Larger-Than-Life Facts About Andre the Giant

In the world of wrestling, Andre the Giant's legacy looms large (no pun intended). He took a condition of gigantism, which made him grow to an incredible size, and he found a way to make it an advantage. However, it wasn’t all just about wrestling, as movie fans around the world know him for his brief but endlessly memorable film career. We've assembled these facts for those who don’t know much about this man, but would love to find out more.

1. What a Man

At his biggest size, Andre wore size 22 shoes; was billed as being 7 feet, 4 inches; and his wrist size was equivalent to that of a gorilla.

Andre the Giant

2. Origins

Andre was born to Bulgarian and Polish parents in Molien, France, on the 19th of May, 1946. His full name was Andre Roussimoff.

French professional wrestler Andre the Giant Ben Strong Wrestling, Wikimedia Commons

3. Gigantism

The reason for his immense size was a condition known as gigantism and then acromegaly. One symptom of acromegaly is that the body continues to produce growth hormones. People who have this condition tragically aren’t expected to live long, and Andre was no exception, dying at age 46.

Andre the Giant looking at the camera much taller than other wrestlers The Wrestler, Wikimedia Commons

4. Who Needs School?

Although he showed remarkable promise in school, especially with mathematics, Andre dropped out after grade 8, working as a laborer on his father’s farm.

André the Giant Tom Thumb and Joe Russell October 1973 Unknown, Wikimedia Commons

5. Grand Opening

Andre made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation on the 26th of March, 1973 (back when it was called the World Wide Wrestling Federation). He was instantly a fan favorite when he defeated Buddy Wolfe in Madison Square Garden.

Fan photo of professional wrestler André the Giant on March 7, 1989 at the El Paso Civic Center during a video-taped WWF John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

6. Oh, You Scamp!

When one of his friends owned a smaller-than-average car, Andre’s idea of a joke was to pick it up and move it from its usual spot. We’re wondering how many times he managed to get away with that joke before his friends stopped falling for it.

French professional wrestler André the Giant Date 1973 with lifted hands Victory Sports Wrestling Annual, Wikimedia Commons

7. I’m Ready for My Close-Up

Andre’s first acting experience was in 1967 when he appeared in a French boxing film. Two years later, he made his television debut when he made a cameo in Symphorien, a French-Canadian show on Quebec television.

Andre the Giant walking through door Fairfax Media Archives, Getty Images

8. Such Strength

According to his brother, Andre was able to perform the labor work that three men would normally accomplish.

Andre the Giant and his birthday cake taller than him Unknown, Wikimedia Commons

9. Going in a New Direction

Andre first began wrestling when he moved to Paris at 17 years of age. A local wrestling promoter saw his potential (that is, his size), and trained him to be a professional wrestler. Andre took his wrestling training sessions at night while he worked as a mover during the day to pay his bills. To be fair, the idea of carrying and swinging around chairs for a living could also count as wrestling training, no?

André the Giant wrestling in ring Ethan, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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10. Thirsty Man

One advantage (or disadvantage) to his immense size was Andre’s ability to consume a higher amount of booze than anyone else. He held an unofficial record for his ability to drink 156 beers in a single sitting!

Cover of Wrestling Revue magazine from June 1973 with André the Giant Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons

11. There He Is! Sasquatch!

Andre’s first appearance on American television was when he guest-starred on the series The Six Million Dollar Man in 1976. He acted as Bigfoot in a two-parter, because getting tall men to play large hairy creatures was a big thing in the 1970s, apparently (see: Chewbacca).

Andre the Giant playing Bigfoot in The Six Million Dollar Man Universal Television, The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978)

12. Earning the Greens

In 1974, Andre was entered into that year’s edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. He was credited as the highest-paid wrestler in history at the time, earning $400,000 per year in the early 1970s.

Andre the Giant before the match John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

13. Stick With Me, Kid

In 1966, while trying to make his name wrestling in Paris, Andre caught the eye of Frank Valois, a Canadian wrestler and promoter. With Valois serving as Andre’s business manager, Andre began wrestling overseas in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Andre the Giant at a wrestling match Jeffrey Asher, Getty Images

14. A New Ally

After gaining international success, Andre moved to Montreal where he performed in regularly sold-out shows in the Montreal Forum. However, by 1972, the usual gimmicks had worn out, and his star began fading as he was running out of opponents to fight. This led him to appeal to Vince McMahon Sr., the man who set up what would become the WWF. McMahon provided advice for Andre on how to improve his act, and also arranged for him to travel to various different locales and get paid well for it (of course, McMahon made sure to get a booking fee each time).

Vincent James McMahon, Verne Gagne and Bruno Sammartin Unknown, Wikimedia Commons

15. Something Borrowed

While he was involved with the filming of The Princess Bride, Andre needed to use an ATV to travel between the locations. At one point, Cary Elwes, his co-star, tried driving the ATV, resulting in him hitting some rocks. This caused Elwes to break his toe when his foot slipped off the clutch and got jammed between the pedal and a rock.

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

16. Shorter, but Still a Giant

While he was said to have stood 7 feet, 4 inches, he lost several inches due to the fact that he underwent back surgery in the 1980s. Following the surgery, he stood around 6 feet, 10 inches, which still would have made him eligible to play Ser Gregor Clegane on Game of Thrones!

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

17. Operator?

Reportedly, Andre’s fingers were so big that he had to use a pencil to properly use a rotary phone (we advise anyone under the age of 25 search "rotary phone" on Wikipedia or Google to understand what we’re talking about).

André the Giant wrestling in ring John McKeon from Lawrence, KS, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

18. Money Slipping Through My Fingers

In another example of how big his fingers were, a silver dollar coin could easily pass through one of Andre’s rings (shoot, now we have to make you look up how big a silver dollar was…)

Andre the Giant meeting Muahmmad Ali on March 25th, 1976 Bettmann, Getty Images

19. We’re Looking for a Rogue Clydesdale…

On one of Andre’s drunken escapades while he was in New York City, he came up with a hilarious prank. With the help of fellow wrestler Dusty Rhodes, Andre take a pair of horse-drawn carriages. We can only imagine their reactions to the subsequent news report and officers speculations!

Dusty Rhodes at WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. Mark Hodgins, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

20. My Dinner With Andre

According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, he went out for dinner with Andre the Giant one evening and tried to pay the bill as a courtesy. Andre, however, adamantly refused to let anyone else pay for his meals, but Schwarzenegger tried to do so anyway when Andre went to use the bathroom. When Andre returned and realized what Schwarzenegger was trying to do, he allegedly picked up Schwarzenegger and sat him back down in his seat.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Andre the Giant on the set of Rolf Konow, Getty Images

21. Interesting Coincidence

Speaking of Arnold Schwarzenegger, he was almost cast in The Princess Bride in the role of Fezzik. This was when the movie was going to be made in the 1970s, when Andre couldn’t be reached to even read for the role, even though it had been written specifically for him. After 12 years, however, things had switched around. Schwarzenegger was a huge star and Andre was available to be in the movie. Both men had also become friends around that same time.

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

22. A Hungry Giant

Naturally, with all that size comes an appetite to match. According to his friend Tim White, if Andre wanted to put on a show, he would go into a restaurant and eat as many as 12 steaks and 15 lobsters in one sitting! White pointed out that Andre didn’t do this often, which is understandable to us; imagine the size of that check.

Page 14 of Wrestling Revue magazine from June 1973 with André le Géant and the title Unknown, Wikimedia Commons

23. Such a Gentleman

While they were filming The Princess Bride, the weather got colder, which affected actress Robin Wright (Princess Buttercup). For his part, Andre would put his hand on her head, and because his hand was so large, he covered the top of her head easily, which also helped her to keep warm when the cameras weren’t rolling.

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

24. Awkward Cleaning Operation

According to Andre’s frequent wrestling competitor, Hulk Hogan, Andre would sometimes use a bathtub as a toilet when he was particularly inebriated. To be fair, you can probably name a couple of people who did that in college (or you did it and you’re too embarrassed to admit it).

Hulk Hogan at the Impact! in ring with opened arms Simon Q, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

25. Can I Use a Credit Card?

Andre stayed in the London Hyatt while filming his role in The Princess Bride. By the time he was finished and was checking out of the hotel, he had racked up a $40,000 bar tab!

Andre the Giant Simon Vayro, Shutterstock

26. Colossal Coincidence

Andre shared a birthday with fellow actor Peter Mayhew, best known as having played Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise. Mayhew is also famously tall, standing just an inch shorter than Andre’s tallest height.

Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca sitting on a table Ryan Johnson from Findley Lake, NY, US, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

27. Honorable Homage

For any fans of vintage video games, Andre was the direct inspiration for the playable character Hugo Andore in the game Final Fight.

Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania 2 in ring Paul Natkin, Getty Images

28. Accolade for Andre

Andre holds the distinction of having been the first wrestler inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In fact, the Hall of Fame was invented purely so Andre could be inducted into it, which happened shortly after his passing n 1993.

Andre the Giant Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

29. Imposter!

Wrestler Paul Wight, better known by his stage name Big Show, was originally billed as the son of Andre the Giant due to his incredible resemblance, in terms of size, to the former wrestling star. However, there was no biological connection between them whatsoever.

Big Show in ring Anton from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

30. Final Film

Andre’s final appearance in film was in the comedy Trading Mom. It premiered in 1994, one year after his passing.

Andre the Giant First Look Studios, Trading Mom (1994)

31. Blocked From His Dream

Andre was always a fan of theatre. One of his wishes was to go see a live show. However, when his agent offered to get him tickets, Andre refused, as he was concerned that he wouldn’t fit into one of the seats, and that his height would mean he’d block the view of the people sitting behind him.

André the Giant wrestling in ring Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons

32. Daddy?

Andre’s only child, a girl named Robin, was born in 1979. However, their relationship wasn’t very close. According to Robin, her first memory of her father was when he joined her at a doctor’s office to take a blood test to confirm their familial relationship. The last time was in court for child support payments.

André the Giant wrestling in ring Unknown, Wikimedia Commons

33. Titanic Rivalry

Andre’s time with the WWF resulted in 15 years of being undefeated until he was pitted against Hulk Hogan throughout the 1980s. While he’d previously been portrayed as a heroic babyface, Andre became Hogan’s heel, leading to a series of legendary matches where Hogan triumphed against Andre.

Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan on 7 March 1989 John McKeon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

34. For My Friend

While working on The Princess Bride, Andre befriended actor and comedian Billy Crystal. Crystal would later produce, co-write, and co-star in a film titled My Giant, which had been inspired by his friendship with Andre. Sadly, this tribute was a critical and financial failure, but we can be sure that Crystal’s heart was in the right place.

Billy Crystal looking at camera Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

35. E-I-E-I-O

Andre never left his farming roots behind him. Even while he was at the height of his wrestling fame, Andre would spend his spare time raising cattle on a farm in North Carolina.

Andre The Giant (right) at the screening of The Princess Bride Erin Combs , Getty Images

36. Let This Sleeping Giant Lie

One true story that has passed into urban legend is the incident in Pennsylvania when Andre drank 127 beers in a hotel bar and passed out in the hotel lobby. Because of his size, none of the staff could move him, so they simply let him sleep it off in the lobby! Elwes also revealed that one time during filming of The Princess Bride, Andre got tipsy and fell onto someone, which resulted in the NYPD having an agent tail Andre whenever he went out drinking to make sure he didn't get into the same trouble.

Andre the Giant Fairfax Media Archives, Getty Images

37. Farewell

In January 1993, Andre’s father passed, leading Andre to travel to Paris to attend the funeral. While back in France, he stayed longer so that he could be there for his mother’s birthday. However, on the 27th of January, after several days of visiting his old friends, Andre's body was discovered in his hotel room; he had passed of congestive heart failure in his sleep.

Andre the Giant in ring B Bennett , Getty Images

38. Ashes to Ashes

Originally, his family wanted to have Andre buried close to his father’s grave. However, Andre’s will and testament stipulated that he wanted his remains cremated. True to his wishes, Andre’s family held a funeral in France, cremated his body in the US, and scattered his ashes across the land he owned in North Carolina.

Ellerbe, North Carolina Indy beetle, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

39. Make Yourself at Home

It’s safe to say that The Princess Bride was Andre’s favorite film role. When he was asked why that was, Andre pointed out that it was the one time where nobody stared at him while he was on the set, and he felt like an equal to everybody else.

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

40. Catch the Princess

Despite his persona as a famous wrestler, and despite his character Fezzik being portrayed as having superhuman strength, Andre suffered from serious back problems. He couldn’t even carry actress Robin Wright in his arms in The Princess Bride; for the scene where she jumps into his arms, wires were used to help Andre out.

Andre the Giant Act III Communications, The Princess Bride, (1987)

41. The Giant’s Little Girl

Despite their distant relationship in life due to his career as a wrestler, Andre’s will and testament named his daughter, Robin, as the sole beneficiary of his fortune and estate. She continues to defend and uphold her father’s legacy to this day.

Andre The Giant's daughter by image of her father Kevin Winter, Getty Images

42. Meet My Chauffeur

By the time he was 12 years old, Andre weighed 240 pounds and stood more than 6 feet tall. Not only was he too big to ride the bus to school, but his parents didn’t have enough money for a car that would be able to accommodate him. Luckily, Andre’s father had helped an Irish expatriate build a cottage nearby where Andre lived, and the man happened to have a truck. He offered to take Andre to school in his truck every day as a favor to his friend. Interestingly, that Irish expatriate was none other than Nobel Prize winning playwright Samuel Beckett. Andre later revealed that the two of them mostly just talked about cricket on these rides.

Samuel Beckett writer in black turtleneck Roger Pic, Wikimedia Commons