"The Greatest Drunk on Earth": HBO documentary about Andre the Giant reveals sad details about his life

The HBO channel last week premiered the documentary "Andre the Giant" about the legendary French wrestler and actor Andre Rene Rusimov. The film reveals a completely new, hitherto unknown side of the strongman of Bulgarian-Polish origin.

In particular, Andre bore the unofficial title of "the greatest drunkard on earth" due to the fact that he once drank 119 bottles of beer of 350 milliliters (more than 41 liters in total) in six hours. The documentary reveals details about what Rusimov drank to numb the pain. He refused treatment because he was afraid that it would change his physical form - thanks to which he built a career and became famous.

An ordinary beer can in the hand of Andre the Giant

Andre Rusimov suffered from acromegaly— a disease associated with a violation of the pituitary gland, which in early childhood led to gigantism. Andre's weight was 240 kilograms, height - 224 centimeters.

The stories of wrestling legends Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan and Rick Flair, actors Robin Wright and Billy Crystal, Andre's family and friends offer a unique look at Rusimov's life. A man who could not find peace and solace in the world in which he was born.

William Goldman, the author of the novel The Princess Bride, recalled that Andre was one of the most generous and gentle people he knew. Rusimov always paid for everyone in the restaurant, even if he himself was invited. Once Arnold Schwarzenegger, knowing this trait of a wrestler, tried to pay for dinner unnoticed. The next second, he felt his feet lift off the floor. Andre carried the actor to his car and put him on the ground.

Trailer for the HBO documentary.