Andre the Giant was known as the “8th Wonder of the World” because of his incredible size. Standing at 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing over 500 pounds, he was a huge attraction in professional wrestling. But Andre was more than just a wrestler; he was a global icon with a humble and charming personality. Despite his fame, Andre faced challenges due to his size, which affected his life in many ways.
Andre Rene Rousimoff, known to the world as Andre the Giant, was born on May 19, 1946, in France. His father, Boris, was a farmer, and his mother, Marianne, was Polish. Andre was the middle child among five siblings. As a child, he was healthy and happy, but as he grew older, his size became extraordinary. By the age of ten, he was already six feet tall and weighed 200 pounds.
Andre’s size meant he could do the work of several people on the family farm, so he left school to help out. Despite missing school, he was strong and enjoyed farm life. By fifteen, he could lift a car to help his brother change a tire. At sixteen, he was nearly seven feet tall and weighed over 300 pounds. His size made him a local curiosity, and a wrestling promoter soon noticed him.
At eighteen, Andre began training as a wrestler under Frank Valois, a Canadian wrestler and promoter. He adopted the ring name “Jean Ferre,” inspired by a mythical French giant. To support himself in Paris, Andre worked as a furniture mover while training. Wrestling required him to learn how to perform moves safely, and his size made it difficult to find opponents willing to face him.
In 1965, Andre was called for the army draft, but his size made it impossible to find uniforms and shoes that fit him, so he was deemed unfit for service. He continued to train and wrestle in Europe, gaining experience and popularity. In 1969, he wrestled in New Zealand and Japan, where he won the IWF World Tag Team Championship. While in Japan, he was diagnosed with acromegaly, a condition that caused his excessive growth. Despite this, he kept the diagnosis a secret and pushed himself to succeed in wrestling.
Andre moved to North America, joining the Montreal-based Grand Prix wrestling circuit. He quickly became a star, often facing multiple opponents at once. In 1971, he was named Rookie of the Year, and his match against Don Leo Jonathan set an indoor wrestling attendance record. Vince McMahon rebranded him as Andre the Giant, a name that resonated with American audiences.
In the late ’70s, Andre had many famous rivalries, including one with Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd. In 1980, he was paired with Hulk Hogan, leading to a legendary rivalry that drew huge crowds. However, Andre’s health began to decline due to acromegaly.
In 1986, Andre participated in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2. He took a break from wrestling to focus on his health but returned to play the lovable giant Fezzik in the film “The Princess Bride.” In 1987, he faced Hogan again at WrestleMania III in a historic match. Despite his declining health, Andre continued to be a beloved figure in wrestling.
Andre passed away on January 27, 1993, due to congestive heart failure. His ashes were scattered on his ranch in North Carolina, as he wished. Fans around the world mourned the loss of one of the most beloved figures in wrestling history.
Research the medical condition acromegaly, which Andre the Giant was diagnosed with. Prepare a short presentation explaining what acromegaly is, its causes, symptoms, and how it affected Andre’s life and career. Share your findings with the class to help everyone understand the challenges Andre faced.
Create a visual timeline of Andre the Giant’s life, highlighting key events such as his birth, wrestling career milestones, and his role in “The Princess Bride.” Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging. Present your timeline to the class and discuss how each event contributed to his legacy.
Imagine you could write a letter to Andre the Giant. In your letter, express what you admire about him and ask any questions you might have about his life and career. Share your letter with a classmate and discuss what you learned about Andre’s personality and challenges.
Design a creative wrestling poster for one of Andre the Giant’s famous matches, such as his rivalry with Hulk Hogan. Include details like the date, location, and a catchy slogan. Use your artistic skills to capture the excitement of the event. Display your poster in the classroom for everyone to see.
Watch the film “The Princess Bride,” in which Andre the Giant played the character Fezzik. Write a review focusing on Andre’s performance and how his character contributed to the story. Discuss your review with the class and explore how Andre’s role in the film showcased his gentle personality.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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He was billed as the 8th wonder of the world—a legitimate giant of a man, standing 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing over 500 pounds. Andre the Giant was the greatest attraction the world of professional wrestling has ever seen. Yet his appeal extended far beyond the ring. With his humble manner and boundless charm, Andre became one of the most famous and recognizable athletes globally, becoming a genuine cultural phenomenon. However, behind the celebrity, Andre was a man trapped in a world he never created—one that would ultimately take a toll on him.
**A Giant Emerges**
The man we know as Andre the Giant was born Andre Rene Rousimoff on May 19, 1946. His father, Boris, migrated from Belgium to France in 1934, settling in Molien, just outside Paris. In 1938, Boris married Marianne, a petite Polish woman, and they had five children, with Andre being the middle child. Boris was a strong man who worked as a farmer and soon had his children helping with various tasks.
At birth, Andre weighed 11 pounds, but there were no signs of abnormal growth during his first six years. Known as Dede due to a mispronunciation by his sister, he was a healthy and charming child. However, as he grew older, his physical growth began to outpace that of his peers, particularly noticeable in his facial features. By age six, Andre started attending school in Ussy-sur-Marne, where he enjoyed social interactions and excelled in mathematics. He towered over other children and dominated in sports, often playing as the goalie in soccer.
By age ten, Andre stood six feet tall and weighed around 200 pounds. His father discovered that he could do the work of three boys his age, leading to Andre being taken out of school to work full-time on the farm. The Rousimoff family had little in material possessions but was close-knit and raised with love and dignity. Although Andre missed school, he embraced farm life, developing incredible physical strength.
By age fifteen, he could lift a car to help his brother change a tire. Around sixteen, Andre’s growth spurt accelerated, reaching nearly seven feet tall and weighing in the 300s. His parents were not overly concerned, and he was never taken to see a doctor. During his mid-teens, he began a woodworking apprenticeship but soon switched to working in a factory. Eventually, he returned to the farm, where his size drew attention, and he became a local curiosity.
At eighteen, a wrestling promoter learned about the teenage giant and approached his parents, suggesting that Andre pursue wrestling. With their consent, he began training under Montreal-born wrestler and promoter Frank Valois, adopting the ring name “Jean Ferre,” inspired by a mythical French giant.
**Andre the Wrestler**
To support himself in Paris, Andre worked as a furniture mover while training in wrestling. Despite wrestling being more entertainment than sport, he needed to learn the basic moves to create the illusion of violence while avoiding injury. His size made it challenging to find opponents willing to share the ring with him, resulting in slow progress. However, his sheer size and strength ensured he never lost in the ring.
In 1965, Andre received a notice to report for the army draft. When he showed up for his physical exam, recruiters were astonished by the 19-year-old who stood over 7 feet tall and weighed 350 pounds. Despite his strength and good health, he was deemed unfit for service due to the lack of uniforms and shoes that fit him.
In Paris, Andre met Eduardo Carpentier, a popular Canadian wrestler, who trained him for two months. Carpentier advised Andre to gain as much ring experience as possible and promised to bring him to North America, where wrestling was much bigger. Andre continued to pay his dues on the European circuit, traveling and developing a large following.
In 1969, Andre wrestled in New Zealand, billed as “Monster Eiffel Tower,” and later competed in Japan, winning the IWF World Tag Team Championship. While in Japan, he was diagnosed with acromegaly, a hormonal disorder caused by a benign tumor that leads to excessive growth. The doctor informed him that his life expectancy was around 40 years. Andre kept this diagnosis a secret, which motivated him to reach the top of his profession quickly.
After winning a world wrestling title, he felt ready to take on the American wrestling scene. He traveled to Canada, joining the Montreal-based Grand Prix wrestling circuit, where he quickly made a name for himself. He often faced multiple opponents at once and defeated notable Canadian wrestlers. His hard work established him as a top international draw.
In 1971, he was named Rookie of the Year by the Wrestling Yearbook. His biggest match came in May 1972 against Don Leo Jonathan, which set an indoor wrestling attendance record. Although he lost the match due to disqualification, he established a key gimmick as a lovable giant who could turn fierce.
As he ventured into the United States, he became a special attraction for the American Wrestling Association. Vince McMahon first met Andre in June 1973 and rebranded him from Jean Ferre to Andre the Giant, a name that resonated with American audiences. Andre’s first match under the WWF banner took place on March 26, 1973, at Madison Square Garden, where he quickly became a sensation.
**The Great Rivalries**
Andre had many notable rivalries in the late ’70s, including one with Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd. In 1980, Vince McMahon paired Andre with up-and-coming wrestler Hulk Hogan, who became a major star in the WWF. Their rivalry drew huge crowds, but Andre’s health began to decline due to the effects of acromegaly.
In 1986, Andre participated in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2. He took a break from wrestling due to his deteriorating health but returned to play the lovable giant Fezzik in the cult classic film “The Princess Bride.”
In 1987, he faced Hogan again at WrestleMania III, where he weighed in at 520 pounds. The match ended with Hogan defeating Andre in a historic moment. However, Andre’s health continued to decline, and he spent more time at his ranch in North Carolina.
Andre passed away on January 27, 1993, due to congestive heart failure. His ashes were scattered on his ranch, in accordance with his wishes. Millions of fans around the world mourned the loss of the biggest and most beloved figure in wrestling history.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content.
Andre – A famous French professional wrestler known for his large size and presence in the wrestling world. – Andre the Giant was a legendary figure in wrestling, captivating audiences with his immense stature and strength.
Giant – A person of extraordinary size and strength, often featured in myths and legends, and in this context, a notable figure in wrestling history. – In the world of wrestling, Andre the Giant was celebrated as a true giant, both in size and in his impact on the sport.
Wrestling – A sport or performance art involving grappling techniques, throws, and holds, often performed in a ring. – Wrestling has a rich history, with many famous athletes like Andre the Giant becoming household names.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, or the past events themselves. – The history of performing arts includes the evolution of wrestling from ancient times to modern entertainment.
Rivalries – Competition or conflict between individuals or groups, often driving the narrative in sports and performing arts. – The intense rivalries in wrestling have created some of the most memorable moments in sports history.
Fame – The state of being known or recognized by many people, often as a result of achievements in a particular field. – Andre the Giant achieved international fame through his wrestling career and appearances in films.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, often a concern for athletes in physically demanding sports. – Despite his fame, Andre the Giant faced significant health challenges due to his size.
Performance – An act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. – The performance of wrestlers like Andre the Giant drew large crowds and captivated audiences worldwide.
Icon – A person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration. – Andre the Giant became an icon in the wrestling world, symbolizing strength and charisma.
Acromegaly – A disorder caused by excessive growth hormone, leading to enlarged features, which affected Andre the Giant. – Andre the Giant’s unique appearance was partly due to acromegaly, a condition that influenced his wrestling career.
