Chewbacca becomes U.S. Citizen

British actor Peter Mayhew is now a U.S. citizen. Mayhew softly recited the oath to become a naturalized American Monday, with his raised right hand trembling slightly.

He was among more than 450 people from 56 countries who became naturalized Americans in a ceremony in Arlington.

The former English hospital worker said he decided to seek American citizenship when he got married "to a Texan lady." Mayhew and his wife wed six years ago. His wife, Angelique, was beside him, with a drawing depicting Chewbacca, a background of the American flag and Union Jack and the words "Citizen Wookiee."

"I'll have a British passport, an American passport and a Wookiee passport," joked the 2.2 metre tall 60-year-old actor after the event.