Overview:
When people hear the name André the Giant, they think of many things. Arguably, two of the biggest are professional wrestling and The Princess Bride. Just how influential was André the Giant to both wrestling and this classic film?
The Eighth Wonder of the World
He was known as the Eighth Wonder of the World. I’m talking about André the Giant—a name recognized worldwide. It’s been 32 years since his passing, yet he remains a cultural icon.
Two key reasons explain André’s enduring legacy:
- He helped professional wrestling become mainstream.
- He became a beloved figure in film and television, most famously in The Princess Bride.
Early Life: André René Roussimoff
André René Roussimoff was born in 1946 in a small village in Coulommiers, France. He had acromegaly, a condition where the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. This condition shaped both his size and his legend.
Becoming André the Giant
By young adulthood, André Roussimoff was bigger and stronger than most. After experimenting with various wrestling names, he finally became André the Giant. The rest, as they say, is history.
Transforming Professional Wrestling
Wrestling Star of the 1970s
In the 1970s, André wrestled across the globe—Japan, Australia, Europe, and North America. Fans were captivated not only by his size and strength but also by his ability to connect with audiences. Many wrestling historians credit André’s international fame with laying the foundation for the wrestling boom of the 1980s.
The 1980s Wrestling Boom
By the 1980s, cable television and syndication expanded wrestling’s reach. Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) rose to national dominance, and André was front and center.
His feud with Hulk Hogan peaked at WrestleMania III in 1987, where over 93,000 fans packed the Pontiac Silverdome—a landmark moment in sports entertainment.
Other Entertainment Ventures
Talk Shows
André became a mainstream personality with appearances on shows like The Tonight Show (1974), David Letterman (1984), and CBS This Morning (1988). For a wrestler, such appearances were groundbreaking at the time.
Sitcoms & TV Roles
His TV credits include:
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1976, as Bigfoot)
- B. J. and the Bear (1979)
- The Fall Guy (1980s)
- The Greatest American Hero (1980s)
Movies
André appeared in Micki & Maude (1984) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), but his most famous role came in 1987: Fezzik in The Princess Bride.
André the Giant in The Princess Bride
The film, a blend of fantasy, adventure, and romance, wasn’t a massive box office hit but became a cult classic in the home video era.
Fezzik remains one of André’s most enduring legacies. His lines, like “Anybody want a peanut?” are still quoted decades later. Fans frequently cosplay Fezzik at conventions, proving the role’s lasting cultural impact.
Lasting Legacy
André’s influence continues to this day:
- WWE honors him with the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania.
- He appears in modern wrestling video games.
- His life was chronicled in books and documentaries.
More broadly, André transcended wrestling and film. Like legendary giants in folklore—Paul Bunyan or Jack’s beanstalk giant—André became a living myth. His charisma ensured that whether in the ring or on the big screen, audiences never forgot him.
André the Giant: There will never be another.
Sources
- Hébert, Bertrand & Laprade, Pat. The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of Andre the Giant. (2020)
- UCSF Pituitary Disorders Center: Acromegaly Overview
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