André the Giant, born André René Roussimoff on May 19, 1946, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Renowned for his immense size, Roussimoff suffered from acromegaly, a disorder that results in excessive growth hormone, contributing to his height of 7 feet 4 inches and weight of 520 pounds.
His wrestling career began in the early 1960s, and he quickly became a global sensation, performing in various wrestling promotions worldwide. André’s most notable tenure was with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), where he became a beloved figure and was famously billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Beyond wrestling, he gained fame through his role as Fezzik in the 1987 film “The Princess Bride.” André’s larger-than-life persona left a lasting mark on popular culture. He passed away on January 27, 1993, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of sports and entertainment.
Andre the Giant and Fred Savage during the filming of The Princess Bride (1987)Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant 1987 Andre the Giant and his stunt double while filming The Princess Bride in late 1986 Andre the giant flying out of Japan, 1980Andre the Giant in Cannes, 1967Andre the Giant, dressed as Bigfoot, poses with Lee Majors while filming The Six Million Dollar Man episode “The Secret of Bigfoot,” which aired on Feb. 1, 1976Andre The Giant posing with models (1980s)A kid’s reaction when he meets Andre the Giant, 1970s.Andre the Giant at Disneyland in 1975 The Princess Bride cast photo, 1986: Producer Andrew Scheinman, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, André the Giant, Christopher Guest, Director Rob Reiner.Andre the Giant lifting a car [1965]André René Roussimoff (André the Giant) at nineteen, already gaining popularity. Paris. 1966.Andre the Giant compared to other professional wrestlers, 1980sAndré the Giant 1980sAndré the Giant, goofing around with his best friend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s 315lb grandfathe & High Chief Peter Maivia. – 1970’sAndré the Giant hoisting up the Unocal Racestoppers before the American 500 at Rockingham, NC (1979) Andre the Giant riding his 3-wheeler in 1987 Andre the Giant & his Cadillac, 1975.Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik in a match in 1982André the Giant filming a movie in my front yard, circa 1993.Roddy Piper with Andre the Giant before a match in the ring – 1980sBobby Hull and Andre the Giant at a charity baseball game in Calgary, 1977.Arnold Schwarzenegger with Wilt Chamberlain and Andre the Giant on the set of Conan the Destroyer, 1983 Andre the Giant circa 1981Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Andre the Giant, 1980. Two peas in a pod.Andre the Giant next to a security guard circa 1984Andre the Giant at age 20, 1967Andre the Giant greeting professional boxer Bobby Chacon, 1972Muhammad Ali and Andre the Giant compare the size of their hands, 1976.Andre the Giant and a nurse 1980’s