- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAndré René Roussimoff
- Nicknames
- The 8th Wonder of the World
- The Giant
- The Gentle Giant
- The French Giant
- Québec
- Le Géant Ferré
- Height7′ 4¼″ (2.24 m)
- André René Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in
Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. His parents and four
siblings were all of normal size, but André suffered from acromegaly, a
hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess
growth hormone. As the Giant grew up (very quickly, as he reached the
height of 6' 3" by the age of 12) he began to often disagree with his
parents. He left home at 14 and obtained a job with a furniture-moving
firm and began to play rugby. At 17 he was seen training at a gym by
several professional wrestlers. Impressed by his size, they taught him
some basic wrestling skills and built a friendship with him. Later,
when one of the wrestlers was injured, André stepped in for him. He
would wrestle for nearly thirty more years. By his early 20s André had
wrestled in Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, England, Scotland,
and most of non-Communist Europe but had not found fame. In 1971 he
came to North America under the name Jean Ferre and was mildly popular
in Canada. Then he met a New York based booker by the name of Vincent
J. McMahon (often incorrectly referred to as "Vince McMahon Sr") who
renamed him "Andre the Giant," and billed him as 7' 4" (Andre was
really closer to 7'). Soon Andre the Giant became a national sensation
and was a much sought after wrestler. In addition he participated in
television, movies, and commercials. With his wealth the Giant bought a
ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina where he would live during his rare
time off and after he retired from wrestling in 1990. He died while in
France after attending his father's funeral. André was cremated and his
ashes were spread across his ranch. He is survived by his one
daughter.- IMDb Mini Biography By: J.W. Braun <pepper911@hotmail.com> - When Andre the Giant challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWF World's Heavyweight Wrestling Championship of The World at WrestleMania III in 1987, he hadn't lost a singles match since 1971. His 3,000-plus winning streak was ended when Hogan picked up the 7-foot-tall and 500-pound giant and body slammed him for the pin. Over 94,000 fans viewed this history-making match-up, setting an indoor record which still stands today. Andre also defeated Heavyweight boxing contender Chuck Wepner in a wrestler-versus-boxer match on the under-card of the Muhammad
Ali/Antonio Inoki challenge match in Japan. The 6-foot-6-inch Wepner was thrown completely out of the ring.- IMDb Mini Biography By: angelsunchained
- Children
- ParentsMariann Roussimouff
- RelativesJacques Roussimoff(Sibling)
- Trademark move: Bearhug
- Trademark move: Headbutt
- Trademark move: Choke
- Trademark move: Big Splash
- Trademark move: Elbow Drop
- According to author William Goldman, when he was first trying to get The Princess Bride made in the 1970s. Arnold Schwarzenegger, then little known outside the bodybuilding community, wanted to play Fezzik, and he was strongly being considered because Goldman could never get his first choice, Andre the Giant to read for the role. By the time the movie was made about twelve years later, Arnold was such a big star they could not afford him, and Andre was cast after all, and the two big men had gone on to become friends.
- At time of death, was in Paris to attend his father's funeral.
- Was an expert card player and collector of fine wines.
- It wasn't until he was an adult, on a wrestling tour of Japan, that he
went to see doctors to determine the cause of his condition. The
Japanese doctors diagnosed the cause as acromegaly, a rare condition in
which victims are not expected to live beyond the age of 40. Andre
lived to be 46. - In the mid 1970s, while visiting Montréal, André was in a bar drinking when four drunken men came in, recognized him, and started to taunt him. After patiently trying to avoid a confrontation, André finally got fed up and chased the four men out into the parking lot. When the four men got into their car, André simply grabbed the car, turned it over onto its roof with the four men inside, and left.
- I just don't think it is right, killing innocent girls.
- It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise!
- I don't like to speak badly of people...
- I'm very happy traveling all over the world. I'm very happy to see all those people, all different people. And all different countries. And promoters wrestling promoters, and lots of fans around to see me, and that's why I'm proud. I just want to make everybody happy.
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