Biography

JOONAS SUOTAMO (actor; Finland)

Guest appearance: Saturday 1. November 2025

Joonas Suotamo is a Finnish actor and former professional basketball player. In his youth, he appeared in stage productions as an actor. Suotamo attended Pennsylvania State University (PSU), where he played as a power forward and center for the Penn State Nittany Lions. With early interests in music, arts, and film, he chose to study film and video at PSU. A strong academic performer, he was twice named to the Academic All-Big Ten team and graduated in just three and a half years with a Bachelor of Arts degree in December 2008, in order to complete his Finnish conscription service and pursue a career in film.

Suotamo played seven seasons in Finland’s basketball leagues, including four seasons in the top-tier Korisliiga. He also appeared in three games for the Finnish national basketball team and played 66 games for the junior national teams.

He is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the STAR WARS franchise. He first appeared as a body double for Peter Mayhew in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015), before fully taking over the role in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017), with Mayhew serving as a consultant. Suotamo returned as Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) and STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019). More recently, he made his first non-Chewbacca appearance in the franchise as Kelnacca, a Wookiee Jedi from the High Republic era, in the series THE ACOLYTE.

Outside of Star Wars, Suotamo has also appeared as The Scourge in the WILLOW series on Disney+ and as Lurch in the second season of WEDNESDAY on Netflix.

Profile at Kinobox