In our younger years, when we hear stories about giants, we imagine mythical beings that are humongous in size, aggressive, and just outwardly scary. However, in the ‘70s, a real-life giant emerged and his face was all over the walls of subways, television, and signages. This man had all the characteristics of a giant but he wasn’t actually scary.

In fact, he was gentle and had a big heart. Many of you would probably remember him in the film The Princess Bride and in his wrestling career in the WWF or now known as the WWE. Beyond all of the fame and money, who really was André the Giant?

Looking Past His Size

In his entire career as a wrestler and actor, André the Giant proved that he was one of a kind and he had a gentle heart despite his massive size. His life story, like many other tales, wasn’t an easy one. He had his high moments, triumphs, but he also had his share of sufferings from many painful obstacles.

Beneath all the acting and wrestling, few people only knew him by heart. Before he dominated the corners of the ring, he had a pretty simple life as a country boy, however, his own body which seemed unusual for most, brought him to his pinnacle; a life well lived but also a life of tragedy.

Humble Beginnings

Before he made his way out into the spotlight, his younger years were just filled with simplicity. He was born on May 19, 1946, with the name André René Roussimoff in a little village in Molien, France. His parents were immigrant farmers, and when they welcomed him into this world, he had a weight of 11 pounds.

This was big but not really considered odd. At that time, there were no signs of being unusual or different from others. He was called Dédé in his family and his childhood reflected his humble beginnings. However, his simple farm life was soon about to change.

The Good Samaritan

As he grew up, André started to have some difficulty with his massive size. At the age of 12, he had faced one of his greatest problems – he could no longer fit in the school bus! His family wanted to do all the best they could for him, but unfortunately, they were too poor to purchase a car.

Little did they know, help was about to arrive from one of the most unexpected people. One of their neighbors, André’s dad’s friend, offered André a space in his truck and gave him a ride to school every day. This good Samaritan turned out to be famous Irish playwright Samuel Beckett.

The Simple Everyday Life of André

He was a very good student back in his younger years, and he excelled the most in mathematics. However, he didn’t see any reason for him to pursue his education if he would just work as a farmer all his life. He quit school in eighth grade and focused on farm work.

According to his brother, he could finish tasks that often required three men. He was very fond of music, yet again, with his huge hands and fingers, he never learned to play the piano. Even a simple telephone call would be too difficult for him and he needed a pencil just to dial a number.

The Early Symptoms

At 17 years old, his height already reached 6’7” and he was showing clear signs of gigantism but they couldn’t afford to have him diagnosed. As he grew older, he just kept on growing because of his condition and in just two years, he was already 7’4” tall!

Aside from farm work, he started making money through woodworking and moved on to working in a factory, and no matter what he did, it didn’t give him any satisfaction. He tried joining the French Army as well, but when they saw that he was too big for uniforms and beds, they rejected him right away.

André Discovers His Calling

During those years, it was really tough for him as he kept on growing. As he was born a natural at sports, he just focused all the energy there, especially in rugby and soccer. While he was at the gym, some of his friends informed him that there was an injured wrestler who needed a substitute and asked him if he could replace him.

Initially, he hesitated, but then he decided to try it anyway. When he found out that he was actually good at it, he went to Paris and learned how to become a professional wrestler. Back then, he worked as a mover and at night, he would train endlessly.

Traveling All Over The World

André realized it was one of the most satisfying decisions he had made in his life. He trained very hard to become a wrestler and when he reached the age of 20, he met promoter Frank Valois. He was moved by the aspiring wrestler, so he immediately took André to Canada to become one of the greats!

When they reached Canada, Frank decided to become his manager and he started handling his paychecks and tournaments. Eventually, André began reaching different parts of the world. André, who started working on their French farm, was now appearing in England, Germany, Australia, and many more.

Monster Roussimoff

In the ‘70s, he was dubbed as Monster Roussimoff and people would often forget how big he really was, that is, unless you saw him drinking and compared the size of a 12-oz. can with his hands. At this time, he had already begun his debut in Japan during the International Wrestling Enterprise.

His workouts also became more intense and purposive. André had found his passion and where he truly derived satisfaction. His efforts and great physique easily made him the company’s tag-team champion alongside the great Michael Nador. Of course, along with his penetrating the wrestling world, he also started to earn fame and fortune.

The Drunken Giant

Obviously, with his weight, he didn’t just love drinking alcohol; he could also finish many bottles of beer. For example, there was one time when he drank a total of 119 bottles of beers in just six hours. If you would calculate that, that translated to one beer in just three minutes!

However, there was also a time that he broke his record and drank a total of 127 beers, only this time, he passed out in a hotel lobby. No one was able to move him because of his weight and size, so they just left him there until he was sober enough to go home.

The Secret Behind His Size

While he was in Japan, he finally had some time to visit a doctor and consult his condition. He found out that he was suffering from acromegaly – a hormonal disorder caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland which, in turn, resulted in excessive growth hormone.

He also found out that it was a brain tumor that was causing the unexplained growth over the years. It was revealed to him that he might not live beyond 40. This revelation sent many people close to him into a shock which then spiraled into hopelessness. However, André didn’t let this stop him and no matter what, he only had one choice: to persevere.

Setting Foot in Canada

When he reached the great land of America, people started dubbing him as Monster Eiffel Tower. Eventually, he made his own name in wrestling under the name of Jean Ferre. There, he received the success that he didn’t envision, and he would even sell out regularly in the Montreal Forum.

However, with his massive size, he would sometimes run out of opponents. His name instantly became huge and he was getting known across the nation for his impressive portfolio. Soon, his life would change, something beyond his imagination was about to unfold before his eyes.

The First Defeat

Despite knowing that he might not live to his 40s, he still pushed harder in his career training to become a famous wrestler. Aside from regularly selling out tickets, he had also built an incredible fan base that supported him all the way and applauded him during his tournaments.

However, just like many great athletes, he also had his defeats. In 1971, during a match in Baghdad, his fans saw his first defeat during his tournament against Adnan Al-Kaissie. It was humiliating but it opened doors to another opportunity, as he caught the attention of someone important.

Rebranding Under The New Management

Little did he know, he caught the eye of the biggest name in the field of wrestling, the famous promoter, Vince McMahon. After his defeat, something bigger was waiting for him which he didn’t expect. McMahon wanted him to be a part of his team but before they could take his career into a different path, he demanded some big changes.

Primarily, he wanted a complete makeover of André ‘s image. He wanted an end to his image before, as he used to put more focus on agility and dropkicks. Now, he envisioned him as a monstrous beast. He needed to rebrand as well, so he became known as André the Giant.

André  Reaches Different Parts Of The World

After being put under the management of Vince McMahon, André’s career as a professional wrestler had set off. He made his impressive debut in Madison Square Garden and as soon as he stepped out of the ring, he became one of the top wrestlers in the world.

Just one year under the McMahon management, he won as the highest-paid wrestler in the Guinness Book of Records. His face started reaching different parts of the world and he became unforgettable for his enormous face and long frizzy hair. Wrestling fans or not, they were amazed by the great André the Giant and it didn’t end there.

Unbeatable Champion

From being a poor farmer’s son, André the Giant instantly took over the wrestling world and became a leading champion. According to sources, he managed to remain undefeated for a span of 15 years. Everyone was excited to see his tournaments and see if it was all real – if a giant really existed.

André just kept on winning every tournament and cameras were all eager to get a snapshot of the legendary icon. Many people liked him not just because of his physique but also because of his big heart. While most people were all rooting for him, still, not everyone enjoyed his victory.

André & Hulk Hogan

After wrestling made its transition to cable television, André the Giant and other wrestling personalities became even more famous. One of them was a tall man who had blonde hair and a handlebar mustache and his name was Hulk Hogan. Ever since their first clash in the ring, the two always seemed to be in a never-ending fight.

However, beneath all of it, they were actually close friends. The wrestling icons traveled across America and in different parts of the world to have people determine the real hero and villain between them. Only this time, they had to go back from the start, as the biggest match for them was in the works.

Wrestlemania History

In 1987, one of the most anticipated events in the wrestling world was set. It was between the two sensational icons in the wrestling industry, André the Giant and Hulk Hogan. More than 93K wrestling fans came to watch the match in Pontiac Silverdome and 1M watched in the comfort of their homes.

André and Hulk Hogan managed to make this event become history and Wrestlemania III earned the spot for 12 years as the biggest wrestling event held live at an indoor stadium. The match started with André ripping his clothes off and taunting Hulk. However, after the match, everyone had wondered what happened to André.

First Acting Gig

Well, André the Giant didn’t just spend his entire career in wrestling, in fact, doors of opportunity in acting opened up for him. Back then, when CGI wasn’t still a thing, it was easy to convince people that terrifying creatures like Bigfoot did exist if it was André who portrayed it, as it certainly looked a hundred percent real.

It was in the series The Six Million Dollar Man (1976) where he portrayed the role of a furry behemoth, a scary, and unsettling creature in the movie. The makeup artist did a wonderful job as it became hard to notice that it was actually André behind the character.

His Unspoken Feelings

Beneath André’s success, there was still something that didn’t let him sleep at night. Many people would see him as a friendly person with incredible size, however, when sadness started to consume him, people would barely notice at all. André suffered from depression and those who were close to him could recall that he often cried.

Just like many famous people, he was overtaken by the pain and sadness he felt. There were many things that made him sad; for one thing, he hated how he was being stared at every single time. He hated the fact that he couldn’t even run an errand without people looking at him curiously!

The Giant With A Gentle Heart

Aside from being André  The Giant, he was also known as someone with a very gentle and big heart, earning him another title – The Gentle Giant. Beneath his strong image, André was a generous and a humble man. Most often, he wouldn’t let anyone pay for him when people would invite him to eat at restaurants.

Interestingly, he once even lifted legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger just to tell him “I Pay” when Arnold was about to pay for their bill after their dinner. André made this a habit and he always gave back through the most unexpected things.

Little Bundle of Joy

While André was at the height of his fame, his bundle of joy came next. This time, he could also be called a celebrity father after he welcomed his daughter and only child, Robin. Another good news came just sometime after her birth: she wasn’t suffering from acromegaly which made her father jump for joy.

Sadly, his father role and his constant life on the road didn’t exactly match, and he didn’t see his daughter that often. For André, this was also a good thing as he didn’t want his daughter to be in the spotlight unless it would be her choice.

Things Started To Get Worse

While he was busy portraying a character, his gigantism was also busy making his body suffer; his body just kept on growing and it started to become unbearable. The uncontrollable growth caused some strains on his joints and bones which became really uncomfortable and painful.

At the same time, another opportunity came for him – he was asked to become a part of a big Hollywood film. André needed to see a doctor as soon as possible, so Vince McMahon took matters into his own hands. He asked André to take a hiatus so people wouldn’t notice his declining health.

Good Guy Fezzik

After focusing on his health and slowly getting back on his feet, another career opportunity opened for him. He landed a role in the classic film The Princess Bride as the gentle, loving, and kind guy Fezzik. Many stars tried to audition for the role like Lou Ferrigno and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

However, the character was written with the vision of André playing the role. William Goldman, the author of the fiction from where the film was adapted, insisted that it was only André who was fit for the role. But, even the cast and crew of the film noticed something.

Working With The Cast & Crew

Everyone on the set of The Princess Bride loved working with André. Even Robin Wring, the woman behind the role of Princess Buttercup, showed her amazement for André. She recalled how his size helped her when they were out in the woods to film a scene – André put his hand on top of her head so her face would start to feel warm.

He also loved spending time with his new friends, he felt accepted for being truly himself. His castmates always saw him with a smile on but no matter how hard he tried to pretend nothing was wrong, they saw how much he suffered every day in his condition.

He Chooses to Self-Medicate

Everyone from the cast and crew of The Princess Bride knew he was in extreme pain. In one scene where Princess Buttercup had to fall into his arms, they had to think of an alternative way so he wouldn’t feel any weight. They strapped on some cables to Princess Buttercup and used it to lower her down.

Most of the cast and crew even remembered him constantly drinking, but at that point, it wasn’t what you could call an addiction anymore. André just had to do it so he could self-medicate and numb the searing pain he felt in his entire body.

Treated As An Equal

Mandy Patinkin, the actor who portrayed the role of Inigo Montoya, described André pretty well. Patinkin said that André was very passionate about his career and he loved working on the set of The Princess Bride. It was only on that set where people didn’t stare at him, which was what he hated the most.

André felt he wasn’t different while he was working with them, that he was treated equally even when he wasn’t in his movie costume. On the other hand, as a celebrity, people would often want a photo with him and he always gladly obliged.

The Truth Behind Wrestlemania III

It wasn’t just on the set of The Princess Bride where André started to feel immense pain. In fact, even during Wrestlemania III, he fought the underlying pain that was the result of his condition. He recalled how everything was excruciating before he came into the event that he had to walk with a crane and had a back brace that fans didn’t even notice.

His friend and enemy in the ring, Hulk Hogan, also knew about this and he tried his best to avoid hurting him as much as he could. Hulk’s victory meant that André could now step down from the ring and have a peaceful retirement in his North Carolina ranch.

Back in Paris

On January 27, 1993, a tragedy occurred that broke the hearts of his loved ones, friends, and fans. André had scheduled lunch with his mother, however, when he didn’t go down from his hotel, his driver began to worry. He entered the Paris hotel room and to his shock, he saw André lying on his bed, lifeless.

The gentle giant whom everyone loved, suffered from a fatal heart attack in his sleep. He was completely alone in the room and he passed away at 46 years old. His remains were sent back to America, so he could be cremated. Before his death, he managed to do one final act of love.

The Final Act of Love

Before his untimely death, André the Giant managed to leave a last will and testament. Written in it, he left his entire estate to his one and only daughter, Robin Christensen Roussimoff.  He thought it was the only thing he could do for his daughter who rarely saw him as he tried to keep her away from the spotlight.

For André, it was the most humble way of making things right with her daughter. He always wanted the best for her and this silent gesture could be the only way of proving that since he was mostly away all the time.

Life Well Lived Even Amidst The Pain

André the Giant is still remembered for his legendary career and his big heart. He was able to create a wonderful legacy which all started in their poor French farm.  After his death, he was the first to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also became a pop culture symbol known until now, seen most often in Obey stencils and stickers around the world.

People remember him smiling through his difficult condition and despite all the pain, he showed only kindness and joy to those around him. Apart from his size, it was his actions and character that became the reason why people still remember André to this day.