'Star Wars' veteran Peter Mayhew undergoes spinal surgery

Actor Peter Mayhew, best known for portraying Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" franchise, has undergone spinal surgery to improve his mobility.

The 74-year-old star took to Twitter to announce that the procedure had gone well.

"Sorry, I've been quiet as of late. I've been planning and going through some spinal surgery to improve my mobility. It's been a success and I'll be spending the upcoming weeks recovering. A big thank you to the doctors, staff, my family and friends that have helped me through this," Mayhew tweeted along with his picture from the hospital bed.

The actor is 7 ft 3 in tall and has a genetic disorder called Marfan syndrome.

Mayhew also announced that due to the surgery, he will not be able to attend the upcoming London Film and Comic Con.

"... But I have rescheduled and will be attending their show in March. Sorry to miss you all but I'll be over as soon as my legs can paddle me across the pond," he added.

Mayhew in recent years has used a cane and a wheelchair at times to help him get around.

He played the iconic character in the original trilogy and in some of the new films.

Finnish actor Joonas Suotamo took over playing Chewie for future installments, including "Solo: A Star Wars Story".