In the ‘70s, Andre The Giant rose to international fame and stardom as a wrestler in the WWF. Beyond all of the fame and money, who really was André the Giant?
Looking Past His Size
Throughout his illustrious career, he had high moments and triumphs, but he also had his share of suffering. Growing up in a small village, Andre reached the pinnacle of fame and success.
Humble Beginnings
He was born on May 19, 1946, in an immigrant household, with the name André René Roussimoff in a little village in Molien, France. The baby giant weighed a whopping 11 pounds!
The Good Samaritan
In his later years, André started facing difficulties due to his massive size. In fact, he could not even fit in the school bus and had to ride on his neighbor’s truck daily!
The Simple Everyday Life of André
He was a very good student but quit high school in eighth grade to focus instead on farm work. According to his brother, he could finish tasks that often required three men!
The Early Symptoms
Aged 19, he started making money working various jobs, but none of them gave him any satisfaction. He was even rejected from the French army due to his massive 7’4’’ frame!
André Discovers His Calling
One day at his gym, he was informed about an injured wrestler who needed a substitute. Andre reluctantly agreed, only to realize he had just made the best decision of his life!
Traveling All Over The World
André trained hard to become a wrestler and met Frank Valois, who eventually became his manager. Using his expertise and wrestling connections, Andre’s career really started to take off, and so did his earnings.
Monster Roussimoff
He was dubbed as Monster Roussimoff when the size of a 12-oz. beer can in his hands went viral. During this time, his wrestling pedigree and physique started to earn him fame and fortune.
The Drunken Giant
Andre didn’t just love drinking alcohol; he could devour his drinks in record time. He once drank 119 bottles of beers in just six hours. That equates to one bottle in three minutes!
The Secret Behind His Size
At this stage, Andre realized he was suffering from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that resulted in excessive growth hormones. He was told that he might not live beyond 40 years.
Setting Foot in Canada
After moving to America, he started wrestling under the name of Jean Ferre, regularly selling out the Montreal Forum arena. Andre was already making big strides towards realizing his wrestling dreams!
The First Defeat
Andre was on a winning streak before experiencing his first defeat in 1971 in Iraq. Little did he know, this loss would open the door to the biggest career opportunity of his life!
Rebranding Under The New Management
He caught the eye of the biggest name in the field of wrestling, the famous promoter, Vince McMahon. McMahon made drastic changes to his wresting persona- and Andre the Giant was born.
André Reaches Different Parts Of The World
Under Vince McMahon’s management, André’s career took off. He made his impressive debut in Madison Square Garden and later became the highest earning wrestler in the Guinness Book of Records.
Unbeatable Champion
André the Giant instantly took over the wrestling world and became a leading champion. He remained undefeated for a span of 15 years, until he was challenged by a worthy opponent.
André & Hulk Hogan
After wrestling transitioned to cable television, André the Giant seemingly met his match in wrestler Hulk Hogan. Despite being fierce competitors in the ring, the two were actually close friends in real life.
Wrestlemania History
In 1987, the two legends Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan faced off at Wrestlemania III. The historic event was the biggest live wrestling show ever with millions of viewers.
First Acting Gig
The world of wrestling opened up avenues in Hollywood for André the Giant. He debuted as a furry behemoth- a scary, unsettling creature in the 1976 film The Six Million Dollar Man.
His Unspoken Feelings
Beneath the celebrity persona, André’ was suffering from depression. He hated the idea of people ogling at him wherever he went. The big friendly giant would often be found crying in isolation.
The Giant With A Gentle Heart
Outside his wrestling persona, André was known for being kind, gentle and generous. He loved giving back to the community and never accepted anything for free- even from Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Little Bundle of Joy
At the height of his fame, André fathered a healthy baby daughter Robin. His life on the road, however, meant he did not see Robin as often as he would have wanted to.
Things Started To Get Worse
André’s body continued to grow uncontrollably, causing tremendous strain on his bones and joints. His health started to decline due to discomfort and pain which led to a hiatus from wrestling.
Good Guy Fezzik
After focusing on his health, André landed a role in the classic film,The Princess Bride, as the gentle and kind Fezzik, but his movie crew could not help but notice something was wrong.
Working With The Cast & Crew
Everyone on the set of the movie loved working with André. He loved spending time with his new friends, but they were pained by how much he suffered every day with his condition.
He Chooses to Self-Medicate
The cast and crew members of The Princess Bride knew he was in extreme pain. Most of them also recalled him turning to alcohol to self-medicate and numb the pain in his body.
Treated As An Equal
The movie cast recalled André as being passionate about his career and that he loved working on set. It was only there that people wouldn’t constantly stare at him and treated him equally.
The Truth Behind Wrestlemania III
During his historic fight at Wrestlemania III, André had to walk with a cane and a back brace. Despite this, the legends fought an epic battle that led to André’s retirement from wrestling.
Back in Paris
On January 27, 1993, André tragically died at 46 years old from a fatal heart attack in his sleep. Before his death however, he managed to do one final act of love.
The Final Act of Love
Before his untimely death, André the Giant made a will, leaving his entire estate to his only daughter, Robin. For André, it was the most fatherly way of making things right with his daughter.
Life Well Lived Even Amidst The Pain
After his death, André was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and is still remembered for his career and big heart; the legend who spread joy whilst being in pain himself.