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André the Giant

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André the Giant was a famous professional wrestler and actor.

Andre the Giant 1973
Andre the Giant 1973

People called him "the Eighth Wonder of the World." This nickname came from his massive size. His large body was caused by a condition called acromegaly. This happens when the body makes too much growth hormone. He was a beloved figure in the world of sports and movies. Fans around the globe admired his strength and his presence.

Andre the Giant
Andre the Giant

André's life in wrestling involved many different roles. He often worked as a "special attraction" wrestler. This meant he traveled to many places to perform. He wrestled in the United States and in Japan. He was often a "babyface," which is a term for a hero.

Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, chinlock, 1980
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, chinlock, 1980

Sometimes he fought as a villain in different countries. He also competed in tag-team matches with partners. He even won a twenty-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2. In that match, he was the last person left in the ring.

André was born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, France.

Andre and Bobby Heenan (86290687) (cropped and retouched)
Andre and Bobby Heenan (86290687) (cropped and retouched)

His parents were immigrants from Bulgaria and Poland. As a child, he was much taller than other kids. By the time he was 12, he was already 6 feet 9 inches tall. He worked on a farm before he started wrestling. He also learned woodworking and worked in a factory. At age 18, he moved to Paris to train for wrestling. He worked as a mover during the day to pay his bills.

His career had many famous moments and big matches.

Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania
Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania

In 1973, he joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation. He had a famous rivalry with a wrestler named Hulk Hogan. They headlined WrestleMania III in 1987. In 1988, André won the WWF Heavyweight Championship. This was his only world heavyweight title. He also had a long feud with Big John Studd. They fought to see who was the "true giant."

Andre shoulder lock John Studd 1987
Andre shoulder lock John Studd 1987

André was more than just a wrestler to many people. He became a well-known star in movies too. He played a giant named Fezzik in the 1987 film *The Princess Bride*. This role made him a pop culture icon.

Big Show with Andre the Giant trophy
Big Show with Andre the Giant trophy

After he passed away in 1993, the WWF honored him. He was the very first person put into the WWF Hall of Fame. He is also remembered in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. His life remains a big part of wrestling history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Andre the Giant 1973.jpg
Andre the Giant 1973.jpg
File:Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, chinlock, 1980.png
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, chinlock, 1980.png
File:Andre the Giant.jpg
Andre the Giant.jpg
File:Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania.png
Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania.png
File:Andre and Bobby Heenan (86290687) (cropped and retouched).jpg
Andre and Bobby Heenan (86290687)...
File:Andre shoulder lock John Studd 1987.png
Andre shoulder lock John Studd 1987.png
File:Jake Roberts and Andre.jpg
Jake Roberts and Andre.jpg
File:Big Show with Andre the Giant trophy.jpg
Big Show with Andre the Giant trophy.jpg
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