ANDRÉ THE GIANT
André the Giant (born André René Roussimoff) was a French professional wrestler and actor famously billed in the WWF as 'The Eighth Wonder of the World.' Known for his monumental size resulting from acromegaly, he maintained a legendary 15-year unpinned streak in WWF competition and remains one of the most iconic figures in pop culture history.
Cronologia
Biography
André René Roussimoff, known worldwide as André the Giant, stands as one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling and entertainment history.
Promoted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF/WWE) as 'The Eighth Wonder of the World,' Roussimoff captivated audiences globally with his overwhelming physical presence, charisma, and ring dominance.
For nearly fifteen years throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he maintained an unmatched unpinned and unsubmitted streak in the WWF, serving as the ultimate special attraction for promoters Vince McMahon Sr. and Vince McMahon Jr. Beyond his accomplishments in the ring—which included holding the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship—André achieved crossover pop culture stardom. He starred in major feature films such as The Princess Bride as Fezzik and appeared in numerous television series. Following his passing in January 1993, he was chosen as the sole, inaugural inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame, cementing his eternal legacy in sports entertainment.
Backstory
Born in France of Bulgarian and Polish descent, André was the third of five children and was nicknamed 'Dédé' by his parents. At a very early age, he began displaying symptoms of acromegaly, reaching a height of six feet and a weight of 240 pounds by age 12.
Although he was a good student, he left school after the 8th grade to work on a farm, complete an apprenticeship in woodworking, and labor in a factory manufacturing engines for hay balers. At age 18, Roussimoff moved to Paris to pursue professional wrestling. He trained at night while working as a mover during the day to pay living expenses.
Originally wrestling under the name 'Géant Ferré', he competed across Europe before meeting promoter Frank Valois in 1966, who became his manager. Roussimoff debuted in Japan in 1970 as 'Monster Roussimoff' for International Wrestling Enterprise, where doctors officially diagnosed his acromegaly. After moving to Montreal and working for the AWA, Valois contacted Vince McMahon Sr., who renamed him 'André the Giant' in 1973 and reimagined his gimmick into an immovable attraction.
Powers & Abilities
• Immense Stature & Physical Strength: Standout height and weight billed up to 520 lbs (and exaggerated up to 700 lbs by opponents), giving him unmatched physical leverage. • Immovable Resistance: Almost impossible to bodyslam, pin, or force into submission during his 15-year undefeated streak in WWF.
• Devastating Headbutt: Signature offensive striking attack capable of dazing opponents and knocking down severe opposition. • Unexpected Natural Athleticism: Performed high-flying maneuvers like dropkicks early in his career before shifting to a power-based monster style. • Tag Team Proficiency: Proven championship caliber in tag team competition, holding titles in International Wrestling Enterprise and the WWF.
Appearances
• [1967] Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka — Feature Film (as Caporal Nouet) • [1976] The Six Million Dollar Man — TV Series (as Bigfoot / Sasquatch in "The Secret of Bigfoot") • [1981] B.J.
and the Bear — TV Series (as Manny Felcher in "Snow White and the Seven Lady Truckers") • [1982] Les Brillants — Feature Film (as Albert) • [1982] The Fall Guy — TV Series (as Himself in "Ladies on the Ropes") • [1983] The Greatest American Hero — TV Series (as Monster in "Heaven Is in Your Genes") • [1984] Conan the Destroyer — Feature Film (as Dagoth, uncredited suit performance) • [1984] Micki & Maude — Feature Film (as Himself, credited as André Rousimoff) • [1985] I Like to Hurt People — Wrestling Documentary Film (as Himself) • [1985] The Goonies 'R' Good Enough — Music Video / TV Special (as Himself) • [1987] The Princess Bride — Feature Film (as Fezzik) • [1988] Trading Hearts — Feature Film (Cameo as Giant) • [1989] WWF WrestleMania — Video Game (NES) • [1989] WWF Superstars — Video Game (Arcade) • [1990] WWF WrestleMania Challenge — Video Game (NES) • [1990] Zorro — TV Series (as Big John in "Sanctuary") • [1991] WWF WrestleFest — Video Game (Arcade) • [1991] La Nuit des Héros — TV Series (Guest / Himself) • [1992] WWF Super WrestleMania — Video Game (SNES, Sega Genesis) • [1994] Trading Mom — Feature Film (as Circus Giant, released posthumously) • [1997] Virtual Pro Wrestling 64 — Video Game (N64) • [2000] WWF No Mercy — Video Game (N64) • [2001] Legends of Wrestling — Video Game (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) • [2002] Legends of Wrestling II — Video Game (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, GBA) • [2004] Showdown: Legends of Wrestling — Video Game (PS2, Xbox) • [2005] WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 — Video Game (PS2, PSP) • [2009] WWE Legends of WrestleMania — Video Game (PS3, Xbox 360) • [2011] WWE All Stars — Video Game (Multi-platform) • [2013] WWE 2K14 — Video Game (PS3, Xbox 360) • [2014-2020] WWE 2K15, 2K16, 2K17, 2K18, 2K19, 2K20 — Video Games (Multi-platform) • [2020] WWE 2K Battlegrounds — Video Game (Multi-platform) • [2021-2023] Young Rock — TV Series (Portrayed by actor Matthew Willig) • [2022-2024] WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, WWE 2K24 — Video Games (Multi-platform) • [2023] WrestleQuest — Video Game (RPG Appearance) • [2025] WWE 2K25 — Video Game (Playable Legend Roster) • [2026] WWE 2K26 — Video Game (Legend Roster)
Relationships
• Parents — Called André "Dédé" during his childhood on their farm in France. • Frank Valois — Montreal promoter and wrestler who met André in 1966 and became his business manager and adviser. • Michael Nador — Tag team partner in Japan (IWE) with whom André won his first tag team championship in 1970. • Vince McMahon, Sr. — WWWF founder who created the name "André the Giant" and refashioned his gimmick into an immovable attraction. • Vince McMahon, Jr. — Bought the WWF in 1982 and signed André to an exclusive contract in 1984. • Hulk Hogan — Major rival and former tag team partner; defeated by André at Shea Stadium (1980), slammed André at WrestleMania III (1987), and lost the WWF title to André in 1988. • Killer Khan — Known as "The Mongolian Giant", engaged in a major 1981 feud culminating in a "Mongolian Stretcher Match".
• Big John Studd — Arch-rival throughout the early-to-mid 1980s contesting the title of "the true giant", leading to the $15,000 Body Slam Challenge at WrestleMania I. • Bobby "The Brain" Heenan — Heel manager who managed André during his villainous turn and feud with Hogan starting in 1987. • Ken Patera — Allied with Big John Studd in December 1984 to knock out André and cut his hair. • The Machines (Big Machine & Super Machine) — Tag team partners during 1986 when André competed under a mask as "The Giant Machine". • Ted DiBiase ("The Million Dollar Man") — Hired André to win the WWF Championship from Hogan in 1988, which André subsequently surrendered to him. • "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan — Rival in summer 1988 following a brawl involving Duggan's wooden 2-by-4. • Jake "The Snake" Roberts — Feud rival in 1988–1989 who exploited André's fear of snakes using his python Damien. • Haku (King Tonga) — Tag team partner in The Colossal Connection, with whom André won the WWF Tag Team Championship. • Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — Real-life family friend who viewed André as an uncle figure (depicted in Young Rock).
Evolution
André's persona and wrestling style underwent notable transformations over three decades. Early in his career in Europe and Japan (competing as 'Géant Ferré' and 'Monster Roussimoff'), he was an athletic giant who routinely executed agile moves like dropkicks. Upon joining Vince McMahon Sr.'s WWWF in 1973 as 'André the Giant', his style was reshaped to present him as an immovable, stoic force of nature. For nearly fifteen years, he served as wrestling's ultimate fan-favorite babyface, maintained by a legendary unpinned streak in WWF competition.
In 1987, facing declining physical health and back surgery, André executed a shocking heel turn by joining manager Bobby Heenan and challenging Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III. Following a controversial WWF Championship win in 1988 and a tag team title reign alongside Haku in The Colossal Connection, André completed his character arc by attacking Heenan at WrestleMania VI to turn back into a beloved fan favorite. His legacy was cemented with his 1993 induction into the WWF Hall of Fame and the creation of the annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Trivia
• By age 12, André stood six feet tall and weighed 240 pounds due to acromegaly. • Before his wrestling career, André left school after the 8th grade and worked in a factory manufacturing engines for hay balers.
• While taking time off to film The Princess Bride in 1986, André wrestled under a mask as 'The Giant Machine'. • Following his death in 1993, André was chosen as the sole, inaugural inductee into the newly created WWF Hall of Fame. • In WWF storylines, André was deathly afraid of snakes, a weakness Jake 'The Snake' Roberts exploited using his python Damien.
