André Roussimoff
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.
Born: 19 May 1946 • Died: 27 January 1993
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Mr. McMahon
Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
Mr. McMahon
Self (archive footage)
WWE Rivals
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The Claw
Himself
WWE's Most Wanted Treasures
André the Giant (archive footage)
Biography: WWE Legends
André the Giant (archive footage)
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Self (archive footage)
The Best of WWE
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Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
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Self (archive footage)
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
Andre (archive footage)
WWE: True Giants
Warrior's Greatest Matches
Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Himself
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Self
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
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WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Himself
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
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The Real Rocky
Self (archive footage)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
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WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
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Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
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Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
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Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
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Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Self
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
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WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
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WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
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WWE: Andre The Giant
Himself
Giants: Friends or Foe
Self- Archive Footage
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Himself
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
Himself
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
WWF Summer Flashback!
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The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
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Trading Mom
Circus Giant
The History Of WrestleMania
Best of The British Bulldog
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AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
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WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
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WWE World Tour 1992
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WWF: Best of Hulkamania
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
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WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
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WWE SummerSlam 1991
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WWE World Tour 1991
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Wrestling's Greatest Champions
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WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
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WWE WrestleMania VII
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WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
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The Ultimate Warrior
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
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WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
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WWE Royal Rumble 1990
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WWE Survivor Series 1989
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Hulkamania 4
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WWE SummerSlam 1989
Himself
Fan Favorites
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The Best of the WWF: volume 20
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The Best of the WWF: volume 19
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More Saturday Night's Main Event
WWE WrestleMania V
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WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
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WWE Royal Rumble 1989
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Hulk Hogan: Real American
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WWE Survivor Series 1988
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The Best of the WWF: volume 17
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Macho Madness
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WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
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WWE SummerSlam 1988
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Hulkamania 3
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WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
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WWE WrestleFest
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The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
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WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
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WWE WrestleMania IV
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Clash of the Champions
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WWE The Main Event
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WWE Royal Rumble 1988
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The Best of the WWF: volume 14
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Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
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WWE Survivor Series 1987
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The Princess Bride
Fezzik
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
Giant Machine
WWF Hulkamania 2
Giant Machine
WWE WrestleMania III
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WWF 20-Man Battle Royal 1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Giant Machine
Inside the Steel Cage
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The Best of the WWF: volume 9
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WWF Wrestling Challenge
Giant Machine
WWF Wrestling Challenge
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WWF Superstars
Giant Machine
WWF Superstars
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WWE The Big Event
Giant Machine
Villains of the Squared Circle
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WrestleMania II
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
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The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
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The Best of the WWF: volume 5
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The WWF's Amazing Managers
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
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Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
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The Best of the WWF: volume 4
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I Like To Hurt People
Self - Andre the Giant
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
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WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
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WrestleMania
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WWE Pay Per View
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
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Best of the WWF Volume 3
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Most Unusual Matches
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Best of the WWF Volume 1
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Best of the WWF Volume 2
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Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
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The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
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WWF Prime Time Wrestling
Micki & Maude
Self
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
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WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
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WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
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Conan the Destroyer
Dagoth (uncredited)
Tuesday Night Titans
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WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
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WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
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World Class Championship Wrestling
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Mid-South Wrestling
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Mid-South Wrestling
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WWE Showdown at Shea '80
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NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
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WWF Championship Wrestling
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WWF Championship Wrestling
Andre the Giant (Self)
WWF Championship Wrestling
"The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant
WWF All-Star Wrestling
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The Six Million Dollar Man
Bigfoot
The Wrestling Queen
"The Giant" Jean Ferre
WWE Old School
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