André the Giant

Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 (charter class).

One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000).

Billy Crystal was inspired to write the script to the movie My Giant (1998) from having worked with 'Andre The Giant' in the The Princess Bride (1987).

Andre continued to compete in tag team matches, primarily in Japan and Mexico, until the end of 1992.

Made his last WWF appearance in 1991 at Summerslam (1991), as a second to The Bushwhackers in their match against the 'Natural Disasters'.

WrestleMania VI (1990): Lost tag team titles with Tonga Fifita (a.k.a. Haku) to Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow (a.k.a. Demolition).

WrestleMania V (1989): Lost by DQ to Jake Roberts (aka Jake "The Snake" Roberts).

WrestleMania IV (1988): Received bye in Round 1 of tournament, fought to a double DQ with Hulk Hogan in Round 2.

WrestleMania III (1987): Lost to Hulk Hogan (event set an indoor attendance record that still stands).

WrestleMania I (1985) Beat Big John Studd in a bodyslam match.

Andre's most bitter feud began in 1983, against Big John Studd (who claimed he, not Andre, was the true "giant" of wrestling). The feud included a series of bodyslam matches (including one at WrestleMania I (1985), where Studd had to pay $10,000 (later, $15,000) to anyone who could bodyslam him.

One of Andre's most memorable feuds was in 1981 vs. Killer Khan. The feud exploded after a May 2 match, wherein Khan (who had cheated throughout the match) broke Andre's knee by leaping on it. Nearly four months later, Andre returned and demanded a rematch vs. Khan ... and got it. He beat Khan so badly the Mongolian superstar had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher. Andre also won a series of "stretcher" matches against Khan in the fall of 1981.

Lost a few inches of height because of a back surgery in the mid-1980s, but still stood about 6' 10" even after his posture was affected.

Ranked #3 in the "PWI 500" of the PWI Years (1979-1999) (Pro Wrestling Illustrated 20th Anniversary Special)

Was considered for the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).

Andre was defeated by Jerry Lawler (aka "The King") in a match circa 1975. Lawler had caused Andre to be knocked from the ring, and Andre was unable to answer the ten-count, thus giving rise to the infamous story "The Night Andre the Giant lost to a midget!".

Mentioned in the 1974 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest paid wrestler in history, up to that time. He earned $400,000 in one year alone during the early 1970s.

André René Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. His parents and four siblings were all of normal size, but André suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. As the Giant grew up (very quickly, as he reached the height of 6' 3" by the age of 12) he began to often disagree with his parents. He left home at 14 and obtained a job with a furniture-moving firm and began to play rugby. At 17 he was seen training at a gym by several professional wrestlers. Impressed by his size, they taught him some basic wrestling skills and built a friendship with him. Later, when one of the wrestlers was injured, André stepped in for him. He would wrestle for nearly thirty more years. By his early 20s André had wrestled in Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, England, Scotland, and most of non-Communist Europe but had not found fame. In 1971 he came to North America under the name Jean Ferre and was mildly popular in Canada. Then he met a New York based booker by the name of Vincent J. McMahon (often incorrectly referred to as "Vince McMahon Sr") who renamed him "Andre the Giant," and billed him as 7' 4" (Andre was really closer to 7'). Soon Andre the Giant became a national sensation and was a much sought after wrestler. In addition he participated in television, movies, and commercials.