While Chewbacca's death was a major fake-out, he did meet his demise in past Star Wars storylines. The Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as Legends, killed off the figure in the 1999 book, The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime, by author R. A. Salvatore.
Wookiees in the galaxy
Notable Wookiees included Chewbacca, the navigator and long-time companion of Han Solo. Other noteworthy Wookiees included the chief and general Tarfful (who fought alongside Master Yoda during the Battle of Kashyyyk), the warrior Wullffwarro, and his son Kitwarr.
Due to the Wookiees' support the Jedi when Order 66 was issued, the Empire enforced a crackdown, with it taking several days of confusion to restore order in the city. The commando Triton Squad then began killing fugitive Wookiees throughout the forest before the Empire pulled out.
I certainly do not begrudge those who were relieved, like Rey, Finn and Poe, that Chewbacca survived in The Rise of Skywalker. I get it, I really do. It is hard to encounter death, especially the death of a beloved character.
Is Chewbacca the last of his species? No. Chewbacca is a Wookiee, from the planet Kashyyyk. While Kashyyyk was invaded in 19 BBY, and many Wookiees were enslaved, Chewbacca is not the last of his kind.
Tarfful was a male Wookiee Chieftain of Kachirho and General who was an old friend of Chewbacca and fought in the Battle of Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars, at least until the battle ended during the start of the Great Jedi Purge.
Affiliation(s) Mallatobuck (meaning "beautiful singer" in Shyriiwook), also known as Malla, was a female Wookiee from Kashyyyk. She was the wife of Chewbacca, and mother of their son Lumpawaroo.
That's right, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan have a history together, as they fought side by side in this conflict. In fact, with Obi-Wan's help, Chewbacca successfully colonized Alaris Prime and turned it into an economically prosperous stronghold for the Wookiees beyond their home planet of Kashyyyk.
Joonas Suotamo inherited the iconic role of Chewbacca from Peter Mayhew.
Chewbacca. Following the events of the original trilogy, Chewbacca liberated his homeworld Kashyyyk with the help of Han Solo and other Rebels and later retired. During The Mandalorian, Chewbacca is probably enjoying a peaceful retirement with a loving family you know very little about.
Yoda survived, however, with the help of natives Chewbacca and Tarfful, who used a hidden shuttle to evacuate the Jedi Master from the planet.
They can be Jedi, but it's uncommon.
Gungi was a rarity, as Wookiees don't normally find their place in the Jedi Order too often -- but when they do, they make a sweet lightsaber.
Due to their shared experiences, Han Solo and Chewbacca renewed their friendship. Having served his life debt to Han, Chewie stayed behind on Kashyyyk with his family.
Wookiees have a lifespan of several hundred years: Chewbacca is 200 years old during the original trilogy, and is still in his prime.
There are no Wookiee Sith. If you read the “Behind the Scenes” section of the starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookiee/Legends page, you will note that Lucas decreed that there would be no more Wookiee force users introduced after 2003 unless he approved.
Black Krrsantan was a male Wookiee. He had black hair and brown eyes, with decorative gold material covering his chest, as well as gold ornaments in his hair. He had a scar across his left eye from Kenobi's lightsaber. He disgraced his people on Kashyyyk, prompting him to get off world.
The Wookiee bounty hunter made his debut in Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015) #1. Created by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca, Krrsantan -- standing alongside Boba Fett --accepted a job from none other than Darth Vader in his very first appearance.
While a mistake in real life, the canon reason that Leia embraces Rey before Chewbacca is due to Leia seeing Rey as a lost soul and surrogate daughter, establishing a strong relationship that will grow through the sequel trilogy.
For the 2018 Star Wars Anthology film Solo: A Star Wars Story, screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan wrote Chewbacca's dialogue translated to English in the script, so Han Solo actor Alden Ehrenreich could understand what was being said.
Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor.
Wookiees Can Hold Their Liquor
Wookies have a much higher alcohol tolerance and need specific drinks to feel inebriated.
Mallatobuck, also known as Malla, was the wife of Chewbacca, the Wookiee co-pilot of the Corellian smuggler Han Solo. During the Imperial Era, Malla and her family were enslaved by the Galactic Empire. She was separated from her husband Chewbacca and her son Lumpawaroo.
Attichitcuk was the father of the Wookiee Chewbacca, who when introducing himself to Han Solo, referred to himself as "Chewbacca, son of Attichitcuk." He and Chewbacca's mother lived in the city of Rwookrrorro on the planet Kashyyyk.