A Gentle Giant
Before Dave Bautista, John Cena, or even The Rock, one wrestler won the hearts of movie watchers everywhere despite only acting in a handful of projects. Early on, André the Giant found his calling as an entertainer, using his immense natural size to fuel his work in professional wrestling and on camera.
Despite how imposing he may have seemed, those close to him knew how kind, generous, and gentle he truly was.
1. He Was A Big Baby
Long before André became the massive star he grew into, his parents weren’t ignorant of their son’s magnitude. At the time of his birth on May 19, 1946, André René Roussimoff weighed 13 pounds and showed symptoms of gigantism as he got older, reaching a height of 6 ft 3 in by the time he turned 12.
Although he was born in Coulommiers, France, his mother and father immigrated from Poland and Bulgaria, respectively. Soon enough, he had a big decision to make.
Most likely George Napolitano, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Changed Paths
Some of the most famous entertainers in history could tell they wanted to perform from an early age, usually starring in various school productions, but not André. In fact, he didn’t stay in school long at all. At 14 years old, he had reached the age where school was no longer mandatory in France and chose to work as a farmhand instead of pursuing further education.
Of course, it wouldn’t be long until even this career path changed.
3. He Found His Calling
By the time André turned 18, he discovered he could use his extraordinary appearance to his advantage. Relocating to Paris, he entered the world of professional wrestling, training under promoter Robert Lageat. Both realized that André’s unique physicality had the potential to turn him into a beloved wrestling icon—and rake in a lot of money.
Finally, he made his debut.
Don O'Brien, Wikimedia Commons
4. He Was Introduced
Initially wrestling under the stage name of “Géant Ferré," inspired by a folk hero from northern France, André soon rose above his local matches. In 1966, he fought against the wrestler “Le Petit Prince” in both wrestlers’ first television appearance, which was broadcast on French national television.
However, he didn’t stay only in France.
Jean Ferre (Andre the Giant) workout footage from 1966, The Signature Spot
5. He Went Everywhere
Two years after his television debut, André kept climbing up the ladder and won the FFCP World Heavyweight Championship. Afterward, he began traveling throughout Europe and eventually the world, appearing on a UK wrestling program and following it up with matches in Germany, Africa, and even New Zealand.
Following this, he found another country where he would spend much of his career.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Went To Japan
Under the name “Monster Roussimoff,” André moved to Japan’s wrestling world, beginning his long history in the country in his 1970 debut with the International Wrestling Enterprise. This relocation was bittersweet, however, as doctors in Japan diagnosed him with acromegaly, a growth disorder that had resulted in his gigantism.
Soon, he found even more success on another continent.
Daishoan - Tamaden and Local History Museum Otsuka Katsutoshi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7. He Got Bigger
André made himself a wrestling icon throughout much of the world, but in 1971, he expanded that fame to North America. Moving to Montreal, Canada, he had no trouble gaining the type of popularity he had previously drawn, often selling out seats for his matches at the Montreal Forum.
Of course, fame doesn’t always last.
8. He Was Old News
Sadly, André only enjoyed that initial success in Montreal for a short period. Eventually, he performed so much that his physicality lost its novel charm among the public, leading to a drop in earnings. Not to mention, the number of viable opponents that could match him became fewer and fewer.
However, he did find some personal success.
Victory Sports Wrestling Annual, Wikimedia Commons
9. He Met Someone Special
In the early 1970s, the world of wrestling gave André something other than fame and glory—a chance to build a family. Around this time, he met Jean Christensen through his career, and the two hit it off. By the decade’s end, they welcomed their first and only child, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff.
Luckily, he got another shot at fame.
Andre the Giant's Daughter news story early 90s, Scott's Wrestling Collection
10. He Made Changes
In 1973, André got a second opportunity to become an icon when he spoke with the World Wide Wrestling Federation’s founder, Vincent J McMahon. Hired as André’s agent, McMahon made a plan to rebuild the wrestler’s popularity, which focused on moving him around so that his novelty wouldn’t become oversaturated in any given area.
This led to him finding his true identity—but it took quite a few changes to get there.
11. He Got His Name
As another part of Vincent J McMahon’s efforts as André’s agent, rather than decrease the focus on his distinct size, they decided to go all in on it. From then on, he took on the mantle of “André the Giant,” a character that he embodied by using less light-footed maneuvers to make himself seem more imposing and impossible to move.
12. They Loved Him
Finally, the WWWF introduced André the Giant as its new wrestler on March 24, 1973. Following his first match against Frank Valois and Bull Pometti—which he won—the fans quickly grew to love him, especially after his victory against Buddy Wolfe two days later in Madison Square Garden.
Of course, he soon found that wrestling wouldn’t be his only love.
13. He Branched Out
Eventually, André’s experience and passion for performance grew outside the wrestling industry. In the late 1960s, André appeared in the French film Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka, and seemingly caught the acting bug. His acting then debuted in America in a 1976 episode of The Six Million Dollar Man as a Sasquatch.
However, this wasn’t the last of it.
14. He Worked On The Small Screen
While in the end, André’s wrestling accomplishments would far outweigh his acting ventures, he was still happy to take on several gigs. By the end of his career, along with his constant WWF television appearances, he would act in many TV series, such as The Greatest American Hero in 1983, and Zorro in 1991.
Still, his wrestling career was about to get a major boost.
ZORRO (1990) | S2 EP16 | Full Episode 16 | BIG BROTHER, Sony Pictures India - English
15. They Butt Heads
In wrestling, everything is about the storyline a wrestler is part of and the character they play, and in 1980, André the Giant locked horns with fellow WWF superstar Hulk Hogan. In these initial matches, the storyline portrayed André as the hero, also known as the “babyface” character, and Hogan as the villain or “heel”.
Unfortunately, André soon had a bit of a hiccup.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
16. He Was Injured
Naturally, Hulk Hogan wasn’t the only wrestler that André feuded with, but the next year, his rivalry with Killer Khan came to a halt. While the two were set to have a match on May 2, 1981, André couldn’t perform due to an incident that morning when he broke his ankle as he got out of bed.
Thankfully, this became part of his character.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
17. They Worked It In
Due to his injury, André would have to be absent while he recovered, so his storyline needed to adjust accordingly. Bringing in his feud with Killer Khan, the explanation was that the enemy wrestler broke André’s ankle during their May 2 match. This story continued once André had rehabilitated, and he challenged Killer Khan to a payback match that July.
The following year, another big change was coming.
John McKeon, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Changed Hands
Eventually, Vincent J McMahon said goodbye to his business as his son, Vince McMahon, bought it in 1982. This directly affected André as his new boss-to-be sought to sign wrestlers to an exclusive contract. Enjoying the WWWF—now simply the World Wrestling Federation since 1979—André agreed to these terms, which permitted him to still wrestle with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Finally, he found someone more evenly matched.
Airman 1st Class Nicholas Pilch, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Picked On Someone His Own Size
Throughout the early 1980s, André feuded with another wrestler, aptly named “Big John Studd”. The two would face off across the globe, each time trying to determine who was wrestling’s true giant. The feud escalated when Big John Studd and his partner, Ken Patera, decided to cut André’s hair after knocking him out in a match.
Of course, André soon got his chance to show Studd up.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
20. WrestleMania
Thanks to the very first WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, André had the opportunity to get payback for his involuntary haircut. Engaging Big John Studd in a "body slam challenge," André emerged victorious and won a grand total of $15,000, which he proceeded to throw to the audience until a manager stopped him.
But this wouldn't be his last WrestleMania.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
21. WrestleMania 2
The next year, André emerged from WrestleMania 2 with his reputation and honor intact, but he hadn’t faced just one or two people at a time. On April 7, 1986, he entered the ring with several other wrestlers and NFL players to make up a 20-man battle royal. The match ended when André eliminated Bret Hart, winning the fight.
It was a breathtaking victory, but André really needed a bit of a break—for a worrisome reason.
22. He Took Some Time Off
Unfortunately for André, wrestling was beginning to affect him more personally in the wake of WrestleMania 2. He found that his acromegaly was getting worse, which led to more and more pain in the ring, so he asked to take a leave of absence. As it happened, this coincided with his next big acting break.
Thankfully, it was his most iconic role.
23. He Joined A Fantasy
Aside from his health, André partly used his wrestling hiatus to focus on acting, as he had joined the cast of the 1987 classic, The Princess Bride. Playing the giant character Fezzik, his condition made many stunts difficult or impossible. Even so, he loved working on the film, stating that his favorite aspect of doing so was that no one stared at him because of his size.
Naturally, his castmates had nothing but good things to say about him.
The Princess Bride (4/12) Movie CLIP - Dream of Large Women (1987) HD, Movieclips
24. He Was Caring
Throughout filming The Princess Bride, many said André was one of the most pleasant and courteous people on set. One such example of his nature was how he treated actress Robin Wright, as he would often help her stave off the cold weather. His hands were big enough to encapsulate the crown of her head, so he frequently did so to keep her comfortable and toasty.
On the other hand, some on-set stories were a bit more shocking.
Josh Jensen from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Let It Go
As an example of André’s jovial attitude and willingness to be himself, one iconic story from the movie’s filming is often repeated. During one scene, the wrestler held up production and reportedly shook the set as he loudly passed gas for a solid 16 seconds. After he was done, director Rob Reiner asked André if he was okay, and he simply replied, "I am now, boss".
In all seriousness, this project was clearly one of his favorite career moments.
26. He Was Proud
While The Princess Bride wasn’t André’s only role, it would be possibly the most impactful to him personally. As his friend Lanny Poffo would later state, André would host movie nights after filming, where he and his friends would watch the film repeatedly as he excitedly asked their opinion on his performance each time.
Meanwhile, another storyline had to justify his absence.
27. They Explained It
The WWF had to give a reason why André was missing from matches, so they involved his current feud with Big John Studd, along with the wrestler “King Kong Bundy”. Studd’s manager, Bobby Heenan, had challenged André to a tag-team match against them, but when he didn’t appear, WWF president Jack Tunney took extreme action. He suspended André for the foreseeable future.
Still, he had to return to work sometime.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
28. He Was In Disguise
After filming and recuperating from his health issues, André returned to the US and decided to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately, he was still suspended, so donning a mask, he reentered the ring under the name “Giant Machine”. Although it was obvious who was under the disguise, announcers played along and pretended not to know.
This didn’t go over so well with some people.
29. They Complained
Despite its ingenuity, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy, and Bobby Heenan caught on to André’s ruse and weren’t too happy about it. After they took it up with the president, he told them that if they could bring solid proof that André was the Giant Machine, he would fire the wrestler right then. They never could do it, and later in 1986, the WWF reinstated André.
Soon after, he turned to an old rival of his.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
30. He Reignited The Feud
Toward the end of the 1980s, André returned to his most iconic feud against Hulk Hogan... with a new twist. While they had started out with the latter being the villain against André’s hero, Hogan had since become known as a “babyface” in wrestling, so André took on his new role of “heel”.
As usual, André was an imposing figure to face.
31. He Had A Strong Handshake
In 1987, André subtly showed Hogan that he was a force to be reckoned with after the latter received an award. Having held the WWF World Heavyweight Champion title for three years, Hogan accepted his trophy, after which André came out and shook the wrestler’s hand, shocking Hogan with how firm his grip was.
Of course, Hogan would have his own moment to shine.
Miguel Discart from Bruxelles, Belgique, Wikimedia Commons
32. He Walked Out
Similarly, André found himself upstaged by Hogan after winning his own, smaller trophy for being "the only undefeated wrestler in wrestling history". Accepting his award, André had no choice but to step back as Hogan showed up to give congratulations, but took over the interview, ultimately stealing the spotlight. André was reportedly so peeved that he left during Hogan’s speech.
Still, they weren’t the only ones stirring things up.
Andre the Giant attacks Hulk Hogan: Saturday Night's Main Event, Jan. 2, 1988, WWE
33. He Made Claims
To engage in this new feud with Hogan, André enlisted the help of his former rival and villain, Bobby Heenan. During a scheduled discussion on February 7, 1987, between André and Hogan, Heenan started throwing accusations at their opponent. He theorized that the only reason Hogan had been so chummy with André before was so that he didn’t have to fight him.
To his credit, Hogan tried to de-escalate the situation.
John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, Wikimedia Commons
34. He Threw Down The Gauntlet
Maintaining his “babyface” reputation, Hogan did everything to prevent a fight between him and André. During their discussion, he tried to stay level-headed and talk things out with his former rival, but André wasn’t having it. Eventually, the Giant challenged Hogan for his title, goading him into a match for WrestleMania III.
Hogan stood shocked.
FULL MATCH - Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant - WWE Championship Match: WrestleMania III, WWE
35. He Didn’t Believe Them
Rivalries and challenges weren’t uncommon in wrestling, but Hogan remained stunned and in disbelief. Once again, Heenan got in the middle of it and said, "You can't believe it? Maybe you'll believe this, Hogan". This prompted André to tear his opponent's clothes and crucifix from his chest, cutting him in the process.
Despite all his talk, André wasn’t doing as well as he may have seemed.
John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, Wikimedia Commons
36. His Back Was In A Bad Shape
By this time, André had reached around 7 ft 4 in and 520 pounds, which, due to his poor health, wasn’t doing him any favors. The constant strain on his joints as they propped up his immense size was horribly painful, and leading up to WrestleMania III, he required back surgery. This meant that while wrestling, he needed to wear a back brace.
Finally, his feud came to a head.
37. He Suffered During WrestleMania III
Likely due to André’s diminished health and weakened joints, he didn’t do so well by the time his match with Hulk Hogan came around. In 1987’s WrestleMania III, Hogan claimed victory by hitting André with an unforgettable body slam—but that wasn't his only punishing move. He also delivered a running leg drop finisher.
Quite, infamously, that body slam would earn a shocking reputation as "the bodyslam heard around the world". However, André got his chance at revenge the very next year.
FULL MATCH - Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant - WWE Championship Match: WrestleMania III, WWE
38. WrestleMania IV
During the following year’s WrestleMania IV on March 27, André got back on the horse and took his opportunity to deliver Hogan some payback. Unfortunately, this didn’t work out much better than the previous event, and the match ended in a double disqualification for both men. Following this, Hogan won a steel cage match against André, and their rivalry fizzled out.
But when it came to feuding, André hadn't even begun to run out of steam.
WWE Hall of Fame: Bob Uecker gets into some trouble with, WWE
39. He Was Scared Of Snakes
Another notable feud he had was with Jake "The Snake" Roberts in the late 1980s, which played on André’s fear of snakes—at least according to the storyline. Roberts frequently would use his snake, Damien, to scare André and gain an advantage over him in matches. Eventually, though, André would face a far more violent incident.
John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, Wikimedia Commons
40. He Was Charged
Although many saw André as a gentle and kind man, one incident pushed him over the edge in 1989. During André’s match against “The Ultimate Warrior” in Iowa, he went after a cameraman, putting him in a headlock and breaking his equipment. While André may have thought the man was doing something he wasn’t supposed to, it still amounted to assault, and André had to pay a $100 fine and the TV station for damages.
Professionally, he had no problems staying relevant.
41. He Joined A Team
André had become an icon all to himself, but in 1989, he took to the ring in partnership with fellow wrestler Haku to form their new tag team, the Colossal Connection. André was getting older, and by creating this team with another wrestler from the Heenan Family, he could maintain his relevance.
Fortunately, they did fairly well.
Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons
42. They Won
As the Colossal Connection was a new team on the scene, they had to make a name for themselves quickly, so they aimed for the top. Challenging “Demolition,” who were the reigning WWF Tag Team Champions, André and Haku faced off against the team on December 13, 1989. The Colossal Connection won the match and their new titles.
However, this streak wouldn’t last.
43. They Messed Up
For several months, the Colossal Connection remained the undefeated Tag Team Champions, but not for much longer. Soon, WrestleMania VI came along on April 1, 1990, during which the team battled against Demolition once again. In a poor turn of events, a poorly executed move on behalf of the Colossal Connection cost them the match and their titles.
Someone took the loss a little too hard.
FULL EVENT: WrestleMania VI – Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior and MORE!, WWE Vault
44. He Retaliated
André and Haku were likely disappointed following their defeat, but Bobby Heenan seemed to be the most upset of all. Berating them for letting Demolition win, he smacked André in the face, forcing the wrestler’s normally jovial demeanor to disappear. In response, André smacked Heenan back, sending him reeling.
Behind the scenes, André wasn’t getting any better.
FULL EVENT: WrestleMania VI – Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior and MORE!, WWE Vault45. His Health Worsened
By the time WrestleMania VI arrived, André’s condition had deteriorated so much that he couldn’t participate fully. While the Colossal Connection had entered the ring against Demolition, Haku ended up fighting the whole match without tagging André in, so the wrestler wouldn’t exert himself too much.
Still, he wasn’t at the end of his career yet.
FULL EVENT: WrestleMania VI – Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior and MORE!, WWE Vault
46. He Had His Swan Song
Eventually, André’s health became so poor that he couldn’t continue as an active member of the WWF. However, he wasn’t about to go out with a whimper, making his last match a 17-man battle royal on May 11, 1991. While he may not have won this final event, he certainly made it one to remember.
Even though he wasn’t fighting after this, the audience hadn’t seen the last of him.
AbhiSuryawanshi, Wikimedia Commons
47. He Appeared One Last Time
Five months after his final WWF match, André was present at a house show on October 9 in Paris, France. There, he didn’t step into the ring as a wrestler, but stood on crutches in Davey Boy Smith’s corner as he took on “Earthquake”. This proved beneficial to Smith, who used one of André’s crutches to deliver a hit to Earthquake.
One thing was certain—André sure knew how to celebrate.
Harry_Smith_at_Stampede.jpg: Tabercil derivative work: Tabercil (talk), Wikimedia Commons
48. He Could Drink
While it likely contributed to his failing health, many have said that André’s excessive drinking helped him deal with his pain. The problem was that since he was so large, he could really throw them back. Wrestler Mike Graham stated that André once drank 156 470-mL-beers in one go, which amounted to around 19.5 gallons.
Shortly after his final appearance, however, his time was up.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
49. He Visited His Friends
Sadly, André the Giant’s life would come to an end while visiting France one more time in 1993. During his visit to Molien, he took time to meet with some dear friends, playing card games with them on January 27. After returning to his hotel room for the night, he reportedly suffered a heart attack in his sleep before passing the following day.
It was his chauffeur and some hotel employees who tragically discovered the beloved wrestler's body on January 28. However, few know another tragic detail about the circumstances surrounding his demise.
Claude villetaneuse, Wikimedia Commons
50. His Family Faced Another Loss
You see, André had been in France for a very sad reason. He'd lost his father and had made the trip so that he could attend the funeral. Though it was a time for him to come together with his family, his loss would prove to be another devastating blow to those closest to him. And when it came to his remains, there was a major problem.
51. He Couldn't Be Cremated In France
In life, André knew that he wanted to be cremated, and put his wishes in his will. Unfortunately, his size posed a major issue in France: They simply didn't have a crematorium large enough to accommodate his body. Therefore, his remains had to be shipped back to America so that his wishes could be properly fulfilled. His ashes were eventually released in North Carolina, where he owned a ranch.
Though André passed at the young age of 46, he memory would never die.
52. She Helped Him Live On
During his life, André the Giant met thousands of people who worked with him, idolized him, or simply counted him as a friend. He left a lasting impact on each person, and although he saw his daughter Robin less and less over the years, the two still maintained a connection until his passing.
Since then, she has spoken publicly about how she wished they had a closer relationship and has made it her business to keep his legacy alive.
Andre The Giant's Daughter On Difference Between Persona Vs. The Man, ThePostGame
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