André the Giant

1.1. Childhood, education, and family

André René Roussimoff was born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne, France. His parents were immigrants, with his father, Boris Roussimoff (1907-1993), being of Bulgarian descent, and his mother, Mariann Roussimoff Stoeff (1910-1997), being of Polish origin. He was raised as a Catholic and had two older and two younger siblings. His childhood nickname was Dédé (Dédé_Day-day^French). At birth, André weighed 13 lb ^{(6 kg)}, and by the age of 12, he already stood an imposing 75 in ^{(191 cm)} tall, displaying abnormally long hands and appearing "a good head taller than other kids." His mother was 62 in ^{(157 cm)} tall, and his father was 74 in ^{(188 cm)} tall; his grandfather was reportedly 92 in ^{(234 cm)} tall.

Roussimoff was considered an average student, though he excelled in mathematics. At 14, he decided against further schooling, believing his education was sufficient for a career as a farmhand. French compulsory education laws at the time did not apply to those aged 14 or older, so he did not technically drop out. He spent several years working on his father's farm in Molien, where his brother Jacques noted that he could perform the work of three men. He also pursued an apprenticeship in woodworking and worked in a factory that manufactured engines for hay balers, though he found no satisfaction in these jobs. During the 1950s, the renowned Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, who lived nearby in Ussy-sur-Marne, occasionally drove local children, including Roussimoff and his siblings, to school. They formed a surprising bond over their shared love of cricket, with Roussimoff recalling that their conversations rarely veered from the subject.

1.2. Gigantism and early physical development

Roussimoff's remarkable growth was a manifestation of acromegaly, a condition doctors first diagnosed during his time wrestling in Japan in 1970. This hormonal disorder caused his body, including internal organs, to grow uncontrollably, resulting in his gigantic stature. The stress of his immense weight on his bones and joints led to constant pain, which severely impacted his health and physical capabilities as he aged. In his later years, due to multiple surgeries on his spine and hip joints, his physique became considerably smaller.

2.1. Early career and international tours (1964-1973)

At the age of 18, Roussimoff moved to Paris and began training in professional wrestling under local promoter Robert Lageat, who recognized the significant earning potential in his size. He trained at night while working as a mover during the day to cover living expenses. His initial ring name was "Géant Ferré," based on the Picardian folk hero Grand Ferré, which later evolved into "Jean Ferre." He made his television debut that year on French national television against Le Petit Prince. In 1968, he defeated Franz Van Buyten to win the FFCP World Heavyweight Championship. By 1969, he appeared on the United Kingdom's World of Sport wrestling program, where he defeated Jim Hussey. Roussimoff also began building his reputation by wrestling in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

In 1966, Canadian promoter and wrestler Frank Valois met Roussimoff, eventually becoming his business manager and advisor. Roussimoff made his Japanese debut for International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE) in 1970, where he was billed as "Monster Roussimoff" (a name coined by IWE president Isao Yoshihara). He quickly found success as both a singles and tag team competitor, winning the IWA World Tag Team Championship alongside Michael Nador on January 18, 1970, in Fukuoka, before losing it to Thunder Sugiyama and Great Kusatsu on February 3, 1970, in Hiroshima. He continued his success in IWE, winning the Third IWA World Series in 1971. In 1972, he reached the finals of the Fourth IWA World Series but was defeated by Strong Kobayashi. It was during his time in Japan that doctors first informed Roussimoff that he suffered from acromegaly.

In 1971, Roussimoff moved to Montreal, Canada, where he became an immediate sensation, regularly selling out the Montreal Forum. He adopted the nickname "The 8th Wonder of the World," inspired by the film King Kong. However, promoters eventually struggled to find credible opponents for him, and as the novelty of his size waned, gate receipts began to dwindle. He was defeated by Adnan Al-Kaissie in Baghdad in 1971 and wrestled multiple times in 1971 and 1972 for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) as a special attraction, including matches against Killer Kowalski and Don Leo Jonathan. He also had a notable submission loss to Strong Kobayashi in Japan in 1972.

2.2. World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation (1973-1991)

From 1973 to 1984, André was booked as a "touring special attraction" by Vincent J. McMahon, who meticulously managed his career to maintain his mystique. McMahon encouraged him to be portrayed as a large, immovable monster, discouraging agile maneuvers like dropkicks (which he was capable of before his health declined). McMahon billed him as "André the Giant" and structured a demanding travel schedule, lending him to promotions worldwide to prevent overexposure. Promoters were required to guarantee a specific sum to Roussimoff and pay the WWF's booking fee.

On March 24, 1973, Roussimoff debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, later WWF) as a beloved fan favorite, defeating Frank Valois and Bull Pometti in a handicap match in Philadelphia. Two days later, he made his Madison Square Garden debut in New York, defeating Buddy Wolfe. He remained one of professional wrestling's most popular babyfaces throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. During this period, WWF commentators like Gorilla Monsoon often claimed that Roussimoff had not been defeated by pinfall or submission in 15 years prior to WrestleMania III. While he indeed sustained few losses in the WWF, he did experience defeats outside the promotion, including a pinfall loss to Don Leo Jonathan in Montreal in 1972, two draws and a countout loss to The Sheik in Toronto in 1974 (after a fireball to the face), a knockout loss to Jerry Lawler in Memphis in 1975, and a countout loss to Lawler in Louisville in 1977. He also had sixty-minute time-limit draws with major world champions like Harley Race in Houston in 1979 and Nick Bockwinkel in Chicago in 1976.

2.2.1. Rise to superstardom and undefeated streak

In 1976, at the second Showdown at Shea, Roussimoff participated in an unscripted boxer-versus-wrestler exhibition match against professional boxer Chuck Wepner. The wild fight, shown as part of the undercard for the Muhammad Ali versus Antonio Inoki match, concluded when Roussimoff threw Wepner over the top rope, winning by count-out.

In 1980, he engaged in a notable feud with Hulk Hogan, where Hogan was the villain and Roussimoff the hero (a reversal of their later, more famous rivalry). They wrestled at Shea Stadium's third Showdown at Shea event and in Pennsylvania, where after Roussimoff pinned Hogan to win, Hogan famously body-slammed him, foreshadowing their legendary WrestleMania III match. This feud continued in Japan in 1982 and 1983 with their roles reversed and with Antonio Inoki also involved.

One of Roussimoff's significant feuds was against the "Mongolian Giant" Killer Khan. The storyline depicted Khan snapping Roussimoff's ankle during a match on May 2, 1981, in Rochester, New York, by leaping off the top rope and landing a knee-drop. In reality, Roussimoff had broken his ankle getting out of bed the morning before the match. This injury and subsequent rehabilitation were seamlessly integrated into their ongoing storyline. After a stay at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Roussimoff returned seeking revenge. The two battled on July 20, 1981, at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a double disqualification. Their feud intensified as fans packed arenas along the east coast to witness their matches. On November 14, 1981, at the Philadelphia Spectrum, he decisively defeated Khan in a "Mongolian stretcher match," where the loser had to be carried to the dressing room on a stretcher. A similar match also took place in Toronto. In early 1982, they also competed in a series of matches in Japan with Arnold Skaaland in Roussimoff's corner.

In 1982, Vince McMahon, Jr. purchased the World Wide Wrestling Federation from his father, Vincent J. McMahon. As McMahon Jr. began expanding his promotion nationally, he required his wrestlers to appear exclusively for the WWF. McMahon signed Roussimoff to these terms in 1984, though he still permitted him to work in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

2.2.2. WWF Championship reign and major feuds

Roussimoff embarked on a significant feud with Big John Studd over the title of "the true giant" of wrestling. Throughout the early to mid-1980s, they clashed globally to determine wrestling's ultimate giant. In 1984, Studd escalated the rivalry by teaming with Ken Patera to knock out Roussimoff during a televised tag-team match and then cut off his hair. After retaliating against Patera, Roussimoff faced Studd in a "body slam challenge" at the inaugural WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Roussimoff successfully slammed Studd, winning the match and collecting the 15.00 K USD prize, which he then threw to the fans before Studd's manager, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, seized the bag.

At WrestleMania 2 on April 7, 1986, Roussimoff further demonstrated his dominance by winning a twenty-man battle royal that included top National Football League stars and wrestlers. He last eliminated Bret Hart to secure the victory. Following a final tour with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in mid-1986 and a victory in Austria over CWA World Champion Otto Wanz, Roussimoff began appearing exclusively with the WWF.

After WrestleMania 2, Roussimoff continued his feud with Studd and King Kong Bundy. Around this time, Roussimoff requested a leave of absence to address his health, as the effects of his acromegaly were severely impacting him. He also planned to tour Japan and had been cast in the film The Princess Bride. To explain his absence from WWF programming, a storyline was devised: Heenan, claiming Roussimoff was secretly afraid of the "unbeatable" Studd and Bundy, challenged Roussimoff and a partner of his choice to a televised tag-team match. When Roussimoff failed to appear, WWF president Jack Tunney indefinitely suspended him. Later in the summer of 1986, upon his return to the United States, Roussimoff began competing as the "Giant Machine," wearing a mask as part of a stable called the Machines. Big Machine and Super Machine were other members, while Hulk Hogan (as "Hulk Machine") and Roddy Piper (as "Piper Machine") were one-time additions. WWF announcers presented the Machines-a gimmick copied from the New Japan Pro-Wrestling character "Super Strong Machine" (portrayed by Japanese wrestler Junji Hirata)-as "a new tag-team from Japan," feigning ignorance of their true identities, though fans easily recognized Roussimoff. Heenan, Studd, and Bundy complained to Tunney, who eventually warned Heenan that if Roussimoff and the Giant Machine were proven to be the same person, Roussimoff would be fired. Roussimoff consistently thwarted his opponents. Then, in late 1986, the Giant Machine "disappeared," and Roussimoff was reinstated, with Heenan's inexplicable approval foreshadowing Roussimoff's imminent heel turn.

Roussimoff agreed to turn heel in early 1987, positioning himself as the formidable antagonist to the era's biggest babyface, Hulk Hogan. On an edition of Piper's Pit in 1987, Hogan was presented with a trophy celebrating his three-year reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Roussimoff came out to congratulate him, shaking Hogan's hand with an unexpectedly strong grip that surprised the champion. The following week on Piper's Pit, Roussimoff received a slightly smaller trophy for being "the only undefeated wrestler in wrestling history" within the WWF, acknowledging his lack of pinfall or submission losses despite some count-outs and disqualifications. Hogan attempted to congratulate him, but Roussimoff, seemingly annoyed by Hogan's dominance of the interview, walked out mid-speech. A face-to-face discussion between them was then scheduled for Piper's Pit, airing on February 7, 1987. Hogan was introduced first, followed by Roussimoff, who was now surprisingly accompanied by his longtime rival, Bobby Heenan. Speaking on behalf of his new protégé, Heenan accused Hogan of only feigning friendship to avoid defending his title against Roussimoff. Hogan attempted to reason with Roussimoff, but his pleas were ignored. Heenan then challenged Hogan to a match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania III. As Hogan expressed disbelief, Heenan exclaimed, "You can't believe it? Maybe you'll believe this, Hogan!" before Roussimoff dramatically ripped off Hogan's T-shirt and crucifix, with the crucifix scratching Hogan's chest and drawing blood.

Following Hogan's acceptance of the challenge on a later Piper's Pit, both men participated in a 20-man over-the-top-rope battle royal on the March 14 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event X at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Though Hercules ultimately won the battle royal, Roussimoff claimed a psychological advantage by throwing the WWF World Heavyweight Champion over the top rope. This match, taped on February 21, 1987, aired just two weeks before WrestleMania III, creating the illusion that Hogan had truly met his match.

At WrestleMania III, Roussimoff was billed at 520 lb ^{(236 kg)}. The immense stress on his bones and joints resulted in constant pain, exacerbated by a recent back surgery that required him to wear a brace underneath his wrestling singlet. Before a record crowd of 93,173 at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hogan famously defeated Roussimoff after executing a body slam (dubbed "the bodyslam heard around the world"), followed by his signature running leg drop. Years later, Hogan claimed Roussimoff felt like 705 lb ^{(320 kg)} and that he tore his latissimus dorsi muscle during the slam. A common myth about the match is that no one, not even WWF owner Vince McMahon, knew until the day of the event whether Roussimoff would agree to lose. In reality, he had agreed to the loss well in advance, primarily due to health concerns. Contrary to popular belief, this was not the first time Hogan had successfully body-slammed him in a WWF match; a then-heel Hogan had slammed a then-face Roussimoff after their match at the Showdown at Shea on August 9, 1980, though Roussimoff was lighter (around 470 lb ^{(213 kg)}) and more athletic at the time. (Hogan also slammed him in a match in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, a month later). These earlier events occurred during the territorial era of American wrestling, three years before the WWF's national expansion, meaning many WrestleMania III viewers had never seen the Giant slammed. (Roussimoff had also previously allowed Harley Race, El Canek, and Stan Hansen, among others, to slam him).

The feud between Roussimoff and Hogan cooled during the summer of 1987 as Roussimoff's health continued to decline. The rivalry reignited when they were named captains of opposing teams at the inaugural Survivor Series event. During their brief confrontation in the match, Hogan dominated Roussimoff and was close to eliminating him, but was tripped by his partners, Bundy and One Man Gang, leading to Hogan's count-out. Roussimoff went on to be the sole survivor of the match, pinning Bam Bam Bigelow before Hogan returned to the ring, attacking Roussimoff and knocking him out. Roussimoff later sought revenge after Hogan won a match against Bundy on Saturday Night's Main Event; he snuck up behind Hogan and began choking him into unconsciousness, refusing to release his grip even as seven face-aligned wrestlers rushed to the ring to pull him away. It took Jim Duggan breaking a two-by-four piece of wood over Roussimoff's back (which he no-sold) for him to finally let go, allowing Hogan to be pulled to safety. As with the SNME battle royal a year earlier, this series of events fueled interest in a potential rematch between Hogan and Roussimoff, suggesting Roussimoff would easily win. Meanwhile, Roussimoff returned to Germany in December 1987 for another match with Wanz, which he lost by count-out.

In the meantime, the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase had failed to persuade Hogan to sell him the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. After failing to defeat Hogan in subsequent matches, DiBiase enlisted Roussimoff to win it for him. Roussimoff and DiBiase had previously teamed in Japan and the WWF in the late 1970s and early 1980s (when both were babyfaces), but this history was ignored in the new storyline. The previous attack on Hogan and DiBiase's involvement set up the Hogan-Roussimoff rematch on The Main Event, which aired live on NBC on February 5, 1988. Acting as DiBiase's hired enforcer, Roussimoff defeated Hogan to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship (his first singles title) in a match where it was later revealed that the appointed referee, Dave Hebner, had been "detained backstage." A replacement referee (initially accused by Hogan of being Dave, but later revealed as his "evil twin brother," Earl Hebner) made a quick three-count on Hogan while Hogan's left shoulder was clearly off the mat.

After winning, Roussimoff controversially "sold" the title to DiBiase; however, this transaction was immediately declared invalid by then-WWF president Jack Tunney, and the title was vacated. This storyline was prominently featured on NBC's The Main Event. At WrestleMania IV, Roussimoff and Hulk Hogan fought to a double disqualification in a WWF title tournament match, with the storyline implying Roussimoff was again working on DiBiase's behalf to clear his path in the tournament. Afterward, the Roussimoff-Hogan feud gradually subsided following a steel cage match at WrestleFest on July 31, 1988, in Milwaukee, which Hogan won.

At the inaugural SummerSlam pay-per-view held at Madison Square Garden, Roussimoff and DiBiase (billed as The Mega Bucks) faced Hogan and WWF World Heavyweight Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage (known as The Mega Powers) in the main event, with Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee. During the match, the Mega Powers' manager, Miss Elizabeth, distracted both the Mega Bucks and Ventura by climbing onto the ring apron, removing her yellow skirt, and walking around in red panties. This allowed Hogan and Savage time to recover and eventually win the match, with Hogan pinning DiBiase. Savage had to force Ventura's hand down for the final three-count, as Ventura, historically at odds with Hogan, was unwilling to count the fall.

Concurrent with the developing feud with the Mega Powers, Roussimoff was placed in a rivalry with Jim Duggan, which began after Duggan knocked out Roussimoff with a two-by-four board during a television taping. Despite Duggan's popularity with fans, Roussimoff consistently gained the upper hand in their feud.

Roussimoff's next major feud was against Jake "The Snake" Roberts. In this storyline, Roussimoff was depicted as having a fear of snakes, a weakness Roberts exploited on Saturday Night's Main Event when he threw his snake, Damien, on the terrified Roussimoff. As a result, Roussimoff suffered a kayfabe mild heart attack and vowed revenge. Over the following weeks, Roberts frequently walked to ringside with Damien in its bag during Roussimoff's matches, causing the giant to flee the ring in fright. Throughout their feud (which culminated at WrestleMania V), Roberts consistently used Damien to gain a psychological advantage over the much larger and stronger Roussimoff.

In 1989, Roussimoff and the returning Big John Studd briefly rekindled their rivalry, beginning at WrestleMania V, where Studd served as the referee in Roussimoff's match with Roberts, with Studd now portrayed as a babyface and Roussimoff still a heel.

During the late summer and autumn of 1989, Roussimoff engaged in a brief feud, primarily consisting of house shows (non-televised events) and one televised match on October 28, 1989, at Madison Square Garden, against then-WWF Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior. Roussimoff began wearing face paint with a similar design to The Warrior's and called himself "The Ultimate Giant" during an appearance on The Brother Love Show. The younger Warrior, a rising star in the WWF, regularly squashed the aging Roussimoff in an effort to showcase his star quality and promote him as the "next big thing."

2.3. Career in Japan and Mexico (1970-1992)

After WrestleMania VI, Roussimoff spent the remainder of his in-ring career primarily in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), where he performed under the name "André el Gigante." He toured with AJPW three times per year from 1990 to 1992, usually teaming with Giant Baba in tag-team matches, forming the popular "O-Kyojin Combo."

Roussimoff had a significant and deep-seated connection with International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE), the Japanese promotion where he made his debut in 1970. Despite transferring his primary Japanese booking to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 1974, he made special guest appearances for IWE in June 1974 and July 1979. During the 1979 visit, he challenged Rusher Kimura for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship in Ōdate, Akita, on July 20. According to his close friend, Mighty Inoue, Roussimoff expressed a sentiment of "any amount of money is fine" regarding his fees for International Pro Wrestling, underscoring his affection for the promotion.

In 1974, with booking rights transitioning from Verne Gagne to Vincent J. McMahon, Roussimoff moved his Japanese wrestling base to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, which had a partnership with the WWF. There, he began a notable rivalry with Antonio Inoki. On March 15, 1974, in Okayama, he secured his first singles victory over Inoki, with interference from his manager Frank Valois. Subsequent matches between them often featured Inoki applying a keylock only for André to effortlessly lift him, or André attempting a Canadian backbreaker which Inoki would reverse into a suplex using the ropes-moves that became highly anticipated highlights. On October 7, 1976, they had a "World Martial Arts Championship" match at Kuramae Kokugikan. He challenged Inoki for the NWF Heavyweight Championship twice, on December 15, 1974, in São Paulo, Brazil, and on June 1, 1977, in Nagoya. He also challenged for the NWA North American Tag Team Championship three times, partnering with Roberto Soto, Tony Charles, and The Professional against Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

In NJPW, Roussimoff also had a super-heavyweight rivalry with Stan Hansen. Their singles match on September 23, 1981, at Den-en Coliseum is considered a legendary bout in Japanese wrestling history. On December 10, 1981, at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, he teamed with Rene Goulet to defeat Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami and win the second MSG Tag League. He further cemented his dominance by winning the fifth MSG Series on April 1, 1982, at Kuramae Kokugikan, defeating Killer Khan. This marked the first time a foreign wrestler won NJPW's singles league. Japanese wrestling commentators, particularly Ichiro Furutachi, coined famous nicknames for him, such as "The Great Giant," "The Gigantic Human Mountain," and "One-Man Mass Migration."

In 1985, Roussimoff adopted the masked persona of Giant Machine in NJPW, managed by General KY Wakamatsu. This transformation was a strategic move by NJPW, facing declining viewership after the departure of wrestlers like Super Strong Machine, Hiro Saito, and Shunji Takano. André, despite being scheduled to appear unmasked, was hastily converted into Giant Machine, while Bill Eadie (Masked Superstar) became Super Machine. This gimmick became known as the "obviously unmasked wrestler" due to the obviousness of his identity. The "Machine" gimmick was later copied in the WWF. During this time, André even spoke in strange Japanese for promotional interviews, and bowed to fans, despite being known for rarely interacting with them.

After the NJPW-WWF partnership dissolved, Roussimoff continued wrestling for NJPW until 1986. This period included a tense "unstable match" against Akira Maeda on April 29, 1986, and a first-time submission loss to Antonio Inoki via an armbar on June 17, 1986, during the IWGP Champion Series at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

His appearances in Japan then ceased for a period, until April 13, 1990, when he returned for the Japan-U.S. Wrestling Summit at Tokyo Dome, reforming the "O-Kyojin Combo" with Giant Baba. From then on, AJPW became his primary Japanese base. He participated in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League with Baba in both 1990 and 1991, placing second in 1991. As his health significantly deteriorated by 1992, his matches primarily became "bright and fun" wrestling spectacles, often involving him joining Baba and Rusher Kimura's "Family Army" against the "Villainous Business Association." His final match occurred on December 4, 1992, at the Nippon Budokan, a six-man tag team match where he, Giant Baba, and Rusher Kimura defeated Motoshi Okuma, Haruka Eigen, and Masanobu Fuchi. André secured the pinfall on Okuma with a Hip Press, coincidentally making it Okuma's last match as well, as he also passed away the following month.

While Roussimoff was a beloved babyface in the U.S., he often played a heel role in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. This wasn't due to malicious tactics like The Sheik or Freddie Blassie, but rather his overwhelming size and strength, which made him an almost unbeatable antagonist. André embraced this role in Japan, often avoiding fan interaction and media interviews to maintain an image of "disliking Japanese people." However, when he joined All Japan Pro Wrestling and teamed with Giant Baba, he became a full babyface, smiling at fans, tossing bouquets into the crowd, and acknowledging their cheers. Reports suggest that André actually disliked Japanese people during his NJPW tenure due to their curious stares, and it was only Giant Baba, another giant wrestler, who understood his loneliness.

Roussimoff made a couple of guest appearances for Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation in 1991, engaging in a feud with Big John Studd, although no actual match in the promotion ever materialized. His final United States television appearance was a brief interview on World Championship Wrestling's (WCW) Clash of the Champions XX special, which aired on TBS on September 2, 1992. During the same event, he appeared alongside Gordon Solie and was later seen conversing with him at the gala celebrating 20 years of wrestling on TBS. He undertook his final tour of Mexico in 1992, participating in a series of six-man tag matches alongside Bam Bam Bigelow and various Lucha Libre stars, facing opponents including Bad News Allen and future WWF Champions Mick Foley and Yokozuna.

3.1. Television roles

His United States acting debut was as a Sasquatch ("Bigfoot") in a two-part episode aired in 1976 on the television series The Six Million Dollar Man. He later appeared in other television shows, including The Greatest American Hero, B. J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy, and 1990's Zorro.

3.2. Film appearances

Towards the end of his career, Roussimoff appeared in several films. He had an uncredited appearance in the 1984 film Conan the Destroyer as Dagoth, the resurrected horned giant god who is killed by Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger). That same year, he also made an appearance in Micki & Maude (billed as André Roussimoff).

His most notable role, and his own favorite, was as Fezzik in the 1987 film The Princess Bride. He found the experience of filming particularly gratifying, as no one on set stared at him due to his size. Both the film and his performance have garnered a devoted following. In an interview with Lanny Poffo, it was noted that the movie meant so much to André that he would have his wrestling friends watch an advanced VHS copy with him repeatedly, providing dinner and drinks, and sweetly asking each time, "Did you like my performance?". His final film appearance was a cameo role as a circus giant in the comedy Trading Mom, which was released posthumously in 1994.

4.1. Finishing moves

• Giant Press (Body press): This was André's primary and most impactful finishing maneuver. Though essentially a body press, the sheer mass of André's body crushing his opponent was a sight to behold. He executed it in two ways: either by jumping onto the opponent, sometimes even from the top rope, or by falling onto them from a kneeling position. However, due to the immense strain it put on his own body, he significantly reduced its use after 1982.
• Hip Drop (Hip Press): While often considered a transitional move in wrestling, André's hip drop possessed sufficient destructive power to serve as a legitimate finishing move due to his extraordinary size. He often aimed for a pinfall directly from this position, adjusting the height of his jump based on the opponent's toughness, reportedly flying higher for those he recognized as more resilient.
• Elbow Drop: In the later stages of his career, particularly during his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling, the elbow drop became one of his main finishing moves. He would fall onto a supine opponent, dropping his elbow. In AJPW, he often used a "cover-pin" version where he would immediately cover the opponent after the move, leading to nicknames like "Pressure Elbow Drop" or "Crushing Elbow Drop." This was a common finisher for the "O-Kyojin Combo" with Giant Baba after Baba's 16-Mon Kick.
• Giant Bomber (Lariat): This lariat became a signature finishing move when he wrestled as Giant Machine. He used it to score a pinfall over Seiji Sakaguchi and was known to knock out younger wrestlers with it.
• Tombstone Piledriver: An early finishing maneuver, André ceased using the Tombstone Piledriver after accidentally breaking an opponent's neck in 1972. However, he was occasionally known to use a "Drill-a-Hole Piledriver" on opponents like Antonio Inoki or Killer Khan when matches became particularly intense.

4.2. Other notable techniques

• Front Neck Chancery Drop: This move, where he would lock an opponent's head from the front and throw them backward, showcased André's unexpected wrestling acumen. He notably used it to set up his Hip Drop against Killer Khan in the MSG Series finals.
• High-angle Bodyslam: Utilizing his exceptional height, André would lift opponents high before slamming them to the mat, delivering immense power. However, as his weight increased, he used this move less frequently.
• Counter Kick (often called "Eighteen-Mon Kick"): A powerful kick, it was referred to as the "Eighteen-Mon Kick" in Japan in contrast to Giant Baba's "Sixteen-Mon Kick." Ichiro Furutachi famously dubbed it the "Human Exocet Missile."
• Hip Push: After cornering an opponent, André would turn his back to them, lean over, and powerfully thrust his hips into them. Trapped between the corner and André's massive body, opponents had no escape and suffered significant damage. In tag team matches, he would sometimes corner multiple opponents at once with this move. It is also said that he occasionally released flatulence during this move, particularly against opponents he disliked.
• Neck Hanging Tree: André would grasp his opponent's neck with both hands and lift them to an astonishing height using sheer arm strength, creating a visually impressive and highly convincing submission-like maneuver.
• Headbutt (Giant Headbutt, Giant Squash): Often called a "Headbutt from the second floor," André's headbutt targeted the top of his opponent's head, leveraging his height. He also had versions where he would jump for added impact or fall headfirst onto a prone opponent, known as a "Giant Squash."
• Bearhug: A favored move, André frequently used his long arms to powerfully squeeze his opponent's torso. Due to his size, he sometimes executed this from a kneeling position.
• Shoulder Block: He would charge into an opponent in the corner or use his hands on the ropes to block their escape, then drive his shoulder into their body. Ichiro Furutachi once called this move "Human Crushing Execution."
• Atomic Drop: André was capable of easily lifting heavy opponents like Stan Hansen and Bugsy McGraw for this move, delivering a devastating impact that often served as a one-hit knockout.
• Double Arm Facebuster: Similar to a modern-day Pedigree, this move was seen in his matches against Antonio Inoki. He would grip a crouched opponent's wrists, pull them backward, and then slam their face into the mat with his full weight.
• Claw: Utilizing his massive hands, André would apply variations of the claw hold, such as the shoulder claw or stomach claw. He used these moves more frequently in the later part of his career as his physical condition declined.

4.3. Distinctive in-ring behaviors

One of André's most recognizable in-ring mannerisms involved him appearing to accidentally tangle his arms in the top and second ropes, creating a brief moment where he seemed immobilized. Although it was clearly intentional, it was theatrically presented as a mishap caused by his immense size bending the ropes. Opponents would then approach him, only to be met with a sudden counter-kick as André would effortlessly free his arms. This particular movement was believed to be uniquely possible only for someone of André's colossal stature. Modern large wrestlers like The Great Khali and Big Show have occasionally adopted this spot.

4.4. Body slams and suplexes against Andre

Due to his enormous size, successfully performing a body slam on André the Giant became a significant achievement and a measure of strength and status for professional wrestlers from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. While Hulk Hogan's slam at WrestleMania III is the most famous, several wrestlers managed to bodyslam him before that event, though many were not widely reported in the U.S. during the regional territory era.

Notable wrestlers who reportedly bodyslammed André include:

• Strong Kobayashi (May 6, 1972)
• Butcher Vachon (1972, Chicago)
• Doug Gilbert (1972, Montreal)
• Harley Race (October 13, 1978; also outside the ring in 1979)
• Antonio Inoki (June 4, 1980, and December 2, 1983)
• Hulk Hogan (August 9, 1980, at Shea Stadium; also in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, a month later)
• Stan Hansen (September 23, 1981)
• Blackjack Mulligan (September 18, 1982, WWF Philadelphia)
• Kamala (February 12, 1983, MSWA house show in Shreveport, during an after-match brawl)
• Canek (1984, Mexico)
• Riki Choshu (June 1, 1984)
• Otto Wanz (1986, Austria)

André himself once told Stan Hansen that he only allowed wrestlers he trusted and had a good relationship with to bodyslam him. Hisashi Shinma, a former New Japan Pro-Wrestling official, recalled that when Inoki slammed André, it was out of André's consideration for Inoki. However, as André's physical condition declined in the late 1980s, he was more frequently bodyslammed, notably by Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior in the WWF. Double-team bodyslams were also performed by teams such as the Wild Samoans, Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum, Ken Patera & Big John Studd, and Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami.

Regarding suplexes, Karl Gotch successfully executed a German suplex on André (then Monster Roussimoff) on April 30, 1971, on the International Pro Wrestling ring, marking the first recorded suplex on André. Later, Roland Bock claimed to have suplexed André on December 15, 1979, in Sindelfingen, Germany, which is believed to have been more of a backdrop or a double-arm suplex due to a balance shift.

5.1. Family, finances, and private life

Roussimoff was recognized in the 1974 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-paid wrestler in history at that time, earning an annual salary of approximately 400.00 K USD.

Robin Christensen is Roussimoff's only child, born in 1979. Her mother, Jean Christensen (who died in 2008), met André through the wrestling business around 1972 or 1973. Robin had infrequent contact with her father, seeing him only five times in her life. However, after his death, she spoke positively about him and became a guardian of his image and legacy. Robin did not inherit her father's acromegaly and is of normal stature for a woman, standing 72 in ^{(183 cm)} tall and weighing 220 lb ^{(100 kg)}.

In 1989, Roussimoff was arrested and charged with assault after an incident where he allegedly attacked a KCRG-TV cameraman filming his match with The Ultimate Warrior at Cedar Rapids, Iowa's Five Seasons Center. While acquitted on the assault charge, he was fined 100 USD for criminal mischief and ordered to pay KCRG 233 USD for equipment damages.

William Goldman, the author of the novel and screenplay for The Princess Bride, wrote in his nonfiction work Which Lie Did I Tell? that Roussimoff was among the gentlest and most generous individuals he ever knew. Whenever Roussimoff dined with others, he would always insist on paying, even when he was the guest. On one occasion, after Roussimoff attended a dinner with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Wilt Chamberlain, Schwarzenegger quietly attempted to pay the bill before Roussimoff could. He then found himself physically lifted, carried from his table, and deposited on top of his car by Roussimoff and Chamberlain.

Roussimoff owned a ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina, which was managed by two of his close friends. When not traveling, he cherished his time at the ranch, tending to his cattle, playing with his dogs, and entertaining friends. While some custom-made chairs and other modifications were present in his home to accommodate his size, stories claiming that everything in his home was custom-made for a large man are said to be exaggerated. Due to his fame and size, shopping in public was difficult for Roussimoff, so he was known to spend hours watching and purchasing items from the shopping channel QVC. He also had a passion for card games, especially cribbage.

5.2. Health

Roussimoff battled chronic health issues stemming from his acromegaly, which caused severe pain and physical challenges throughout his life, profoundly impacting his daily routine and career.

Roussimoff suffered from severe pericardial effusion and underwent pericardiocentesis at Duke University Hospital in the 1980s. In the later stages of his life, his increasing weight made walking difficult, necessitating the use of a buggy bike for mobility.

5.3. Unconventional eating and drinking habits

André Roussimoff was renowned for his legendary capacity for food and alcohol, earning him the nickname "the greatest drunk on Earth." While some stories may be exaggerated, many documented accounts highlight his extraordinary consumption.

Regarding alcohol, numerous anecdotes circulate:

• He once reportedly consumed 119 21 in^{3 (350 ml)} beers in six hours.
• In a 1984 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, Roussimoff claimed he once drank 117 beers, stating he couldn't recall the event because he passed out. He also mentioned quitting beer 14 months prior to that appearance.
• On a WWE Legends of Wrestling episode, Mike Graham stated Roussimoff once drank 156 29 in^{3 (470 ml)} beers in a single sitting, a claim corroborated by Dusty Rhodes.
• The Fabulous Moolah wrote in her autobiography that Roussimoff drank 127 beers at a hotel bar in Reading, Pennsylvania, and later passed out in the lobby, requiring staff to leave him there until he awoke due to his size.
• In a shoot interview, Ken Patera recalled a beer-drinking contest with Dick Murdoch where Roussimoff drank 116 beers over nine hours.
• A tale recounted by Cary Elwes in his book about the making of The Princess Bride described Roussimoff falling on someone while drunk in New York, leading the NYPD to assign an undercover officer to discreetly follow him whenever he went out drinking in the city, ensuring he did not fall on anyone again.
• Another story claims he drank 14 bottles of wine before his famous WrestleMania III match.
• Hulk Hogan stated that Roussimoff once drank a case of 12 bottles of Pouilly-Fuissé wine during a three-hour bus journey.
• According to Mr. Hito's book Kuma to Tatakatta Hito (The Man Who Fought a Bear), André consumed 118 cans of beer and an additional 5 gallons of wine during an 497 mile ^{(800 km)} car ride.
• Mighty Inoue claimed they once emptied 136 bottles of bottled beer between them on a Sapporo expedition.
• Animal Hamaguchi reported that during André's tours, trains and wrestler buses were loaded with beer, which André drank "as if it were Lipovitan D" (a Japanese energy drink).
• During a 1975 New Japan Pro-Wrestling tour in Brazil, André reportedly drank all the beer on a flight from Los Angeles to São Paulo, leading to complaints from other passengers. Hisashi Shinma, a former NJPW official, claimed 200 to 300 bottles were available.
• Rusher Kimura's son, Hiroshi Kimura, stated that André and Rusher once finished 50 cases (approximately 1,000 bottles) of beer together.
• Other purported legends include drinking 89 large mugs of beer at a Sapporo Beer Garden in 1980, 108 beers in 50 minutes at Tampa Airport (Hulk Hogan's account), and 327 bottles of beer at a Pennsylvania hotel bar, after which he reportedly fainted (Fabulous Moolah's account). While some of these claims are difficult to verify, the Sapporo Beer Garden incident is noted by staff to not have been officially recorded.
• André enjoyed drinking wine with Giant Baba on wrestler buses, where a dedicated wine refrigerator was provided for him. He preferred younger white wines but would drink any kind "like water." Hogan recalled André finishing a dozen bottles of wine within 2.5 hours as a birthday gift.
• He once temporarily ran a restaurant in the U.S., reportedly less as a side business and more as a means to acquire food and alcohol at wholesale prices for his own consumption.

An urban legend persists regarding Roussimoff's 1987 surgery, where his size made it impossible for the anesthesiologist to estimate a dosage via standard methods; consequently, his extraordinary alcohol tolerance was purportedly used as a guideline instead. While some reports confirm this, others question its accuracy.

While stories of Roussimoff's eating capacity circulated, such as one dinner where he allegedly consumed twelve 16 oz ^{(450 g)} steaks and fifteen lobsters in a single sitting, his usual traveling partner, Tim White, stated that André only ate so much on occasion to "show off," adding that his overall appetite was substantial but "completely normal" for his size. Japanese sources note he could eat 20 boiled eggs at once and that his flatulence after consuming large meals was infamously potent, sometimes called the "most pungent weapon."

6.1. Circumstances and cause

On the morning of January 28, 1993, Roussimoff died in his sleep from congestive heart failure and an apparent heart attack, likely associated with his untreated acromegaly, at a Paris hotel. He had visited and played cards in Molien with some of his oldest friends on the night of January 27, returning to his hotel room around 1 a.m. CET on January 28. That afternoon, Roussimoff was found dead in his room by hotel management and his chauffeur. He was in Paris at the time to attend his father's funeral and had decided to extend his stay to be with his mother on her birthday. Excessive alcohol consumption over many years, particularly wine in his later career, is believed to have further strained his heart.

6.2. Funeral and final arrangements

In his will, Roussimoff specifically requested that his remains be cremated and "disposed of." Upon his death in Paris, his family initially held a funeral for him in France, with the intention of burying him near his father. However, once they learned of his wish to be cremated, his body was flown to the United States. His cremation was performed according to his wishes, and his ashes were scattered at his ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina. Additionally, in accordance with his will, he left his entire estate to his sole beneficiary, his daughter Robin.

7.1. Impact on professional wrestling

• In 1993, when the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) established the WWF Hall of Fame, André the Giant was the inaugural and sole inductee in the Class of 1993.
• Paul Wight, famously known as Big Show, shares a body structure more similar to Roussimoff's than any other wrestler since Roussimoff's death. He was initially billed as André's son during his WCW tenure (when he was known simply as "the Giant"), despite no biological relation. While also suffering from acromegaly, unlike Roussimoff, Wight underwent surgery on his pituitary gland in the early 1990s, which successfully halted the progression of his condition. Former wrestler Giant González suffered from health problems similar to those André experienced near the end of his life and passed away in 2010 due to diabetes complications.
• On March 10, 2014, on an episode of Raw, WrestleMania XXX host Hulk Hogan announced that in honor of Roussimoff's legacy, WWE was establishing the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, a match that would take place at WrestleMania XXX, with the winner receiving the André the Giant Memorial Trophy (a bronze statue crafted in Roussimoff's likeness). On April 6, 2014, at WrestleMania XXX, Cesaro won the match by eliminating Big Show with a body slam, reminiscent of Hogan's iconic slam on Roussimoff at WrestleMania III. The battle royal has since become a yearly tradition during WrestleMania Weekend.

7.2. Honors and memorials

• He was a charter member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996) and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2002).
• In 2013, a WWE Bronze Statue of André the Giant was unveiled.
• He was inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.
• In 1987, he received a Slammy Award in the category of "Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan Scholarship Award" alongside The Islanders, Hercules, King Kong Bundy, and Harley Race.
• He was inducted into the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Class of 1995 and the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016.
• Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 16 among the "20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time."

7.3. Cultural impact and media

• Roussimoff was the inspiration for the 1998 film My Giant, written by his friend Billy Crystal, whom he had met during the filming of The Princess Bride.
• In 1999, he was the subject of an episode of A&E Biography, titled André the Giant: Larger Than Life. The documentary covered his childhood and early life in France, the start of his wrestling career, his struggles with acromegaly, his personal life, and his final years. His brother, Jacques Roussimoff, and fellow wrestling personalities like Gorilla Monsoon, Tim White, Arnold Skaaland, Vince McMahon, Freddie Blassie, Killer Kowalski, Rene Goulet, and Frenchy Bernard, as well as wrestling historian Sheldon Goldberg, were interviewed. The documentary described Roussimoff as pro wrestling's "first and only international attraction," asserting that "on his broad shoulders, wrestling rose from its status as a questionable sport to become big business, and some might argue, performance art."
• The Obey brand icon originated from wheatpaste posters created by artist Shepard Fairey, based on a photo of André the Giant he found in a newspaper.
• Capcom's video game character Hugo, from the Street Fighter series (known as Andore in the Final Fight series), is based on him.
• The 2014 graphic novel André The Giant: The Life and The Legend (First Second Books), written and drawn by Box Brown, chronicles his life and career. Research for the book included interviews with fellow wrestlers and actors such as Christopher Guest and Mandy Patinkin.
• In 2017, Showtime released Waiting for Andre, a semi-fictional movie exploring the friendship between playwright Samuel Beckett and Roussimoff during Beckett's time living in Ussy-sur-Marne, near Paris. A novel based on the movie was published the following year by Steffan Piper.
• On April 10, 2018, HBO aired a documentary film titled André the Giant.
• The Japanese professional wrestler Andreza the Giant Panda, who debuted in 2017, is named after him.