Today is the birthday of the gigantic French wrestler André the Giant. To celebrate we are giving you seven roles that he’s played in movies and television. He was almost super-human in every regard, so you best celebrate the day that the man himself was brought into this world.
André René Roussimoff’s, or as he’s better known André the Giant, made his American television debut on The Six Million Dollar Man. He played Bigfoot in two very special episodes, the perfect man for the role. This was the first time that he worked with Lee Majors, but it wasn’t his last.
He once again collaborated with Lee Majors in the television show The Fall Guy. In this show he was in one episode and he played against type, he played the wrestler Killer Typhoon. Sadly this was Lee Majors’ and André’s last time working together, it truly was the end of an era.
Few remember the greatest American television show, The Greatest American Hero. André was in one episode, which is what probably made it into the greatest American television show to begin with.
Many remember the film Conan the Destroyer, but few can recall that André the Giant was in the movie. He played Dagoth, a monster that just wanted hugs. Unfortunately Arnold was not in the hugging mood.
In 1984 André played himself in the Blake Edwards comedy Micki + Maude, which is all about Dudley Moore and his inability to manage relationships. Sadly this film is not the sequel to Harold and Maude, which explains André the giant being involved.
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Definitely one of the highlights of The Princess Bride was André the Giant. He played the giant Fezzik, a brute with a heart of gold. This gentle giant just wanted to help his friend get revenge.
In the forgotten series Zorro André played Nestor Vargas, a giant that want to save his brother. In this episode he faces the court with his brother, and uses his brute force to overrule objections. Like Law & Order for the muscular set.
