Andre The Giant Driver
Date of Birth 19 May 1946, Grenoble, Isère, France Date of Death 27 January 1993, Paris, France heart failure Birth Name André René Roussimoff Nickname The 8th Wonder of the World
The French Giant Height 7 2.13 m Mini Biography
André René Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. His parents and four siblings were all of normal size, but André suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. As the Giant grew up very quickly, as he reached the height of 6 3 by the age of 12 he began to often disagree with his parents. He left home at 14 and obtained a job with a furniture-moving firm and began to play rugby. At 17 he was seen training at a gym by several professional wrestlers. Impressed by his size, they taught him some basic wrestling skills and built a friendship with him. Later, when one of the wrestlers was injured, André stepped in for him. He would wrestle for nearly thirty more years. By his early 20s André had wrestled in Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, England, Scotland, and most of non-Communist Europe but had not found fame. In 1971 he came to North America under the name Jean Ferre and was mildly popular in Canada. Then he met a New York based booker by the name of Vincent J. McMahon often incorrectly referred to as Vince McMahon Sr who renamed him Andre the Giant, and billed him as 7 4 Andre was really closer to 7. Soon Andre the Giant became a national sensation and was a much sought after wrestler. In addition he participated in television, movies, and commercials. With his wealth the Giant bought a ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina where he would live during his rare time off and after he retired from wrestling in 1990. He died while in France after attending his father s funeral. André was cremated and his ashes were spread across his ranch. He is survived by his one daughter. IMDb Mini Biography By: J.W. Braun Mini Biography
When Andre The Giant challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWF World s Heavyweight Wrestling Championship of The World at WrestleMania III in 1987, he hadn t lost a single s match since 1971. His 3,000 plus winning streak was ended when Hogan picked up the 7 foot tall and 500 pound Giant and body slammed him for the pin. Over 94,000 fans viewed this history making match-up, setting an indoor record which still stands today. Andre also defeated Heavyweight Boxing contender Chuck Wepner in a wrestler vs. boxer match on the under-card of the Muhammad Ali/Antonio Inoki challenge match in Japan. The 6 feet 6 inch. Wepner was thrown completely out of the ring. IMDb Mini Biography By: angelsunchained Trade Mark
Trademark move: Double Underhook Suplex
Trademark move: Tombstone Piledriver
Trademark move: Knife-Edged Chops
Former WWF tag team champion w/ Haku.
Appeared at the first 6 WrestleManias.
WrestleMania 1985 V Beat Big John Studd in a bodyslam match.
WrestleMania 2 1986 V : Won a WWF/NFL Battle Royal.
WrestleMania III 1987 V : Lost to Hulk Hogan event set an indoor attendance record that still stands.
WrestleMania IV 1988 V : Received bye in Round 1 of tournament, fought to a double DQ with Hulk Hogan in Round 2.
WrestleMania VI 1990 V : Lost tag team titles with Tonga Fifita a.k.a. Haku to Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow a.k.a. Demolition.
André suffered from acromegaly, in which the body doesn t stop secreting growth hormone.
At time of death, was in Paris to attend his father s funeral.
Lost a few inches of height because of a back surgery in the mid-1980s, but still stood about 6 10 even after his posture was effected.
Conceptual artist Shepard Fairey uses Andre s image in a series of posters and stickers as part of his Phenomenology project.
Ranked 3 in the PWI 500 of the PWI Years 1979-1999 Pro Wrestling Illustrated 20th Anniversary Special
Awarded the 1993 PWI Editor s Award.
One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000.
First inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame 1993.
A fan favorite for most of his career, Andre turned heel in 1987 in time for his WrestleMania III 1987 V match vs. Hulk Hogan. He turned good again after WrestleMania VI 1990 V, after Bobby Heenan blamed the Giant for losing the WWF Tag Team belts he and Tonga Fifita a.k.a. Haku held to Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow a.k.a. Demolition.
After pinning Hulk Hogan even though the Hulkster clearly had his left shoulder raised and being awarded the WWF World Championship belt, Andre surrendered it immediately to Ted DiBiase who, in a storyline, was said to have paid Andre to give him the belt, should he win it ; DiBiase previously had tried, without success, to either win or purchase Hogan s title.
Andre s 1988 match vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF World Championship, which he won in controversial fashion, was the 1988 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year. The match, which took place in Indianapolis, was part of the first professional wrestling program to air in prime-time since the mid- 50s.
Andre s most bitter feud began in 1983, against Big John Studd who claimed he, not Andre, was the true giant of wrestling. The feud included a series of bodyslam matches including one at WrestleMania 1985 V, where Studd had to pay 10,000 later, 15,000 to anyone who could bodyslam him.
Made his last WWF appearance in 1991 at Summerslam 1991 V, as a second to The Bushwhackers in their match against the Natural Disasters.
One of Andre s most memorable feuds was in 1981 vs. Killer Khan. The feud exploded after a May 2 match, wherein Khan who had cheated throughout the match broke Andre s knee by leaping on it. Nearly four months later, Andre returned and demanded a rematch vs. Khan and got it. He beat Khan so badly the Mongolian superstar had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher. Andre also won a series of stretcher matches against Khan in the fall of 1981.
Appeared in WrestleMania VII 1991 V in the corner of The Big Bossman when he took on Curt Hennig aka Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental championship.
Contrary to popular belief, Killer Khan didn t break Andre s leg. Andre actually got out of bed one day, and his leg snapped due to his life-threatening illness. He was out for weeks, and the story was that Killer Khan did it, to hype up their feud.
Had a very close friendship with WWE referee Tim White.
Sole survivor of the 1987 WWF Survivor Series main event, which pitted himself, King Kong Bundy, Ravishing Rick Rude, George Gray aka One Man Gang and The Natural Butch Reed against the team of Hulk Hogan, Ken Patera, Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff, The Rock Don Muraco and Scott Bam Bam Bigelow in an elimination match. He pinned Bigelow to win the match.
Was an expert card player and collector of fine wines.
Was a close friend of Bobby Heenan aka The Brain.
Notable title wins include: IWA Tag Titles with Michael Nader; Austral-Asian Tag Titles with Ron Miller; NWA U.S. Tri-State Tag Titles with Dusty Rhodes; Florida Tag Titles with Rhodes; WWF Heavyweight Title; WWF Tag Team Titles with Tonga Fifita, aka Haku.
Washington Redskins head coach George Allen once offered Andre a contract to play professional football.
He would not commonly address people by their names, instead, if he liked someone he would call them Boss.
It wasn t until he was an adult, on a wrestling tour of Japan, that he went to see doctors to determine the cause of his condition. The Japanese doctors diagnosed the cause as acromegaly, a rare condition in which victims are not expected to live beyond the age of 40. Andre lived to be 46.
Godfather of Bill Eadie s daughter.
Andre was defeated by Jerry Lawler aka The King in a match circa 1975. Lawler had caused Andre to be knocked from the ring, and Andre was unable to answer the ten-count, thus giving rise to the infamous story The Night Andre the Giant lost to a midget..
He weighed 530 pounds at the time of his death.
Because of his size, he had a custom built recliner in his home that he always sat in when he was not on the road.
As a child, his next-door neighbor was Samuel Beckett.
Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 charter class.
Previous Managers: Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Frank Valois, Lou Albano, KY Wakamatsu, Tim White.
Former World Tag Team champion.
Actually signed all his personal checks, Andre the Giant.
Andre continued to compete in tag team matches, primarily in Japan and Mexico, until the end of 1992.
WrestleMania V 1989 TV : Lost by DQ to Jake Roberts aka Jake The Snake Roberts.
Billy Crystal was inspired to write the script to the movie My Giant 1998 from having worked with Andre The Giant in the The Princess Bride 1987.
Former NWA Tri-State Tag Team Champion.
Was considered for the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me 1977.
Mentioned in the 1974 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest paid wrestler in history, up to that time. He earned 400,000 in one year alone during the early 1970s.
Daughter is Robin Christiansen who was born in 1979. Her mother is Jean Christiansen of the Seattle, Washington area.
Samuel Beckett, his neighbor, used to drive him to school.
In 1965, Andre the Giant received a draft notice for French s peace time army, but was unable to join as there were no shoes big enough, bunks long enough, or trenches deep enough to accommodate him.
NFL legend Ernie Holmes got hot-headed backstage at a WWE taping in 1986. Andre the Giant muttered to him, You know, you talk too much, and Holmes never said a peep after that. According to two people in the van when it happened it was a rehearsal for the Battle Royal at Wrestlemania II, Holmes was talking about how tough he was, and Andre got tired of hearing about it.
One time in the early 1980s during an early stint Bad News Brown had with WWE, the wrestlers were all on a bus traveling between shows. A very drunk Andre the Giant was in the back of the bus with Hulk Hogan and company telling racist jokes that Bad News Brown took offense to. Bad News Brown stood up, and yelled for him to shut up, then when he turned around, Andre cursed at him. Bad News Brown had the driver stop the bus, and told Andre to meet him outside. Andre refused, and Hogan, and others tried to soothe the situation. The next day Andre apologized to Bad News Brown. Bad News Brown later admitted he was glad nothing ever happened because he believed Andre could have really hurt him.
In the mid 1970s, four men were hassling Andre at a bar and he got angry and decided to so something about so he chased the guys out of the bar. They got in their car and thought they were safe. They were wrong. Andre proceeded to roll the car on to its roof and then left.
From Bobby Heenan s book: Andre had a bad habit of never buttoning his shirt in public places. One day, Andre and the Brain were in a small country and western bar, when Andre had refused to button his shirt. A bouncer demanded that Andre button his shirt. Andre remained silent and continued to drink. The manager called the police. The officer that arrived reminded Heenan of Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show. Barney told Andre to button his shirt. Andre still drank quietly. Barney called for backup. Barney asked that Andre button his shirt again when several officers came in to backup Barney. Andre stood up, and Barney realized that it was just too hot to be indoors.
Despite his character Fezzik s almost-superhuman strength in The Princess Bride, Andre the Giant s back problems at the time prevented him from actually lifting anything heavy. Robin Wright Penn had to be attached to wires in the scene where Buttercup jumps from the castle window into Fezzik s arms because he couldn t support her himself.
According to author William Goldman, when he was first trying to get The Princess Bride made in the 1970s, a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to play Fezzik, and he was strongly being considered because Goldman could never get his first choice, Andre the Giant to read for the role. By the time the movie was made about twelve years later, Arnold was such a big star they could not afford him, and Andre was cast after all, and the two big men had gone on to become friends.
During the filming of some scenes for The Princess Bride, the weather became markedly cold for Robin Wright Penn. Andre the Giant helped her by placing one of his hands over her head; his hands were so large that one would entirely cover the top of her head, keeping her warm.
Enjoyed playing card games such as Cribbage and Gin Rummy.
Was a fan of Wheel of Fortune 1983.
Is referenced in the Eminem song Crack a Bottle.
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Mar 25, 2015 Video embedded Beloved and in constant demand, Andre the Giant spent his life balancing the wrestling spotlight with his thirst for a normal existence.
While one driver cursed and the other scrabbled around on the ground collecting his Andre the Giant was the very embodiment of what being a drunkard is all.
Are your idle moments spent inventing imaginary conversations between strange bedfellows. The sort of conversation that might transpire in a pickup truck belonging to Samuel Beckett, say, were the Irish playwright to chauffeur the child André Rene Roussimoff aka pro wrestler André the Giant to school.
Too silly, you say. Nonsense. This isn t some wackadoo random pairing, but an actual historic meeting of the minds, as André s Princess Bride co-star and soon-to-be-published film historian, Cary Elwes, attests above.
In 1958, when 12-year-old André s acromegaly prevented him from taking the school bus, the author of Waiting for Godot, whom he knew as his dad s card buddy and neighbor in rural Moulien, France, volunteered for transport duty. It was a standing gig, with no other passengers. André recalled that they mostly talked about cricket, but surely they discussed other topics, too, right. Right..
Even if they didn t, it s deliciously fun to speculate.
In the barebones entry above, Binghamton, New York s Därkhorse Drämatists playwright Ron Burch has Beckett dispensing romantic advice in much the same way that he wrote dialogue, to create a dialectic. So I should embrace the negation of the act in order to get the opposite reaction. André asks, re: a girl he s eager to kiss.
Burch is not the only dramatist to tackle these mystery rides. Chicago playwright Rory Jobst was inspired to write Samuel Beckett, Andre the Giant, and the Crickets after listening to They Might Be Giants John Flansburgh and John Linnell participating in a 3-question André the Giant trivia quiz on NPR s Wait Wait Don t Tell Me.
Cartoonist Box Brown is another to take a stab at the unlikely carpool buddies chit chat above, with his graphic biography, Andre the Giant. In his version, Beckett asks André why he s so big, André asks Beckett if he plays football, and Beckett gives him his first cigarette. Well, y know, they stunt your growth so, Beckett hesitates, eh, okay.
Watch Film, Samuel Beckett s Only Movie, Starring Buster Keaton
Rare Audio: Samuel Beckett Reads Two Poems From His Novel Watt
The Ultimate Warrior, Professional Wrestler Philosopher, Created a Glossary of World Philosophies
Andy Warhol s One Minute of Professional Wrestling Fame 1985
Ayun Halliday is interested in hearing about unorthodox productions of Waiting for Godot AyunHalliday.
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André the Giant - Biography
Posts about Andre the Giant written by Bill Thompson. Blue Thunder Driver Great wrestling, match by match. About; Promotional Database;.
Andre the Giant. 245,878 likes 15,493 talking about this. Official page updated by representatives of the estate of Andre the Giant www.AndretheGiant.com.
André the Giant 3 In early 1982 the two also fought in a series of matches in Japan with Arnold Skaaland in Andre s corner. André second from right.
