With a gentle growl questioning Han's decision to abandon the Rebels in Star Wars' Episode IV, he spoke volumes about loyalty. In rescuing Yoda from clone assassins in Episode III, this ''walking carpet'' did more to save the galaxy than anyone's ever given him credit for. Protector of princesses, crack hyper-drive repairman, and unranked amateur chess player, Chewie's biggest role may be that of the Millennium Falcon's furry conscience.

—by Whitney Pastorek