There is no doubt that André the Giant was the perfect choice for the role of Fezzik in the beloved film The Princess Bride. Renowned as one of the most iconic superstars in professional wrestling, André was cast to portray the enormous sidekick to Wallace Shawn’s character Vizzini. This decision seemed almost predestined, given that at an impressive height of 7’4”, André was the embodiment of a real-life giant. Interestingly, another Hollywood luminary, Liam Neeson, also expressed interest in the role, but his height proved to be a significant disadvantage—unfortunately for him, he was simply too short for the part.

During the casting process for Fezzik in The Princess Bride, director Rob Reiner and casting director Jane Jenkins faced the challenge of finding an actor who could convincingly portray a giant. When Liam Neeson arrived for his audition, standing at a commendable 6’4”, he was still deemed insufficiently tall for the role. As Neeson humorously recounted, he directly asked the casting director, “I asked for a giant. What height are you?!” His immediate dismissal, devoid of any polite greetings, was uncomfortable for everyone involved, particularly the casting agent, leaving Neeson feeling empathetic toward her predicament.

Interestingly, André the Giant, whose real name was André Roussimoff, was actually the top choice of author and screenwriter William Goldman for the role of Fezzik in his cinematic adaptation of The Princess Bride. Other contenders included basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (standing at 7’2”), Carel Struycken (who is 7’0”), and even Lou Ferrigno (measuring 6’5”, slightly taller than Neeson). Struycken would eventually take on the role of The Giant in Twin Peaks and portray Lurch in the Addams Family films, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Fezzik than André.

It’s almost impossible to envision André the Giant as anything other than Fezzik, given the depth of character and warmth he brought to The Princess Bride, a film already rich in charm and creativity. While André had numerous credits across both film and television, his performance in The Princess Bride stands out as a testament to his talent as one of the finest wrestler-actors of his time. Tragically, this iconic role marked his last film appearance before his untimely passing in 1993.

What is your favorite quote from The Princess Bride? Feel free to share your thoughts and any peanuts you may have in the comments section below!