André René Roussimoff, known worldwide as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor who gained international fame due to his extraordinary size, the result of a medical condition known as acromegaly (gigantism). Born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, France, he was nicknamed “The Eighth Wonder of the World” and became one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling during the 1970s and 1980s.
André René Roussimoff, known worldwide as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor who gained international fame due to his extraordinary size, the result of a medical condition known as acromegaly (gigantism). Born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, France, he was nicknamed “The Eighth Wonder of the World” and became one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling during the 1970s and 1980s.
Roussimoff began his wrestling career in 1966 in France under the name Jean Ferré, and his size quickly drew the attention of international promoters. In 1971, he moved to North America, where he was promoted by Vincent J. McMahon, founder of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), as a global attraction. Renamed André the Giant, he remained one of the most popular wrestlers in the world for over a decade, known for his imposing presence and gentle demeanor.
Throughout his career, André wrestled in various territories and promotions worldwide, including Japan, Canada, Europe, Australia, and the United States. He was a central figure in the wrestling boom of the 1980s, starring in one of the most iconic rivalries in sports entertainment history: his feud with Hulk Hogan, which culminated at the historic WrestleMania III (1987) before more than 93,000 fans. In that match, Hogan famously body-slammed André in what became known as the body slam heard around the world, a defining moment in WWF history.
In 1988, André briefly won the WWF World Championship, only to immediately “sell” the title to Ted DiBiase in a storyline that led to the championship being declared vacant. In the following years, his health declined due to complications from acromegaly, though he remained active in the ring, particularly in Japan and Mexico with promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling and UWA.
Parallel to wrestling, André pursued an acting career. His most beloved role was Fezzik in the film The Princess Bride (1987), a character he cherished and which cemented his status as a beloved figure outside the ring. He also appeared in other productions, such as Conan the Destroyer, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Fall Guy, among others.
In his personal life, André was known for his generosity, reserved personality, and legendary drinking feats—stories of which became part of wrestling folklore. He had a daughter, Robin Christensen, and spent his final years on a ranch in North Carolina. He passed away on January 28, 1993, in a Paris hotel due to heart failure, shortly after attending his father's funeral.
His legacy endures as one of the most recognized and beloved figures in wrestling history. He was the first-ever inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1993 and has been honored through documentaries, books, films, video games, and the creation of the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, an annual WWE event. He also inspired the visual artist Shepard Fairey, creator of the iconic “Obey” street art campaign.
André the Giant was not just a wrestling legend but also a symbol of resilience, spectacle, and humanity in an industry defined by drama and exaggeration. His story is that of a man whose physical greatness was matched by a remarkable human spirit.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0000764
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44368
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Filmography (Movies)
The Claw
Character:Himself
Release Date:13/05/2021
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/08/2020
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
Character:
Release Date:29/05/2018
Andre the Giant
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:10/04/2018
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
Character:
Release Date:05/09/2017
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
Character:Andre (archive footage)
Release Date:17/12/2014
WWE: True Giants
Character:
Release Date:09/12/2014
Warrior's Greatest Matches
Character:Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
Release Date:15/04/2014
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Character:Himself
Release Date:11/03/2014
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Character:Self
Release Date:18/11/2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:10/09/2013
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Character:Himself
Release Date:13/08/2013
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
Character:
Release Date:28/05/2013
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
Character:Himself
Release Date:19/03/2013
The Real Rocky
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:25/10/2011
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:07/12/2010
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
Character:
Release Date:24/08/2010
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:17/11/2009
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
Character:
Release Date:09/06/2009
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:10/02/2009
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:22/01/2008
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:31/07/2007
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Character:Self
Release Date:14/11/2006
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:17/10/2006
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
Character:
Release Date:05/09/2006
The Greatest Stars of the 80's
Character:Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
Release Date:14/06/2005
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/02/2005
WWE: Andre The Giant
Character:Himself
Release Date:25/01/2005
Giants: Friends or Foe
Character:Self- Archive Footage
Release Date:11/09/2003
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Character:Himself
Release Date:20/08/2002
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
Character:Himself
Release Date:13/01/1999
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
Character:
Release Date:24/11/1998
WWF Summer Flashback!
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:14/07/1997
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Character:Andre the Giant (archive footage)
Release Date:01/04/1994
Trading Mom
Character:Circus Giant
Release Date:04/03/1994
The History Of WrestleMania
Character:
Release Date:02/02/1994
Best of The British Bulldog
Character:Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
Release Date:11/10/1993
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
Character:Andre The Giant
Release Date:21/10/1992
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
Character:André the Giant (Appearance)
Release Date:02/09/1992
WWE World Tour 1992
Character:Andre the Giant (Manager)
Release Date:27/08/1992
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
Character:
Release Date:01/06/1992
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
Character:Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
Release Date:03/10/1991
WWE SummerSlam 1991
Character:André The Giant (Ringside)
Release Date:26/08/1991
WWE World Tour 1991
Character:André The Giant (Manager)
Release Date:22/08/1991
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:30/07/1991
WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
Character:André the Giant (Ringside)
Release Date:21/04/1991
WWE WrestleMania VII
Character:André the Giant (Ringside)
Release Date:24/03/1991
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
Character:André the Giant (Appearance)
Release Date:17/03/1991
The Ultimate Warrior
Character:
Release Date:05/11/1990
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
Character:
Release Date:13/04/1990
WWE WrestleMania VI
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:01/04/1990
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:25/03/1990
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:21/01/1990
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:23/11/1989
Hulkamania 4
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/11/1989
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Character:Himself
Release Date:28/08/1989
Fan Favorites
Character:Andre The Giant
Release Date:09/08/1989
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:19/07/1989
More Saturday Night's Main Event
Character:
Release Date:06/07/1989
WWE WrestleMania V
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:02/04/1989
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:29/01/1989
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:15/01/1989
Hulk Hogan: Real American
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:11/01/1989
WWE Survivor Series 1988
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:24/11/1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:10/11/1988
Macho Madness
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:19/10/1988
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:07/10/1988
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:29/08/1988
Hulkamania 3
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:27/08/1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:13/08/1988
WWE WrestleFest
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:31/07/1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:27/07/1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:15/07/1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:24/04/1988
WWE WrestleMania IV
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:27/03/1988
WrestleMania IV (Duplicated)
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:27/03/1988
WWE The Main Event
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:05/02/1988
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
Character:André the Giant (Contract Signing)
Release Date:24/01/1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:15/12/1987
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:15/12/1987
WWE Survivor Series 1987
Character:Andre The Giant
Release Date:26/11/1987
The Princess Bride
Character:Fezzik
Release Date:25/09/1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
Character:Giant Machine
Release Date:15/08/1987
WWF Hulkamania 2
Character:Giant Machine
Release Date:01/05/1987
WWE WrestleMania III
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:29/03/1987
WrestleMania III (Duplicated)
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:29/03/1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Character:Giant Machine
Release Date:01/03/1987
Inside the Steel Cage
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:11/12/1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:15/10/1986
WWE The Big Event
Character:Giant Machine
Release Date:28/08/1986
Villains of the Squared Circle
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:06/06/1986
WrestleMania II
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:07/04/1986
WrestleMania 2 (Duplicated)
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:07/04/1986
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:23/03/1986
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:08/03/1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1986
The WWF's Amazing Managers
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:31/12/1985
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:10/11/1985
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:15/09/1985
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/09/1985
Andre the Giant
Character:André the Giant (archive footage)
Release Date:15/06/1985
I Like To Hurt People
Character:Self - Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/06/1985
WrestleMania
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:31/03/1985
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Best of the WWF Volume 3
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Most Unusual Matches
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Best of the WWF Volume 1
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Best of the WWF Volume 2
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
Character:Andre the Giant
Release Date:01/01/1985
Micki & Maude
Character:Self
Release Date:21/12/1984
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:21/10/1984
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:14/10/1984
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:23/09/1984
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:15/07/1984
Conan the Destroyer
Character:Dagoth (uncredited)
Release Date:29/06/1984
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:17/10/1983
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:04/06/1982
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
Character:André the Giant
Release Date:09/08/1980
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
Character:André The Giant
Release Date:03/08/1980
The Wrestling Queen
Character:"The Giant" Jean Ferre
Release Date:01/11/1973
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
Character:Fighter
Release Date:22/12/1967
Television Appearances
Mr. McMahon
Character:Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE Rivals
Character:Andre the Giant
Biography: WWE Legends
Character:André the Giant (archive footage)
WWE's Most Wanted Treasures
Character:André the Giant (archive footage)
The Best of WWE
Character:Andre the Giant
Clash of the Champions
Character:Andre the Giant (Appearance)
WWE The Main Event
Character:
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Character:Giant Machine
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Character:André the Giant
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Character:Andre the Giant
Saturday Night's Main Event
Character:Andre The Giant
Saturday Night's Main Event
Character:Andre the Giant
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
Character:
Tuesday Night Titans
Character:Andre the Giant
World Class Championship Wrestling
Character:André the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWF Championship Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant
WWF Championship Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant (Self)
WWF Championship Wrestling
Character:"The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Character:Andre the Giant
The Six Million Dollar Man
Character:Bigfoot
WWE Old School
Character:Andre the Giant
Images
