André Roussimoff
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1946-05-19
Day of Death
1993-01-27 (46 years old)
Place of Birth
Coulommiers, France
André Roussimoff
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.
Acting
(2023)
Biography: Chyna
as (archive footage)
(2021)
Biography: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
as (archive footage)
(2021)
Biography: Ultimate Warrior
as (archive footage)
(2021)
The Claw
as Himself
(2020)
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
(2017)
(2014)
(2014)
(2014)
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
as Andre (archive footage)
(2013)
(2013)
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
as Himself
(2013)
(2013)
(2013)
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as Andre the Giant
(2011)
The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)
(2011)
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Andre the Giant (archive footage)
(2010)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
as Andre the Giant
(2010)
(2009)
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
as André the Giant
(2009)
(2009)
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
as Andre the Giant
(2008)
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
as André the Giant
(2007)
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
as André the Giant
(2006)
(2006)
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as André the Giant
(2006)
(2005)
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
as Andre the Giant
(2005)
WWE: Andre The Giant
as Himself
(2002)
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
(1999)
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
as Himself
(1998)
(1997)
WWF Summer Flashback!
as André The Giant
(1994)
Trading Mom
as Circus Giant
(1994)
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
as Andre the Giant (archive footage)
(1994)
(1992)
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
as André the Giant (Appearance)
(1992)
WWE World Tour 1992
as André The Giant (Manager)
(1992)
(1992)
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
as Andre The Giant
(1991)
WWE WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Ringside)
(1991)
WWE SummerSlam 1991
as André The Giant (Ringside)
(1991)
WWE World Tour 1991
as André The Giant (Manager)
(1991)
WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
as André the Giant (Ringside)
(1991)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
as André the Giant (Appearance)
(1990)
WWE WrestleMania VI
as André The Giant
(1990)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
as André The Giant
(1990)
(1990)
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
as Andre the Giant
(1990)
(1989)
WWE WrestleMania V
as André the Giant
(1989)
WWE SummerSlam 1989
as Himself
(1989)
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
as André the Giant
(1989)
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as André the Giant
(1989)
Hulkamania 4
as André the Giant
(1989)
Fan Favorites
as Andre The Giant
(1989)
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
as André the Giant
(1989)
(1989)
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE WrestleMania IV
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE Royal Rumble
as André the Giant (Contract Signing)
(1988)
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as André The Giant
(1988)
WWE WrestleFest
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as André The Giant
(1988)
WWE The Main Event
as André the Giant
(1988)
Hulkamania 3
as André the Giant
(1988)
WrestleMania IV
as Andre the Giant
(1988)
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
as André the Giant
(1988)
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
as André the Giant
(1988)
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
as André the Giant
(1987)
The Princess Bride
as Fezzik
(1987)
WWE WrestleMania III
as André the Giant
(1987)
WWE Survivor Series 1987
as Andre The Giant
(1987)
WrestleMania III
as André the Giant
(1987)
WWF Hulkamania 2
as Giant Machine
(1987)
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as André the Giant
(1987)
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as Giant Machine
(1987)
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
as Giant Machine
(1986)
WrestleMania 2
as Andre the Giant
(1986)
WrestleMania II
as André the Giant
(1986)
WWE Villains of The Squared Circle
as André The Giant
(1986)
WWE The Big Event
as Giant Machine
(1986)
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
as André the Giant
(1986)
WWE's Inside the Steel Cage
as André the Giant
(1986)
(1986)
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as André the Giant
(1986)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
as André the Giant
(1985)
WrestleMania
as Andre The Giant
(1985)
WrestleMania
as André the Giant
(1985)
WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
as André the Giant
(1985)
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!
as André The Giant
(1985)
Andre the Giant
as André the Giant (archive footage)
(1985)
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
as André the Giant
(1985)
Best of the WWF Volume 1
as André the Giant
(1985)
I Like To Hurt People
as Self - Andre the Giant
(1985)
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
as André the Giant
(1985)
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
as André the Giant
(1985)
Best of the WWF Volume 2
as André the Giant
(1985)
Best of the WWF Volume 3
as André the Giant
(1985)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
as André the Giant
(1984)
Conan the Destroyer
as Dagoth (uncredited)
(1984)
Micki & Maude
as Self
(1984)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
as André the Giant
(1984)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
as André the Giant
(1984)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
as André the Giant
(1984)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
as André the Giant
(1983)
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
as André the Giant
(1982)
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
as André the Giant
(1980)
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
as André The Giant
(1980)
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
as André the Giant
(1973)
The Wrestling Queen
as "The Giant" Jean Ferre
(1967)
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
as Fighter