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André the Giant

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André the Giant was a world-famous professional wrestler and actor.

Andre the Giant 1973
Andre the Giant 1973

He was known by the nickname "the Eighth Wonder of the World." This title reflected his massive physical presence and incredible scale. His size was the result of a medical condition called acromegaly. This condition is caused by an excess of human growth hormone. Because of this, he grew much larger than the average person. He became a major icon in both sports and popular culture.

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

André René Roussimoff was born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, France. His parents were immigrants from Bulgaria and Poland. Even as a young child, his height was very noticeable. He was a good head taller than his peers. By age 12, he already stood 6 feet 9 inches tall. He had abnormally long hands and grew very quickly. Before wrestling, he worked on his father's farm in Molien. His brother said he could do the work of three men. He also completed an apprenticeship in woodworking and worked in a factory.

His journey into professional wrestling began in Paris at age 18. A promoter named Robert Lageat recognized his potential. To pay for his living expenses, André worked as a mover during the day. He trained for wrestling matches at night. He initially used names like "Géant Ferré" and "Jean Ferre." In 1966, he made his television debut in France. He soon traveled to the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. He also made his debut in Japan in 1970. During his time in Japan, doctors officially diagnosed his acromegaly.

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

In 1973, André became a "special attraction" for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). This meant he traveled widely to perform in different cities. The promoter, Vincent J. McMahon, helped shape his famous persona. McMahon wanted André to appear as a large, immovable monster. To help this image, he discouraged André from doing agile moves like dropkicks. He began using the name "André the Giant" to build his stardom. André was a beloved "babyface," which is a term for a hero. He was famous for not being defeated by pinfall for many years.

André had many intense rivalries that drew huge crowds. He feuded with "Killer Khan" in a storyline about a broken ankle. In reality, André had simply broken his ankle getting out of bed. He also had a famous rivalry with Big John Studd. They fought to prove who was the "true giant" of wrestling. At the first WrestleMania in 1985, André won a body slam challenge against Studd. He won a $15,000 prize and threw the cash to the fans.

Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania
Andre bodyslams Studd Wrestlemania

He also won a twenty-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2. In that match, he was the last man standing after eliminating Bret Hart.

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

One of his most legendary connections was with Hulk Hogan. They were famous rivals who headlined WrestleMania III in 1987. In 1988, André achieved a major milestone by winning the WWF Heavyweight Championship. This was his only world heavyweight title. His career also included matches in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He often worked alongside the wrestler Giant Baba. As his health declined due to acromegaly, he wrestled less frequently. He eventually focused on his health and his acting career.

André was also a successful actor in film. He is widely remembered for playing the character Fezzik. Fezzik was a gentle giant in the 1987 movie *The Princess Bride*. This role helped make him a household name outside of wrestling.

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

After his death in 1993, his legacy was officially honored. He was the first person ever inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. He was also recognized by the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. He remains one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture 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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