Andre the Giant was a legendary professional wrestler and entertainer who wowed audiences with his size and strength.
He is also a talented actor who has starred in classic films The Princess Bride He is widely respected and admired by his peers and fans, who call him “The Eighth Wonder of the World”.
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- Full name: André René Roussimov
- Nickname: Andre the Giant
- Date of Birth: May 19, 1946
- Age: 77 (as of 2023)
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Coulommiers, France
- Nationality: French
- Occupation: Professional wrestler and actor
- Height: 7 feet 4 inches
- Parents: Boris and Marian Roussimov
- Siblings: Three brothers and one sister
- Spouse: No
- Children: One daughter, Robin Christensen Roussimoff
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $10 million (estimated)
Early life and education
Andre the Giant will be 77 years old in 2023. He was born on May 19, 1946 in Coulommiers, France, to Boris and Marianne Roussimov, who were of Bulgarian and Polish descent respectively. He has three brothers and one sister, all of normal build.
He suffers from gigantism, which makes him taller and heavier than a normal person.
By age 12, he was 6 feet 3 inches tall, growing to 7 feet 4 inches and weighing more than 500 pounds.
He attended school until the age of 14, when he dropped out and began working on his father’s farm. He also learned to play piano and guitar, and developed a love of music and literature.
He was discovered by a local wrestling promoter who saw his potential as a wrestler and invited him to train together.
He accepted the invitation and began his wrestling career in France in 1966 under the guidance of Jean Ferré.
Personal life
Andre the Giant never married, but he has a daughter, Robin Christensen Roussimoff, born in 1979.
He met his daughter’s mother, Jean Christensen, while wrestling in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1976. They had a brief relationship, but André didn’t know about his daughter until 1989, when Jean contacted him and asked for custody of the child.
Andre agreed to pay for her education and medical care, and met her for the first time. He developed a deep bond with her and remained in contact with her until his death.
Andre the Giant has also been romantically linked to several women, such as actress and model Lynn Tilton, wrestler Sheri Martel, and actress Ann-Margret.
Known for his charisma and charisma, he had many friends in the wrestling and entertainment worlds, and was particularly close to wrestlers Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Bobby Heenan, as well as actors Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, and Cary Elwes.
Andre the Giant loved drinking and eating, and was known for his huge appetite and tolerance for alcohol. He could drink 119 bottles of beer at a time and eat 12 steaks and 15 lobsters in one meal.
He also likes playing cards, watching movies, and reading. He is a fan of French writer Marcel Proust and has collected his works.
Profession
Andre the Giant had an illustrious career as a professional wrestler and actor spanning over three decades. He began his wrestling career in France in 1966 before moving to Japan, where he became known as “Roussimov the Monster”.
He wrestled in Canada, England, Germany and other countries before joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1973.
He is known as “Andre the Giant” and became a fan favorite, often facing multiple opponents at once. He also had memorable feuds with wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy and Ted DiBiase.
He won many championships and honors, including the WWWF World Tag Team Championship, the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, and the inaugural WWF Royal Rumble in 1988.
He was also the first wrestler to be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1993 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers of all time.
He is also a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Andre the Giant also appeared in several films and television shows, most notably as the gentle giant Fezzik in the 1987 film The Princess Bride. He was well-liked by his co-stars and friends, who described him as kind, generous, and humorous.
He has also starred in the following films Conan the Destroyer, Mickey and Maude, Trading Momand television shows, e.g. The Six Million Dollar Man, the Greatest American Hero, and Zorro.
net worth
Andre the Giant had an estimated net worth of $10 million at the time of his death. Most of his income came from his wrestling and acting careers, as well as endorsements and merchandise.
He was one of the WWF’s highest-paid wrestlers, earning as much as $400,000 a year in the late 1980s, and he also received royalties from film and television shows, video games and comic book adaptations.
die
Andre the Giant died of congestive heart failure on January 27, 1993 in Paris, France. He was 46 years old.
He has been suffering from various health issues due to gigantism, such as back pain, arthritis and sleep apnea.
He also underwent several surgeries including spinal fusion and knee replacement to improve his condition.
He died in his sleep in a hotel room while attending his father’s funeral in France. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered on his ranch in Ellerby, North Carolina.
dispute
Andre the Giant was not without controversy, as he was involved in several incidents and disputes that damaged his reputation.
Some of his former colleagues and opponents have accused him of being racist, sexist and homophobic, claiming he has used derogatory and offensive language toward them.
He also allegedly attacked a photographer who tried to film him without his permission, and a fan who insulted him at a bar.
He was also sued by a woman who said he groped her in a hotel lobby. He denied or settled most of the allegations and insisted he was not a violent or hateful person.
Social Media
- Instagram account: N/A
- Twitter account: N/A
Filmography
- The Princess Bride
- Conan the Destroyer
- Mickey and Maude
- Trading Mom
- The Six Million Dollar Man
- The Greatest American Hero
- BJ and the Bear
- Zorro
- scapegoat
