Andre the Giant
- Category : 1946-births
- Type : GE
- Profile : 4/6 - Opportunistic / Role Model
- Definition : Split - Small (10,27,34,42)
- Incarnation Cross : RAX Contagion 2
Biography
French professional "babyface" wrestler and actor, called André the Giant, real name André René Roussimoff. Roussimoff stood at 2.24 m tall, and weighed up to 250 kg, which was a result of gigantism caused by excess growth hormone, and later resulted in acromegaly. It also led to his being called "The Eighth Wonder of the World".
He found success as a fan favorite throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, appearing as an attraction for various professional wrestling promotions. Roussimoff was mentioned in the 1974 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-paid wrestler in history at that time. He had earned US$400,000 in one year during the early 1970s.
Outside of wrestling, he was best known for appearing as Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride. Roussimoff has been unofficially crowned "the greatest drunk on Earth" for once consuming over 41 litres of beer in six hours. On an episode of WWE's Legends of Wrestling, Mike Graham said Roussimoff once drank over 73 litres of beer in one sitting.
William Goldman, the author of the novel and the screenplay of The Princess Bride, wrote that Roussimoff was one of the gentlest and most generous people he ever knew.
He had one daughter, Robin Christensen (born 1979), also a wrestler and actress of considerable size.
Roussimoff died of heart failure on 27 January 1993 in a Paris hotel room at age 46. He was in Paris to attend his father's funeral.