This feature originally appeared in the Fall edition of the Cal Sports Quarterly. The Cal Athletics flagship magazine features long-form sports journalism at its finest and provides in-depth coverage of the scholar-athlete experience in Berkeley. Printed copies are mailed four times a year to Bear Backers who give annually at the Bear Club level (currently $600 or more). For more information on how you can receive a printed version of the Cal Sports Quarterly at home, send an email to calbearbackers@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-2427.



Mark McNamara has had an eventful life since leaving Cal in 1982 – full of excitement, accomplishments and heartache.
 
But many of the notable developments occurred shortly after he departed Berkeley.
 
After his senior year with the Golden Bears, in which he set a school record in field goal percentage and led the Pac-10 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, he was the 22nd pick in the 1982 NBA Draft and won the NBA Championship as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers.
 
In between, McNamara had another unique life experience. He served as a stand-in for the "Chewbacca" character in the 1983 hit film, "Return of the Jedi."
 
"I had lunch with Harrison Ford several times," said McNamara, who will be inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in November. "Every day the people would blow my mind with their creativity – everyone from (director) George Lucas on down."
 
That was the beginning of a short film career for McNamara, who also served as a stunt double for the TV Movie, "Ewoks: The Battle For Endor."
 
McNamara never went through an aspiring actor stage. He landed the stand-in job only after his cousin, Chris Bowers, had the same role for the "Princess Leia" character in the same movie. The film was looking for someone to stand in for Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, and Bowers suggested McNamara because he fit the blueprint – an athletic 7-footer.
 
"They were at a production meeting and they thought my cousin was joking because she's only 4-foot-11," McNamara said. "But they called me in for an interview."
 
McNamara eventually earned his Screen Actors Guild card.
 
McNamara ended up playing eight years in the NBA with the 76ers, Spurs, Kings, Lakers and Magic. He also played overseas in Italy and Spain, including a stint with Real Madrid under head coach George Karl. Following his playing days, McNamara began a career as a coach of big men, being hired by NBA teams to mentor centers such as David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal.
 
McNamara stopped coaching because of his health. After he contracted pneumonia three times in 1996, he moved to a cabin in Strawberry, Calif., because he said "I lost a lot of zip in my step." After continued battles with his health, he was finally diagnosed with Alpha-1 – a rare ailment that causes liver damage.
 
McNamara still battles illnesses and receives treatment by being infused with certain proteins from blood donors. He now lives in Haines, Alaska, and works part-time for a video editing company called "Twin Lions Productions."
 
"I'm sick a lot of the time, but I'm not unhappy," McNamara said. "I'm not suffering every day. It's kind of a roll of the dice."
 
McNamara said he still follows Cal Athletics as much as he can and said he even surprised himself by his reaction when he was informed he had been voted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. For years, good friend and former teammate Tom Lord had been stumping for McNamara's enshrinement. But McNamara himself repeatedly downplayed it – until he received the news.
 
"For the longest time, Tom was pushing the idea and trying to get people to write letters," McNamara said. "I kept telling him that I really appreciate but I'm really not seeking any accolades. But I guess I was lying to myself because when I was told I was chosen, it really did matter."