Andre the Giant was one of The Overtimer Storytime’s favorite wrestlers.
He spent his career redefining wrestling and our perception of the sport. As soon as he stepped into the squared circle, all eyes were on him.
A literal giant among men, he became one of, if not the, biggest name in the world. He rarely stayed in one place for long as he and the bookers didn’t want fans to become accustomed to seeing him.
Had Andre not been an attraction, things may not’ve shifted in ways that wouldn’t have let him make his mark.
He had what every wrestle and, entertainers in general, dream of and that’s being the center of attention.
It was taxing on him and it led to one of the most memorable comments and performances in Hollywood and wrestling.
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Andre Rene Roussimoff played the lovable character Fezzik, a giant who goes from being a bad guy to one of the heroes in ‘The Princess Bride’.
He gave a fun, lighthearted performance that’s his most memorable one for many. What set him free may have been something so simple it’s unexpected: he was treated like he was normal.
He’s credited with saying his favorite part of working on the movie was: “Nobody looks at me.”
Everyone from the director and cast didn’t treat him special like an attraction. To them, he was just another actor working with them to create something special.
The cast felt the love and in interviews since, many of the cast have talked lovingly of Andre and the type of person he was and what a joy he was to be around.
It gave him a sense of peace and normalcy he never got to experience, and it was something that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
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Andre will always be known as one of the most popular wrestlers. Wherever he went people would see him and gather around hoping for pictures, autographs, or just to be there.
It’s something special we often hear stars say they miss. It’s the simple things like going into a store or restaurant without being noticed.
Others like being able to walk down the street without security can be done by disappearing under a hat, glasses, or fake beard.
He wasn’t given those gifts. Disappearing into a crowd was impossible for him to do, as was wearing a disguise.
It’s those few times where he was able to relax and be himself that leads to some of the best behind the scenes stories and reminds us even giants are human.
What’s your favorite Andre the Giant memory? Let us know in the comments below.
Check back with The Overtimer Storytime where we pull back the curtain and share our favorite wrestling stories and moments.
