André Roussimoff
Acting
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.
TV Shows(19)
Mr. McMahon
Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
2024
WWE Rivals
Andre the Giant
2022
Biography: WWE Legends
André the Giant (archive footage)
2021
WWE's Most Wanted Treasures
André the Giant (archive footage)
2021
The Best of WWE
Andre the Giant
2020
Clash of the Champions
Andre the Giant (Appearance)
1988
WWE The Main Event
1988
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Giant Machine
1986
WWF Superstars
Giant Machine
1986
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Andre The Giant
1985
WWE Pay Per View
André The Giant
1985
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
1985
Tuesday Night Titans
Andre the Giant
1984
World Class Championship Wrestling
André the Giant
1982
Mid-South Wrestling
Andre the Giant
1981
WWF Championship Wrestling
Andre the Giant
1980
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Andre the Giant
1975
The Six Million Dollar Man
Bigfoot
1974
WWE Old School
Andre the Giant
1973
Movies(121)
The Claw
Himself
2021
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Self (archive footage)
2020
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2018
Andre the Giant
Self (archive footage)
2018
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2017
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
Andre (archive footage)
2014
WWE: True Giants
2014
Warrior's Greatest Matches
Andre The Giant (Archive Footage)
2014
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Himself
2014
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Self
2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Andre the Giant
2013
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Himself
2013
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
2013
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
Himself
2013
The Real Rocky
Self (archive footage)
2011
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Andre the Giant
2010
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik
2010
WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
André the Giant
2009
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Andre the Giant
2009
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
André the Giant
2008
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
André the Giant
2007
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Self
2006
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
André the Giant
2006
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
2006
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Andre the Giant (Archive Footage)
2005
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
Andre the Giant
2005
WWE: Andre The Giant
Himself
2005
Giants: Friends or Foe
Self- Archive Footage
2003
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Himself
2002
Andre the Giant: Larger than Life
Himself
1999
WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV
1998
WWF Summer Flashback!
André The Giant
1997
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Andre the Giant (archive footage)
1994
Trading Mom
Circus Giant
1994
The History Of WrestleMania
1994
Best of The British Bulldog
Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
1993
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
Andre The Giant
1992
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
André the Giant (Appearance)
1992
WWE World Tour 1992
Andre the Giant (Manager)
1992
WWF: Best of Hulkamania
1992
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
André the Giant (archive footage)
1992
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
Andre the Giant (Archive footage)
1991
WWE SummerSlam 1991
André The Giant (Ringside)
1991
WWE World Tour 1991
André The Giant (Manager)
1991
Wrestling's Greatest Champions
Andre the Giant
1991
WWE U.K. Rampage 1991
André the Giant (Ringside)
1991
WWE WrestleMania VII
André the Giant (Ringside)
1991
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
André the Giant (Appearance)
1991
The Ultimate Warrior
1990
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
1990
WWE WrestleMania VI
André The Giant
1990
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
André The Giant
1990
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Andre the Giant
1990
WWE Survivor Series 1989
André the Giant
1989
Hulkamania 4
André the Giant
1989
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Himself
1989
Fan Favorites
Andre The Giant
1989
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
André the Giant
1989
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
André the Giant
1989
More Saturday Night's Main Event
1989
WWE WrestleMania V
André the Giant
1989
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89
André the Giant
1989
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
André the Giant
1989
Hulk Hogan: Real American
Andre the Giant
1989
WWE Survivor Series 1988
André The Giant
1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
André the Giant
1988
Macho Madness
Andre the Giant
1988
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
André the Giant
1988
WWE SummerSlam 1988
André The Giant
1988
Hulkamania 3
André the Giant
1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
André the Giant
1988
WWE WrestleFest
André the Giant
1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
André the Giant
1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
André the Giant
1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
André the Giant
1988
WWE WrestleMania IV
André the Giant
1988
WWE The Main Event
André the Giant
1988
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
André the Giant (Contract Signing)
1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
André the Giant
1987
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Andre the Giant
1987
WWE Survivor Series 1987
Andre The Giant
1987
The Princess Bride
Fezzik
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
Giant Machine
1987
WWF Hulkamania 2
Giant Machine
1987
WWE WrestleMania III
André the Giant
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Giant Machine
1987
Inside the Steel Cage
Andre the Giant
1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
André the Giant
1986
WWE The Big Event
Giant Machine
1986
Villains of the Squared Circle
Andre the Giant
1986
WrestleMania II
André the Giant
1986
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
André the Giant
1986
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
Andre the Giant
1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 5
André the Giant
1986
The WWF's Amazing Managers
Andre the Giant
1985
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
André the Giant
1985
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
Andre the Giant
1985
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
André the Giant
1985
Andre the Giant
André the Giant (archive footage)
1985
I Like To Hurt People
Self - Andre the Giant
1985
WrestleMania
André the Giant
1985
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
Andre the Giant
1985
Best of the WWF Volume 3
André the Giant
1985
Most Unusual Matches
Andre the Giant
1985
Best of the WWF Volume 1
André the Giant
1985
Best of the WWF Volume 2
André the Giant
1985
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Andre the Giant
1985
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
Andre the Giant
1985
Micki & Maude
Self
1984
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84
André the Giant
1984
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
André the Giant
1984
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84
André the Giant
1984
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
André the Giant
1984
Conan the Destroyer
Dagoth (uncredited)
1984
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
André the Giant
1983
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
André the Giant
1982
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
André the Giant
1980
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
André The Giant
1980
The Wrestling Queen
"The Giant" Jean Ferre
1973
Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka
Fighter
1967