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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Wrestling

André the Giant

André the Giant was the ring name of André René Roussimoff, a French professional wrestler and actor.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

André the Giant was the ring name of André René Roussimoff, a French professional wrestler and actor. Known as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World,' he became a major attraction in WWF/WWE and starred in The Princess Bride.

Early life

André René Roussimoff was born in Coulommiers, France in 1946. His unusual size resulted from acromegaly, a disorder causing excessive growth hormone. He grew to 7 feet 4 inches and weighed about 520 pounds.

Wrestling career

André rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF/WWE). He was billed as a giant and held championship success, including a WWF title reign. He also wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Outside wrestling, André is best remembered for his role as Fezzik in the 1987 film The Princess Bride. His size and persona made him a pop culture icon. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.

In short

  • French-born professional wrestler with acromegaly, billed at 7'4" and 520 lbs.
  • Major star in WWF/WWE during the 1970s and 1980s, known as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.'
  • Widely recognized for his acting role in The Princess Bride.
  • Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.
Canadian angle

André the Giant was an important figure in Canadian wrestling history through his work in international professional wrestling circuits, including appearances in major North American promotions that were popular with Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who was André the Giant?
André René Roussimoff, a French professional wrestler and actor.
How tall was André the Giant?
WWE lists him at 7 feet 4 inches.
What was André the Giant known for outside wrestling?
His role in The Princess Bride.

Sources

  1. WWE — https://www.wwe.com/superstars/andrethegiant
    Supports: Height, weight, career highlights, WWE Hall of Fame induction, and his status as a major WWE attraction.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant
    Supports: Birth name, French nationality, birth and death dates, and wrestling history in WWF, NJPW, and AJPW.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/athletes/andre-the-giant
    Supports: Acromegaly, death in France, and crossover fame including The Princess Bride.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000764/bio/
    Supports: Birth place and death place/date information.
  5. AndreTheGiant.com — https://www.andrethegiant.com/biography/
    Supports: Biographical details including birth, acromegaly, and death in Paris.