Andre Roussimoff, popularly known as Andre the Giant was regarded as ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World’ due to his great size. Although he is mostly known for his contributions to the wrestling world since the World Wide Wrestling Foundation (WWWF) promoter Vincent McMahon booked him as a ‘special attraction’, he famously played the character of a giant named Fezzik in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride.
Recently, The Princess Bride actress Robin Wright shed some light on her relationship with Andre the Giant, and the incident she recounted from her days on the movie’s set could not be more heartwarming.
Robin Wright on How Andre the Giant Helped Her During the Filming of The Princess Bride
After making his USA acting debut in a two-part episode of the 1976 TV series The Six Million Dollar Man, French wrestler Andre the Giant appeared in several TV shows including The Greatest American Hero, B. J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy, and 1990’s Zorro.
However, his most notable role continues to be that of the rhyme-obsessed giant Fezzik in the fantasy adventure The Princess Bride. The film, adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 eponymous novel, follows an adventurer named Westley (Cary Elwes) on his quest to save his true love Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the repulsive Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).
Reflecting on her relationship with the late wrestler during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Wright said:
“We were so cold shooting outside, England — raining constantly. I was freezing and I was shivering and he just came over to me and palmed my head like a basketball. And it was so hot because he was always sweating, he was hot all the time because he’s such a big man. It was like having a sauna on my head. It was fantastic, it was great It was very nice of him.”
Although Andre the Giant had appeared in several projects as an actor, The Princess Bride was his favorite movie because the fact that no one stared at him on the set during the movie’s filming was a gratifying experience.
Liam Neeson Lost the Role of Fezzik to Andre the Giant
The Princess Bride has since become a cult classic and is regarded as one of the funniest movies of all time. It was also actress Robin Wright’s breakthrough project. Before Andre the Giant was cast as Fezzik in the movie, Liam Neeson went to meet director and co-producer Rob Reiner for the role.
Speaking of it on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Neeson said:
“I didn’t audition, but I was living in London, and I was asked to go meet Rob Reiner, the director, and I was quite nervous, because I knew this was a big film. I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, ‘He’s not a giant! What height are you?’ I said six foot-four. ‘That’s tall. He’s not a giant!’ ”
At the time, the Schindler’s List star had decided that he would complain about this interaction to Rob Reiner when he would meet him the next time. He went on to say that he had forgiven him then.
Because Andre the Giant was 7 feet and 4 inches tall and weighed 520 pounds, he was the perfect choice for the role of the giant. Unfortunately, he passed away seven years after the release of the movie.
