André the Giant

André the Giant, born André René Roussimoff on 19 May 1946 and died on 28 January 1993, was a French professional wrestler and actor, billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. He was known for his great size, the result of gigantism caused by excess human growth hormone. He began wrestling in 1966 and moved to North America in 1971, where promoter Vincent J. McMahon booked him as a roving special attraction for promotions across the United States and for New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Japan. During the 1980s wrestling boom he became a mainstay of the World Wrestling Federation, paired with manager Bobby Heenan and feuding with Hulk Hogan. The two headlined WrestleMania III in 1987, and in 1988 he defeated Hogan to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. After his death he became the first inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame.