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.
Fotos
Películas (125)
The Claw
2021 · Himself
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
2020 · Self (archive footage)
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2018
Andre the Giant
2018 · Self (archive footage)
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2017
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
2014 · Andre (archive footage)
WWE: True Giants
2014
Warrior's Greatest Matches
2014 · Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
2014 · Himself
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
2013 · Self
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
2013 · Andre the Giant
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
2013 · Himself
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
2013
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
2013 · Himself
The Real Rocky
2011 · Self (archive footage)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010 · Andre the Giant
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
2010
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
2009 · André the Giant
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009 · Andre the Giant
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
2008 · André the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
2007 · André the Giant
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
2006 · Self
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006 · André the Giant
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
2006
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
2005 · Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
2005 · Andre the Giant
WWE: Andre The Giant
2005 · Himself
Giants: Friends or Foe
2003 · Self- Archive Footage
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
2002 · Himself
As You Wish: The Story of 'The Princess Bride'
2001 · Self (archive)
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
1999 · Himself
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
1998
WWF Summer Flashback!
1997 · André The Giant
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
1994 · Andre the Giant (archive footage)
Trading Mom
1994 · Circus Giant
The History Of WrestleMania
1994
Best of The British Bulldog
1993 · Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
1992 · Andre The Giant
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
1992 · André the Giant (Appearance)
WWE World Tour 1992
1992 · Andre the Giant (Manager)
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
1992
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
1992 · André the Giant (archive footage)
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits
1992 · André the Giant
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
1991 · Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWE SummerSlam 1991
1991 · André The Giant (Ringside)
WWE World Tour 1991
1991 · André The Giant (Manager)
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
1991 · Andre the Giant
WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
1991 · André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE WrestleMania VII
1991 · André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
1991 · André the Giant (Appearance)
The Ultimate Warrior
1990
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
1990
WWE WrestleMania VI
1990 · André The Giant
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
1990 · André The Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
1990 · Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1989
1989 · André the Giant
Hulkamania 4
1989 · André the Giant
WWE SummerSlam 1989
1989 · Himself
Fan Favorites
1989 · Andre The Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
1989 · André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
1989 · André the Giant
More Saturday Night's Main Event
1989
WWE WrestleMania V
1989 · André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 18
1989 · André the Giant
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
1989 · André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
1989 · André the Giant
Hulk Hogan: Real American
1989 · Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1988
1988 · André The Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
1988 · André the Giant
Macho Madness
1988 · Andre the Giant
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
1988 · André the Giant
WWE SummerSlam 1988
1988 · André The Giant
Hulkamania 3
1988 · André the Giant
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
1988 · André the Giant
WWE WrestleFest
1988 · André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
1988 · André the Giant
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
1988 · André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
1988 · André the Giant
WWE WrestleMania IV
1988 · André the Giant
WWF The Main Event
1988 · André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
1988 · André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
1987 · André the Giant
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
1987 · Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1987
1987 · Andre The Giant
The Princess Bride
1987 · Fezzik
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
1987 · Giant Machine
Hulkamania 2
1987 · Giant Machine
WWE WrestleMania III
1987 · André the Giant
WWF 20-Man Battle Royal 1987
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
1987 · Giant Machine
Inside the Steel Cage
1986 · Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
1986 · André the Giant
WWE The Big Event
1986 · Giant Machine
Villains of the Squared Circle
1986 · Andre the Giant
WrestleMania II
1986 · André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
1986 · André the Giant
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
1986 · Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
1986 · André the Giant
The WWF's Amazing Managers
1985 · Andre the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
1985 · André the Giant
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
1985 · Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
1985 · André the Giant
Andre the Giant
1985 · André the Giant (archive footage)
I Like To Hurt People
1985 · Self - Andre the Giant
WrestleMania
1985 · André the Giant
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
1985 · Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 3
1985 · André the Giant
Most Unusual Matches
1985 · Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 1
1985 · André the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 2
1985 · André the Giant
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
1985 · Andre the Giant
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
1985 · Andre the Giant
Micki & Maude
1984 · Self
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
1984 · André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
1984 · André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
1984 · André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
1984 · André the Giant
Conan the Destroyer
1984 · Dagoth (uncredited)
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
1983 · André the Giant
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
1982 · André the Giant
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
1980 · André the Giant
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
1980 · André The Giant
The Wrestling Queen
1973 · "The Giant" Jean Ferre
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
1967 · Fighter
Series (17)
Mr. McMahon
2024 · Andre The Giant (Archive Footage), Self (archive footage)
WWE Rivals
2022 · Andre the Giant
WWE's Most Wanted Treasures
2021 · André the Giant (archive footage)
Biography: WWE Legends
2021 · André the Giant (archive footage)
The Best of WWE
2020 · Andre the Giant
WWE Raw
1993 · Thanks
Clash of the Champions
1988 · Andre the Giant (Appearance)
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986 · Giant Machine, André the Giant
WWF Superstars
1986 · Giant Machine, André the Giant
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
1985 · Andre The Giant, Andre the Giant
Tuesday Night Titans
1984 · Andre the Giant
World Class Championship Wrestling
1982 · André the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling
1981 · Andre the Giant, Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWF Championship Wrestling
1980 · Andre the Giant, Andre the Giant (Self), "The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant
WWF All-Star Wrestling
1975 · Andre the Giant
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974 · Bigfoot
WWE Old School
1973 · Andre the Giant