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.
Filmography
The Claw
as Himself
The Claw
as Himself
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
as Self (archive footage)
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
as Self (archive footage)
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
as Andre (archive footage)
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
as Andre (archive footage)
Warrior's Greatest Matches
as Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
Warrior's Greatest Matches
as Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
as Himself
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
as Himself
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
as Self
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
as Self
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as Andre the Giant
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as Andre the Giant
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
as Himself
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
as Himself
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
as Himself
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
as Himself
The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)
The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
as Andre the Giant
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
as Andre the Giant
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
as André the Giant
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
as André the Giant
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
as Andre the Giant
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
as Andre the Giant
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
as André the Giant
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
as André the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
as André the Giant
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
as André the Giant
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
as Self
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
as Self
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as André the Giant
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as André the Giant
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
as Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
as Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
as Andre the Giant
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
as Andre the Giant
WWE: Andre The Giant
as Himself
WWE: Andre The Giant
as Himself
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
as Himself
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
as Himself
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
WWF Summer Flashback!
as André The Giant
WWF Summer Flashback!
as André The Giant
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
as Andre the Giant (archive footage)
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
as Andre the Giant (archive footage)
Trading Mom
as Circus Giant
Trading Mom
as Circus Giant
The History Of WrestleMania
The History Of WrestleMania
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
as Andre The Giant
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
as Andre The Giant
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
as André the Giant (Appearance)
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
as André the Giant (Appearance)
WWE World Tour 1992
as Andre the Giant (Manager)
WWE World Tour 1992
as Andre the Giant (Manager)
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
as André the Giant (archive footage)
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
as André the Giant (archive footage)
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
as Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
as Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWE SummerSlam 1991
as André The Giant (Ringside)
WWE SummerSlam 1991
as André The Giant (Ringside)
WWE World Tour 1991
as André The Giant (Manager)
WWE World Tour 1991
as André The Giant (Manager)
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
as Andre the Giant
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
as Andre the Giant
WWE WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Appearance)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Appearance)
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
WWE WrestleMania VI
as André The Giant
WWE WrestleMania VI
as André The Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
as Andre the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
as Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as André the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as André the Giant
Hulkamania 4
as André the Giant
Hulkamania 4
as André the Giant
Fan Favorites
as Andre The Giant
Fan Favorites
as Andre The Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
as André the Giant
More Saturday Night's Main Event
More Saturday Night's Main Event
WWE WrestleMania V
as André the Giant
WWE WrestleMania V
as André the Giant
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
as André the Giant
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
as André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
as André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
as André the Giant
Hulk Hogan: Real American
as Andre the Giant
Hulk Hogan: Real American
as Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as André The Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as André The Giant
Macho Madness
as Andre the Giant
Macho Madness
as Andre the Giant
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as André The Giant
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as André The Giant
Hulkamania 3
as André the Giant
Hulkamania 3
as André the Giant
WWE WrestleFest
as André the Giant
WWE WrestleFest
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
as André the Giant
WWE WrestleMania IV
as André the Giant
WWE WrestleMania IV
as André the Giant
WWE The Main Event
as André the Giant
WWE The Main Event
as André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
as André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as André the Giant
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
as Andre the Giant
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
as Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1987
as Andre The Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1987
as Andre The Giant
WWF Hulkamania 2
as Giant Machine
WWF Hulkamania 2
as Giant Machine
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as Giant Machine
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as Giant Machine
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as André the Giant
WWE The Big Event
as Giant Machine
WWE The Big Event
as Giant Machine
WrestleMania II
as André the Giant
WrestleMania II
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
as André the Giant
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
as Andre the Giant
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
as Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
as André the Giant
The WWF's Amazing Managers
as Andre the Giant
The WWF's Amazing Managers
as Andre the Giant
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
as Andre the Giant
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
as Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
as André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
as André the Giant
Andre the Giant
as André the Giant (archive footage)
Andre the Giant
as André the Giant (archive footage)
I Like To Hurt People
as Self - Andre the Giant
I Like To Hurt People
as Self - Andre the Giant
WrestleMania
as André the Giant
WrestleMania
as André the Giant
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
as Andre the Giant
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
as Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 3
as André the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 3
as André the Giant
Most Unusual Matches
as Andre the Giant
Most Unusual Matches
as Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 2
as André the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 2
as André the Giant
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
as Andre the Giant
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
as Andre the Giant
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
as Andre the Giant
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
as Andre the Giant
Micki & Maude
as Self
Micki & Maude
as Self
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
as André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
as André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
as André the Giant
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
as André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
as André the Giant
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
as André the Giant
Conan the Destroyer
as Dagoth (uncredited)
Conan the Destroyer
as Dagoth (uncredited)
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
as André the Giant
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
as André the Giant
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
as André the Giant
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
as André the Giant
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
as André the Giant
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
as André the Giant
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
as André The Giant
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
as André The Giant
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
as Fighter
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
as Fighter