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.
| 2021 | The Claw as Himself |
| 2020 | David Arquette'i Öldüremezsin as Self (archive footage) |
| 2018 | Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man |
| 2018 | Andre the Giant as Self (archive footage) |
| 2017 | WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995 |
| 2014 | WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014 as Andre (archive footage) |
| 2014 | WWE: True Giants |
| 2014 | Warrior's Greatest Matches as Andre The Giant (Archive Footage) |
| 2014 | WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1 as Himself |
| 2013 | The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment as Self |
| 2013 | Legends of Mid-South Wrestling as Andre the Giant |
| 2013 | WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden as Himself |
| 2013 | WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History |
| 2013 | Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection as Himself |
| 2011 | The Real Rocky as Self (archive footage) |
| 2010 | WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time as Andre the Giant |
| 2010 | WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Andre the Giant and Iron Sheik |
| 2009 | WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series as André the Giant |
| 2009 | Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection |
| 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 | Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story as Self |
| 2006 | WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as André the Giant |
| 2006 | WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship |
| 2005 | The Greatest Stars of the 80's as Andre the Giant (Archive Footage) |
| 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 | WWF: Best of Wrestlemania I-XIV |
| 1997 | WWF Summer Flashback! as André The Giant |
| 1994 | The Life And Times of Paul Boesch as Andre the Giant (archive footage) |
| 1994 | Trading Mom as Circus Giant |
| 1994 | The History Of WrestleMania |
| 1993 | Best of The British Bulldog as Andre the Giant (Archive footage) |
| 1992 | AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17 as Andre The Giant |
| 1992 | WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary as André the Giant (Appearance) |
| 1992 | WWE World Tour 1992 as Andre the Giant (Manager) |
| 1992 | WWF: Best of Hulkamania |
| 1991 | WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall as Andre the Giant (Archive footage) |
| 1991 | WWE SummerSlam 1991 as André The Giant (Ringside) |
| 1991 | WWE World Tour 1991 as André The Giant (Manager) |
| 1991 | Wrestling's Greatest Champions as Andre the Giant |
| 1991 | WWE U.K. Rampage 1991 as André the Giant (Ringside) |
| 1991 | WWE WrestleMania VII as André the Giant (Ringside) |
| 1991 | WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII as André the Giant (Appearance) |
| 1990 | The Ultimate Warrior |
| 1990 | WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit |
| 1990 | WWE WrestleMania VI as André The Giant |
| 1990 | WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI as André The Giant |
| 1990 | WWE Royal Rumble 1990 as Andre the Giant |
| 1989 | WWE Survivor Series 1989 as André the Giant |
| 1989 | Hulkamania 4 as André the Giant |
| 1989 | WWE SummerSlam 1989 as Himself |
| 1989 | Fan Favorites as Andre The Giant |
| 1989 | The Best of the WWF: volume 19 as André the Giant |
| 1989 | More Saturday Night's Main Event |
| 1989 | WWE WrestleMania V as André the Giant |
| 1989 | WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: January '89 as André the Giant |
| 1989 | WWE Royal Rumble 1989 as André the Giant |
| 1989 | Hulk Hogan: Real American as Andre the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE Survivor Series 1988 as André The Giant |
| 1988 | The Best of the WWF: volume 17 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | Macho Madness as Andre the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE U.K. Rampage 1988 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE SummerSlam 1988 as André The Giant |
| 1988 | Hulkamania 3 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE WrestleFest as André the Giant |
| 1988 | The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88 as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE WrestleMania IV as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WrestleMania IV as Andre the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE The Main Event as André the Giant |
| 1988 | WWE Royal Rumble 1988 as André the Giant (Contract Signing) |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 14 as André the Giant |
| 1987 | Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments as Andre the Giant |
| 1987 | WWE Survivor Series 1987 as Andre The Giant |
| 1987 | Düğün Çiçeği as Fezzik |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 12 as Giant Machine |
| 1987 | WWF Hulkamania 2 as Giant Machine |
| 1987 | WWE WrestleMania III as André the Giant |
| 1987 | WrestleMania III as André the Giant |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 10 as Giant Machine |
| 1986 | Inside the Steel Cage as Andre the Giant |
| 1986 | The Best of the WWF: volume 9 as André the Giant |
| 1986 | WWE The Big Event as Giant Machine |
| 1986 | Villains of the Squared Circle as Andre the Giant |
| 1986 | WrestleMania 2 as Andre the Giant |
| 1986 | WrestleMania II as André the Giant |
| 1986 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86 as André the Giant |
| 1986 | The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano as Andre the Giant |
| 1986 | The Best of the WWF: volume 5 as André the Giant |
| 1985 | The WWF's Amazing Managers as Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | Andre the Giant as André the Giant (archive footage) |
| 1985 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85 as André the Giant |
| 1985 | Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits as Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | The Best of the WWF: volume 4 as André the Giant |
| 1985 | I Like To Hurt People as Self - Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | WrestleMania as André the Giant |
| 1985 | WrestleMania as Andre The Giant |
| 1985 | Best of the WWF Volume 1 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 | Most Unusual Matches as Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | The Hulkster Hulk Hogan as Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! as Andre the Giant |
| 1985 | Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams as Andre the Giant |
| 1984 | Micki & Maude as Self |
| 1984 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '84 as André the Giant |
| 1984 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84 as André the Giant |
| 1984 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '84 as André the Giant |
| 1984 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84 as André the Giant |
| 1984 | Conan II as Dagoth (uncredited) |
| 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 | WWE Showdown at Shea '80 as André the Giant |
| 1980 | NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa as André The Giant |
| 1973 | The Wrestling Queen as "The Giant" Jean Ferre |
| 1967 | Casse-tête chinois pour le judoka as Fighter |
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