André Roussimoff

Acting

Born May 19, 1946

From Coulommiers, France

Died Jan 27, 1993

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.

André Roussimoff

Known For

The Princess Bride

Conan the Destroyer

WWE WrestleMania III

WWE WrestleMania IV

WWE WrestleMania V

Andre the Giant

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

Micki & Maude

Trading Mom

WrestleMania

Filmography — Acting

The Princess Bride

Conan the Destroyer

WWE WrestleMania III

WWE WrestleMania IV

WWE WrestleMania V

Andre the Giant

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

Micki & Maude

Trading Mom

WrestleMania

WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014

WWE Survivor Series 1987

WWE WrestleMania VI

WrestleMania II

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

WWE Royal Rumble 1990

The Real Rocky

WWE Royal Rumble 1988

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

WWE WrestleMania VII

WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

Hulkamania 4

WWE SummerSlam 1989

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1

WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden

Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules

Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection

WWE Survivor Series 1989

WWE March to WrestleMania VIII

WWE SummerSlam 1988

WWE The Big Event

WWE Survivor Series 1988

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

Villains of the Squared Circle

Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams

The History Of WrestleMania

WWF Summer Flashback!

WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

WWE World Tour 1991

WWE SummerSlam 1991

WWF Hulkamania 2

Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits

WWE: Wrestlemania Recall

WWE U.K. Rampage 1991

WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

Andre the Giant

More Saturday Night's Main Event

Inside the Steel Cage

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

The Wrestling Queen

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86

WWE WrestleFest

I Like To Hurt People

Macho Madness

WWE World Tour 1992

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

WWE: True Giants

Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II

WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series