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Chewbacca/Peter Mayhew, Star Wars (1977, 1980, 1983, 2005)

Peter Mayhew, at a towering seven feet, three inches, was discovered after his photograph was featured in a newspaper article about men with colossal feet.

Will the real Chewbacca please stand up?

So who are the mysterious actors underneath the masks of our favorite, or not so favorite, movies and TV characters? Aside from Barney, I really wanted to know who the original actor was behind the infamous Chewie.

What about the lovable cat-eating alien Alf? Was he always played by a puppeteer? Michu Meszaros, the smallest man in the world at about 2 feet 9 inches played Alf in 9 episodes.

Flavorwire compiled some kids’ characters, a couple sci-fi villains, and a handful of cuddly creatures paired with the suit actors within.

Big Bird/Caroll Spinney (78), Sesame Street (1969 – Present)

Fran Sinclair/Tony Sabin Prince, Dinosaurs (1991-1994)

Harry/Kevin Peter Hall, Harry and the Hendersons (1987)

Kevin was also the man behind the Predator.

KW/Alice Parkinson, Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Alice Parkinson had recognizable roles in Sanctum and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but you probably didn’t realize she was in Where the Wild Things Are.

ALF/Michu Meszaros, ALF (1986-1990)

Alf was usually a puppet, but sometimes Michu Meszaros was inside. Meszaros, a two-foot, nine-inch Hungarian performer once known as the Ringling Brothers’ “Shortest Man in the World.

Barney/David Joyner, Barney and Friends (1992-2000)

Godzilla/Haruo Nakajima, Godzilla (1954)

Haruo Nakajima was a champ for sporting this 200-pound Godzilla suit, which hadn’t been designed with his well-being in mind. A suited-up Nakajima could only walk 30 feet at a time, and a cupful of sweat would frequently be drained from the costume.

Alien/Bolaji Badejo, Alien (1979)

Director Ridley Scott wanted an abnormally tall, slender body to portray the villain, and Badejo’s seven-foot, two-inch frame fit the bill perfectly.