Considered one of the best wrestlers of all time and a star in a time when few people took the sport seriously, André the Giant left an enormous legacy on the world during his lifetime. From stories about his beer-guzzling antics, to how he ate a steak in one bite have become the stuff of legends. A known jokester with a knack for going out and having a good time, André led a full life, albeit that it also had somewhat of a darker side.
Call it a life that mixed up joy, sadness, and true grit. Looking back, it’s incredible how André left a mark on the world, not only as the first inductee of the WWE Hall of Fame but also in his ability to drink a multitude of beers at the same time.
Putting Fear into Guard Dogs
At over seven feet fall and coming in at roughly half a ton, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone more intimidating than André. A friend of his recalls that there was once an occasion where a trained guard dog ran for cover after laying eyes on the giant. When asked about it during a magazine interview, André downplayed the experience, citing that they were mean-looking, but as soon as they saw him, they were out of there. Never a true threat in real life, he did, however, have some threats and demons of his own to deal with while he was alive.
Putting Fear Into Guard Dogs
All About The Bus (Except for André)
Before even hitting puberty, André Rousimoff was already over six feet tall, and weighing around 240 pounds. This meant that he could never take the bus to school, as he couldn’t fit. Samuel Beckett, a friendly neighbor who was close with his father, had just the thing he needed to find a solution for André’s predicament.
All About The Bus Except For Andre
Offering to give him car rides to school, the playwright didn’t find himself talking about the stage to André during their commute. They talked about cricket, a sport they both loved dearly. The experience was so impactful that Beckett would eventually write a play about the whole thing.
