North Carolina town of 1,000 residents honors former resident Andre The Giant with a roadside marker

(SeaPRwire) –   Andre The Giant, a formidable presence in professional wrestling and a kind-hearted figure in cinema, is receiving a commemorative roadside sign in the North Carolina small town he cherished.

The marker will be officially revealed on Thursday in Ellerbe, North Carolina, a town of approximately 1,000 residents, where the wrestler, born Andre Rene Roussimoff, resided on a ranch near the community.

During his career with the WWE in the 1970s and 80s, Andre was promoted as standing 7-foot-4 (2.24 meters) tall and weighing 520 pounds (236 kilograms).

Portrayed as an undefeatable, larger-than-life villain, Roussimoff’s reputation was challenged when he fought Hulk Hogan in a legendary 1987 match at WrestleMania III, an event that propelled the formerly regional wrestling promotion to national prominence.

That same year, Roussimoff made his film debut as Fezzik in “The Princess Bride,” a giant with a soft heart who served as the villain’s enforcer and relied on rhymes to recall his orders.

Although born in France, Roussimoff developed a deep affection for the U.S. South while wrestling there, leading him to purchase a cattle ranch about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Charlotte, North Carolina.

He became an integral member of the Ellerbe community. In 1990, he recorded television and radio advertisements opposing a proposed low-level radioactive waste site in the area. A museum now displays a pair of his size-26 cowboy boots.

Roussimoff passed away in 1993 at the age of 46 while in France for his father’s funeral. A service was held for him there, but his remains were cremated and his ashes scattered over his beloved ranch.

The Richmond County historical marker, located at the junction of NC Highway 72 and Old NC Highway 220, reads: “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”