Welcome to brain Stuff production of I Heart Radio, Hey brain Stuff, Lauren Vogelbaum. Here, fans knew Andre the Giant as the eighth Wonder of the World, but friends and loved ones had their own designation. We spoke via email with Benjamin Brown, an archivist for World Wrestling Entertainment or the w w E. He said, Andre the Giant was and still is, affectionately referred to as Boss, symbolizing the respect he commanded and was appropriately given, long before the
Towering icon became a pop culture phenomenon. Under the Giant was Andre Russomov, a French kid who led up somewhat average life until puberty hit. Born in Grenoble, France in ninety six, Rusimov was a beautiful baby, his older brother, Antoine said in the HBO documentary about Andrea's life, quote, he was normal. His life changing transformation began in his early teens, when it became evident that Rusomov had a
pituitary gland disorder called acromegaly. The disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic, occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood, causing the bones to increase in size. It typically affects middle aged adults, but can happen at any age and what it strikes still developing kids, like it did in Rusumov's case, it can cause a condition called gigantism, which results in abnormal increases in height and
exaggerated bone growth. Russimov's major physical transformation occurred in the time between his departure from home at age fourteen to seek employment outside of Grenobla and his first return visit
at age nineteen ninety one. Sports Illustrated Profile reported indeed, during the five years young Andre had been estranged from his parents, he had grown so large that even his mother and father failed at first and even second glance to recognize him or to connect the giant they had seen on television with the gangly dreamer who had hied himself to Paris so long before. Rusimov continued to grow.
By the age of twelve, he hit six feet that's one point eight meters and two hundred and forty pounds or a hundred kilos, and rapidly grew from there. So he set his side on a career that allowed him to use his size to his advantage wrestling. After training with French champion Frank L. Waugh, who later became as manager. Rusomof began competing under the name Jean Fair in Montreal
and Monster Russomov in Japan. The young Giant began making a name for himself as a baby faced, colossal competitor, and Val was introduced him to legendary wrestling promoter Vince McMahon Sr. As the founder of the Worldwide Wrestling Federation or w w F, which later became the w w E. McMahon made a few suggestions to increase Rusumov's potential success, including a name change. McMahon dubbed the wrestler Andre the Giant and sent him off to compete around the world.
On March nine, seventy three, Under the Giant made his w w F debut at New York City's Madison Square Garden. He went on to wrestle more than three hundred days a year and rose to fame as one of the industry's most respected competitors. Brown said Under the Giants surpassed the often one dimensional nature of a traction wrestler to become a massive draw wherever he went in the world. Andrea was both the leader of the locker room and
a measuring stick for all those who came after. Andre the Giant was intelligent, multi lingual, and an exceptional in ring talent. While the wrestler's success is indisputable, his eventual size is up for debate. Most sources claim he reached a height of seven feet four inches that's two point two meters, though according to biography dot com, he was more likely closer to six ft eleven inches or one
point nine meters. At its full size, Russimov weighed about five hundred pounds that's two hundred and twenty six kilos. The wrestler's unique physicality led to plenty of opportunities outside of the ring, including a memorable role in the film The Princess Bride, and Rusumov's love for food and drink was no joke. There are many stories of him drinking more than a hundred beers in one sitting, though it
supposedly wasn't the norm. His best friend Tim White told w w E he'd go into a restaurant and eat twelve stakes and fifteen lobsters just to quote put on a show and have some laughs. Russimov remained a formidable competitor throughout his career, taking on titans like Hulk Hogan and Mascho Man Randy Savage, but by the early nineteen nineties, the effects of his acromegaly and the massive physical wear and tear of his career had led to severe effects
on his health. Acromegaly is known to cause everything from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease to spinal cord compression and vision loss. Rusimov grappled with chronic pain and could no longer endure the breakers of wrestling. He retreated to his North Carolina ranch, but flew home to France at early nine three when his father passed away. On January seven, nine three, Andre the Giant died in his sleep of
congestive heart failure. The wrestler was never married, but he was survived by a daughter, Robin Christensen Rusumov, born in nineteen seventy nine. Andre the Giant continues to be heralded by wrestling fans as one of the sports greatest competitors. Brown said, this quote is from Tim White, Andre's best friend, who called me while I was writing this. Once he befriended you. He was your friend for life. Today's episode was written by Michelle on Stantonowsky and produced by Tyler Clang.
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