kelnacca in Lucasfilm's The Acolyte, appeared as The Scourge in Disney+'s fantasy adventure series Willow, and joined Netflix's global hit Wednesday as Lurch, introducing his talents to a new generation of audiences. His ability to inhabit larger-than-life characters through movement, expression, and physical performance has made him one of the industry's most distinctive performers.

From the basketball court to the galaxy far, far away, Joonas Suotamo has forged a unique career defined by dedication, versatility, and a lifelong love of storytelling. Through his memorable performances in some of the world's biggest entertainment franchises, he continues to inspire audiences while carrying forward the legacy of iconic characters for fans across the globe.