
André Roussimoff
Born May 19, 1946 · Coulommiers, France
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.
Movies

The Princess Bride

Conan the Destroyer

WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

WWF The Main Event

Andre the Giant

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

WWE SummerSlam 1988

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

WWE Royal Rumble 1988
More Movies

Inside the Steel Cage

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

WrestleMania II

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

WrestleMania

WWE Royal Rumble 1990

Micki & Maude

WWE Survivor Series 1987

WWE Survivor Series 1988

Villains of the Squared Circle

Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection

Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits

WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits

WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

The History Of WrestleMania

As You Wish: The Story of 'The Princess Bride'

Best of the WWF Volume 1

WWE Survivor Series 1989

Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams

WWE WrestleMania III

The Life And Times of Paul Boesch

WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary

WWE World Tour 1992

WWE U.K. Rampage 1991

The Best of the WWF: volume 17

The Best of the WWF: volume 20

WWE World Tour 1991

Best of The British Bulldog

Best of the WWF Volume 3

WWE SummerSlam 1989

The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano

Warrior's Greatest Matches

WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit

Hulk Hogan: Real American

Trading Mom

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

The WWF's Amazing Managers

WWE The Big Event

WWE SummerSlam 1991

The Best of the WWF: volume 12

The Best of the WWF: volume 5

The Best of the WWF: volume 9

The Best of the WWF: volume 10

Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments

WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall

WWE WrestleMania IV

Wrestling's Greatest Champions

The Hulkster Hulk Hogan

Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules

Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World

WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI

Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II

Most Unusual Matches

Andre the Giant

WWE: Wrestlemania Recall

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

The Best of the WWF: volume 4

Best of the WWF Volume 2

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

The Real Rocky

WWE WrestleFest

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

WWE WrestleMania VII

WWF: Best of Hulkamania

NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa

WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

More Saturday Night's Main Event

Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1

WWE WrestleMania VI

The Best of the WWF: volume 19

WWE WrestleMania V

I Like To Hurt People

Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka

WWE Showdown at Shea '80

WWF Summer Flashback!

Macho Madness

WWE: Andre The Giant

Hulkamania 4

Andre the Giant: Larger than Life

WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History

Hulkamania 3

WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series

Fan Favorites

WWF Hulkamania 2

The Wrestling Queen

WWE: True Giants

The Claw

WWF 20-Man Battle Royal 1987

Giants: Friends or Foe

The Ultimate Warrior
















