Andre the Giant

Guide Note

Andre the Giant was a French WWE professional wrestler and actor.

Fast Facts

1. Birth name: André Roussimoff
2. Born: May 19, 1946
3. Died: January 27, 1993
4. Birthplace: Coulommiers, France
5. Billed height: 7'4"
6. Billed weight: 450 lbs - 520 lbs
7. 1-time WWE Champion
8. 1993 WWE Hall of Fame inductee
9. Played Fezzik in The Princess Bride

Rousimoff, as Andre the Giant, entered the WWE in 1973, and was a "babyface" (good guy) for the majority of his career. Arguably the most popular pro-wrestler of the 1970s, he was billed as "undefeated" by the company, despite lesser-known losses to international stars El Canek and Antonio Inoki in the 1980s.

During the WWE's surge in popularity in the mid-1980s, Andre turned heel (bad guy) and faced then-champion Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III in front of a reported 93,173 fans in attendance. Hogan pinned Andre in what was seen as a "passing of the torch" gesture.

Following feuds with Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts and the Ultimate Warrior, Andre won the WWE Tag Titles with Haku in 1989. The team split up at WrestleMania VI after losing the belts to Demolition, and Andre retired not long after.

Andre was the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.

Rousimoff starred in Conan the Destroyer in 1984 and Trading Mom, which was released in 1994. He is remembered most for his portrayal of rhyming giant Fezzik in the 1987 Rob Reiner film, The Princess Bride.

Roussimoff suffered from acromegaly, and died of heart failure on January 27, 1993 at age 46. He was survived by one daughter.