Andre The Giant

André René Roussimoff (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993),[2][3] best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His great size was a result of acromegaly, and led to his being dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World."[4][5] In the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Roussimoff briefly held the WWF Championship. In 1993, he was the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame.On March 26, 1973, André made his WWF debut as a "face", defeating Buddy Wolfe in New York's Madison Square Garden. He was billed early in his career at a height of 6 feet 10 inches (2.1 m) and 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 m), this was enlarged in the early 1970s to 7 feet 4 inches (2.2 m) with a weight that ranged from 309 to 565 pounds (140 to 256 kg). His actual height is contested, and there has been much speculation and debate over the issue. Jim Duggan and Bobby Heenan maintain that his kayfabe height was correct. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer claims André was measured at 6 ft 9 ¾ in 1974 by a French athletic commission; Meltzer also estimated André at 6 ft 11 ½ inches. Wrestling journalist Mike Mooneyham claims André was 7 feet 2 inches (2.2 m) at his peak. The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, Mar. 7, 1993 André article by Chris Dufresne states that they received a phone call, from France, at the Ellerbe ranch. The voice insisted there was not a crematorium large enough to handle The Giant, who was 6 feet 10 and 555 pounds when he died.