André Roussimoff

Actor · 1946–1993 · Coulommiers, France

Biography

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.

Acted in 108

2020s

2010s

2018
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
Movie
2017
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
Movie
2014
WWE: True Giants
Movie
Warrior's Greatest Matches
Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Andre the Giant
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
Movie
2010
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Andre the Giant
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
Movie

2000s

2009
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
André the Giant
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
Movie
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Andre the Giant
2008
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
André the Giant
2007
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
André the Giant
2006
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
André the Giant
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
Movie
2005
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
Andre the Giant

1990s

1998
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
Movie
1997
WWF Summer Flashback!
André The Giant
1994
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Andre the Giant (archive footage)
Trading Mom
Circus Giant
The History Of WrestleMania
Movie
1993
Best of The British Bulldog
Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
1992
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
André the Giant (Appearance)
WWE World Tour 1992
Andre the Giant (Manager)
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
Movie
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits
André the Giant
1991
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
WWE SummerSlam 1991
André The Giant (Ringside)
WWE World Tour 1991
André The Giant (Manager)
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
Andre the Giant
WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE WrestleMania VII
André the Giant (Ringside)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
André the Giant (Appearance)
1990
The Ultimate Warrior
Movie
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
Movie
WWE WrestleMania VI
André The Giant
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
André The Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Andre the Giant

1980s

1989
WWE Survivor Series 1989
André the Giant
Hulkamania 4
André the Giant
Fan Favorites
Andre The Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
André the Giant
More Saturday Night's Main Event
Movie
WWE WrestleMania V
André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 18
André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
André the Giant
Hulk Hogan: Real American
Andre the Giant
1988
WWE Survivor Series 1988
André The Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
André the Giant
Macho Madness
Andre the Giant
WWE SummerSlam 1988
André The Giant
Hulkamania 3
André the Giant
WWE WrestleFest
André the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
André the Giant
WWE WrestleMania IV
André the Giant
Clash of the Champions
Andre the Giant (Appearance) · 1 episode
WWF The Main Event
André the Giant
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
André the Giant
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
André the Giant
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Andre the Giant
WWE Survivor Series 1987
Andre The Giant
The Princess Bride
Fezzik
82
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
Giant Machine
Hulkamania 2
Giant Machine
WWE WrestleMania III
André the Giant
WWF 20-Man Battle Royal 1987
Movie
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Giant Machine
1986
Inside the Steel Cage
Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
André the Giant
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Giant Machine, André the Giant · 1 episode
WWF Superstars
Giant Machine, André the Giant · 1 episode
WWE The Big Event
Giant Machine
Villains of the Squared Circle
Andre the Giant
WrestleMania II
André the Giant
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
André the Giant
1985
The WWF's Amazing Managers
Andre the Giant
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
Andre the Giant
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
André the Giant
Andre the Giant
André the Giant (archive footage)
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Andre The Giant, Andre the Giant · 2 episodes
72
WrestleMania
André the Giant
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 3
André the Giant
Most Unusual Matches
Andre the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 1
André the Giant
Best of the WWF Volume 2
André the Giant
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Andre the Giant
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
Andre the Giant
1984
Conan the Destroyer
Dagoth (uncredited)
52
Tuesday Night Titans
Andre the Giant · 5 episodes
1982
World Class Championship Wrestling
André the Giant · 4 episodes
1981
Mid-South Wrestling
Andre the Giant, Andre the Giant (Archive footage) · 4 episodes
1980
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
André the Giant
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
André The Giant
WWF Championship Wrestling
Andre the Giant, Andre the Giant (Self), "The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant · 2 episodes