20 Awesome Photographs of Legendary Andre the Giant That Aren’t Photoshopped

By Andrew Alpin, 4 December 2017

If you don’t know who Andre the Giant was, well this man was a legend in his time. Andre was a professional wrestler and the ultimate opponent of Hulk Hogan. Andre was French and born on May 19th, 1946, unfortunately, he is no more having expired on January 27, 1993. However, his legend lives on as he was widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the world for his gigantic size. To honor him and relive his memory once more, here are 21 natural photos of Andre the Giant that have not been photoshopped in any way as well as some interesting facts about the man.

1 In front of Andre, Arnold Schwarzenegger was puny

Here is Andre with Mr. Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger. Andre had a big heart and was always popular for paying for his own dinner parties as well as everybody else’s. At one time he caught Schwarzenegger footing the bill. This was when Arnold was shooting for Conan the Destroyer. Andre promptly picked him up and put him back into his dining chair. It was Andre who paid for the entire dinner.

In front of Andre, Arnold Schwarzenegger was puny

2 Andre acted in several films

Andre has even acted in films where he played the role of Fezzik the Giant in The Princess Bride. He also appeared in the movie Conan as Dagoth the resurrected horned God. Here he is with Boxer Bobby Charcon. This picture was taken in 1979.

Image Source: www.pinimg.com

 

3 Andre in action

Andre was born Andre Rene Roussimoff in France. His unusually large size was the result of a hormonal irregularity that made him somewhat of a giant. He towered above other wrestlers and was easily more than a foot taller than them. He was 7ft 4 inches.

Andre in action

4 The ultimate face-off

Andre’s biggest opponent was Hulk Hogan. Get this, in comparison to Andre’s 7 ‘4” Hulk is just 6 ‘7 “. That’s almost a foot taller than Hogan. Although they started out as friends, somehow they became the worst of enemies in the ring and went on to fight various bouts against one another.

5 He could drink 150 beers and made objects look like toys 

Andre was regarded as the greatest drunk on Earth and at one time drank 150 beers. He is seen here riding an all terrain bike which makes it look like he is riding a child’s toy instead. Incidentally, Andre went on to become the inaugural inductee the WWE hall of fame. 

He could drink 150 beers and made objects look like toys

 

6 Over 6 feet at the age of 12

Because of the gigantism problem that Andre suffered from that was excess growth hormone, he towered at 6 feet 3 inches by the time he was 12 years old and even weighed 240 pounds. Now that’s a real tall boy. 

Over 6 feet at the age of 12

 

7 Andre and Muhammad Ali

What would have been the result if Muhammad Ali and Andre met in the ring? Andre’s hand looks twice the size of Ali’s. Andre was friends with several celebrities both in Hollywood and in the sporting world.

Andre the giant and Muhammad Ali

 

8 They don’t make them like they used to

Apart from the great khalli who stands at 7 feet 1 inch, there is hardly a fighter who can come close to Andre. From this epic photo of Andre in action, you can well imagine how intimidated fighters might have seemed in front of Andre.

They don’t make them like they used to

 

9 He is the grandson of a noble prize winner

Believe it or not Andre’s paternal grandfather was none other than famous playwright Samuel Beckett who won a Nobel Prize in Literature. Beckett had settled in France and it was Andre’s father Boris Roussimoff who helped him build a cottage. Andre recalls being driven to school by Beckett and their conversations that included only cricket. 

Andre the giant was the grandson of a noble prize winner

 

10 He could carry four women at a time

As large as his size, Andre the giant was also known for his strength. He was always photographed carrying things and could easily lift four women on his shoulders as you can see here. He was truly a strongman. 

Andre the giant could carry four women at a time

 

11 You won’t believe what he did at Wrestlemania 1985

At Wrestlemania 1985 held in Madison Square garden, Andre took center stage beating up almost everybody in the ring. He won the event collecting $15,000 in prize money but went on to throw the cash into the crowd after receiving it. 

Andre the giant throw the cash the prize money into the crowd after winning Wrestlemania 1985

 

12 He threw Chuck Wepner outside the ring

In a promotional fight between Boxer Chuck Wepner who was scheduled to fight Muhammad Ali at a later date, Andre fought Wepner and even threw him out of the ring. This incident could have possibly been the inspiration behind the idea of Rocky III when Hulk Hogan lifts Stallone and throws him out of the ring. 

Andre the giant threw Chuck Wepner outside the ring

 

13 He was sought after for fashion photographs

Andre’s fame led him to being a much sought after figure for promotional photographs of the fashion industry. Here he is seen in a photshoot with 12 women wearing nothing but towels as a fashion exhibit I966. 

Andre was sought after for fashion photographs

14 Wrestlemania III Andre the Giant against Hulk Hogan

This photograph was taken in 1970 in New York. By now, Andre’s health was failing because of the enormous weight on his limbs and bones. During Wrestlemania III against Hulk Hogan he wore a brace beneath his singlet because he had just recovered from back surgery. Hogan won the match but admitted it was like lifting 700 pounds although Andre weighed 520 pounds at the time.

Wrestlemania III Andre the Giant against Hulk Hogan

15 He could not use the toilets in Japan

Andre visited Japan briefly for a promotional tour. He was so tall that he found it difficult to use the toilets in Japan. Instead he had to use the bathtub. Imagine the scenario where an entire enclosure may have had to be built around a bathtub.

Andre the giant in Japan

16 Andre and his fans

This image was taken in 1970 with Andre being greeted by one of his fans. One bog fact of Wrestlemania III was that Andre had agreed earlier to lose the match against Hulk Hogan because of health reasons. 

Andre and his fans

 

 

17 He would fart on opponents

It can be clearly said that Andre was in the wrestling business simply to enjoy himself. He was a jovial man and during matches he actually amused himself by standing on his opponent’s hair or even dripping his sweat onto their faces. But! His most famous prank was to fart on their faces. Ask Jake “the Snake” Roberts who suffered one such Fart that lasted 30 seconds. 

Andre the giant in action

18 He was so large his fingers gave him problems

Because of his enormous height, he faced problems with his fingers. He could not use a phone conventionally and had to dial using a pencil. Neither could he play the piano when he tried because of striking three keys with one finger. 

 

Image Source: www.twimg.com

 

19 He was a big Prankster

As generous he was with his friends paying for their dinner parties, he was also a great prankster which was another example of his size and strength. While they were dining, he would go into the parking area and move their cars around putting shoving them into really tight places. Among photos of Andre the giant, he is seen here upto mischief as usual. 

Andre was a big Prankster

20 Loved by Fans

There will never be another Andre the Giant who was loved by his fans. He died at an early age of 46 when he passed away in his sleep of congestive heart failure at a hotel room in Paris. According to his wishes, his remains were cremated and his ashes scattered at his ranch in Ellerbe North Carolina. 

Andre the Giant was loved by his fans


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