André René Roussimoff, popularly known by his stage name, André the Giant, kept fans glued to their seats during his time as a WWE wrestler. Dig into this article for everything you need to know, from his 15-year winning streak to how tall André the Giant was.
Even in death, André is one of the few pro wrestlers with the longest winning streaks in WWE history. The WWE legend overcame Acromegaly to make history as the eighth wonder of the world.
Profile and bio summary
Full name | André René Roussimoff |
Nicknames | The Eighth Wonder of the World, Jean Ferré, Butcher Roussimoff, The Gentle Giant, The French Giant, Le Géant Ferré, Monster Eiffel Tower, Monster Roussimoff |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 19th May 1946 |
Place of birth | Grenoble, France |
Age at the time of death | 46 years old |
Date of death | 27th January 1993 |
Place of death | Paris, France |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Nationality | French |
Ethnicity | Polish-Bulgarian |
Religion | Unknown |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet and inches | 7'4'' |
Height in centimetres | 224 |
Weight in pounds | 520.2 |
Weight in kilograms | 236 |
Hair colour | Dark brown |
Eye colour | Blue |
1 | |
Education | Unknown |
Profession | Professional wrestler |
Net worth at the time of death | $10 million |
Biography
André René Roussimoff was born on 16 May 1946 and raised on a farm in the French Alps. The Grenoble native had four siblings, Mauricette, Jacques, Antonine and Helene Roussimof.
André the Giant's family
His parents, Marian and Boris Roussimoff, raised him and his siblings in a small farming village in Grenoble, France. Unlike him, his siblings did not show symptoms of Acromegaly, a disease that caused excessive physical growth.
Did André the Giant have a wife or kids?
According to various sources, André the Giant's wife was sports publicist Jean Christensen. Although details of their marriage remain unknown, the couple had one child, Robin Christensen Roussimoff.
Who is André the Giant's daughter?
Robin Christensen Roussimoff tried her hand at professional wrestling. The former WWE wrestler has established herself as a consultant on all things André René Roussimoff. In 2018, she worked on her father's television documentary, André the Giant. Additionally, she contributed to the film adaptation of her father's biographic novel, Closer to Heaven.
How old was André the Giant?
At the time of his death in 1993, André's age was 46 years. The legendary actor's zodiac sign was Taurus.
How big was André the Giant?
Compared to big-sized wrestlers such as the Great Khali, the Big Show and Giant Gonzalez, Géant Ferré dominated the WWE ring as the biggest wrestler ever. During his prime, tourists and fans enjoyed taking photos with André the Giant, with the most famous showing le Géant carrying four women singlehandedly. Here is an extensive summary of his body measurements and strength at his prime.
What was André the Giant's height?
Growing up, Rousimmoff stood taller and weighed heavier compared to his siblings. At 16 years of age, he was 6 feet and 3 inches tall compared to the average height of a male teenager of the same age.
At his peak, his listed height was recorded at 7 feet and 4 inches (223.5 centimetres). However, his accurate height is still contested by historians. Several publications record his measurements between 6'9'' and 7'2''.
How much did André the Giant weigh?
At his heaviest, Rousimoff is said to have weighed as much as 555 pounds (251 kilograms). Although official WWE records list his weight at about 500 pounds, numerous publications have recorded his weight at 520 pounds during his prime.
His biographies also account for the colossal weight changes as he grew up. At birth, he reportedly weighed 13 pounds (5 kilograms). At 12 years old, his weight grew to 200 pounds, increasing to its peak in his 30s. In an interview on the Kevin Polack Chat Show podcast, English actor and co-star Cary Elwes shared his admiration for le Géant's size. He said,
"He had to bend down to come through any door because there’s no door his size. You have to be standing before him and have him engulf your hand like a giant catcher’s mitt, and yours is like a baby to appreciate this man."
What was André the Giant's hand size?
Compared to other wrestling heavyweights, Rousimoff's hand size was significantly larger. At his peak, his hand size measured sixteen inches larger than any other wrestler in the history of the WWE. Additionally, his fingers were three times larger (38 mm) compared to the average finger circumference of a full-grown man (10 - 11 mm). André, who could effortlessly lift two 200-pound men, had gigantic wrists that measured 12 inches.
In 2022, WWE fighter Brock Lesnar publicly compared his hand size to Rousimoff's. The wrestler, whose hand size is too big for the UFC’s XXXXL gloves, fell far too short of André's.
What was André the Giant's shoe size?
According to various sources, he wore a size 24 boot. This is quite large compared to athletes with the closest shoe size to him, such as Big Show and Shaquille O'Neal, who wear size 22 shoes. Tourists and fans can tour the Rankin Museum of American Heritage in Ellerbe, North Carolina, to look at authentic shoes worn by Roussimoff.
How strong was André the Giant?
In addition to a mythical body size, several anecdotes have been told about Roussimoff's brute strength. At 18 years of age, Roussimoff was hired by a furniture moving company for his brute strength. During his time at the moving company, a WWE impresario discovered him.
While visiting with friends in Paris, he discovered that he could lift a small car. Roussimoff would place their vehicles in different parking areas to prank his friends. According to Cary Elwes's account, le Géant lifted an Aston Martin above his head.
On another occasion, Roussimoff comically carried Arnold Schwarzenegger along with NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain and placed him on top of a car. The scene at a restaurant in Mexico City occurred after Schwarzenegger had sneakily paid the bill that André intended to pay.
How much could André deadlift?
Officially records cap the heaviest weights ever lifted by a human being at 501 kilograms. However, le Géant was once captured in footage by the World Wrestling Federation, now WWE deadlifting a 2000-pound weight with little effort.
How was André the Giant so strong?
Roussimoff's colossal size and natural strength have been attributed to a rare condition, Acromegaly. Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder caused by the pituitary gland's increased production of growth hormones. The disorder causes increased growth in bone and body tissue.
Overproduction of growth hormones can lead to further health deterioration and even death. André was diagnosed in his 20s and reportedly declined medical intervention. According to a review of his HBO special on USA Today, the diagnosis came well into adulthood after an ankle injury.
During the production of Princess Bride, the Gentle Giant was in extreme pain, making fight scenes difficult for him. Additionally, the end of his fifteen-year winning streak was strategically choreographed in response to his ailing body.
How did André the Giant die?
Rousimoff tragically died from congestive heart failure in a hotel in Paris, France. His death in 1993 has been linked to his untreated condition.
André the Giant's movies
Before his demise, Rousimoff was a hit in Hollywood. According to his IMDb profile, these are some of the movies he starred in.
- The Princess Bride
- The Six Million Dollar Man
- Trading Mom
- Zorro
- The Ultimate Warrior
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan
- WWF: Strong Men
- Macho Madness
- The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
- Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
- Micki + Maude
- Conan The Destroyer
- The Greatest American Hero
Despite how tall André the Giant was, he remained a larger-than-life personality who made every endeavour he undertook an adventure for himself, his opponents and his friends. His joyful personality and charm, as well as his athletic and cinematic feats, continue to earn him fans throughout the globe, even after his tragic passing.
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