Exploring The Notable On-Screen Roles Of A Wrestling Icon: A Focus On André The Giant
By Published Apr 9, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Josh is a film critic and journalist with over nine years of experience in the entertainment industry. Entering the field at just 17 years old, Josh went on to make his own website, The HoloFiles, and social media brand Star Wars Holocron, the most followed Star Wars fan account on Twitter/X.
A member of both the Chicago Indie Critics and the Hollywood Critics Alliance, Josh has covered major industry events including Star Wars Celebration and, most recently, CinemaCon for ScreenRant. His work has appeared in outlets such as Game Rant and Comic Book Resources (CBR), and he has been featured in publications including the BBC and The New York Times.
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appeared in only a small number of films in his career, but always made an impact when he was on-screen. Most of his work took place from the 1970s to the late 1980s, and he was often cast in roles based on his imposing size and screen presence.
Despite the limited screen time, André the Giant excelled in every project he was in, even with roles that prioritized size and spectacle over dialogue-heavy performances.
André rarely, if ever, played the role of a leading man, but his characters often left an impression on audiences long after he left the screen. Some films used him as a straight shooter meant to grab audiences' attention, whereas others found more innovative and effective ways to incorporate him into the movie.
12 Casse-Tête Chinois Pour Le Judoka (1967)
André the Giant first appears in a feature film in this French action movie. He plays a capable fighter, a small and mostly insignificant role in which he isn’t really given a chance to shine, with little to no dialogue or any semblance of a character arc.
As a result, André the Giant’s appearance in this movie is more of a fun trivia fact than anything else. The surrounding film is perfectly fine, but fans looking to see the wrestler on the big screen will likely be disappointed by this one.
11 Les Brillant (1982)
Born and raised in France, André the Giant appears in another French language story in the form of Les Brilliant. This series is episodic in nature, with each chapter telling a new story that wraps up by the end of the episode. André appears in just one episode here, in a role that, again, doesn’t give him much to do.
Still, André, whose real name is André René Roussimoff, is immediately noticeable on the screen. Even with a minor role in the episode, he still remains physically imposing, a sight which may linger with viewers after the fact. It’s not the wrestler’s best or most memorable film or television role, but hardcore fans may still want to check it out.
10 The Fall Guy (1982)
André the Giant appears in another uncredited capacity in the 1980s television series The Fall Guy (). André is in only one episode as a character named Killer Typhoon, a henchman for the characters to come up against.
Again, fans of André the Giant may be disappointed by this appearance, where he has very little dialogue and no backstory at all. However, it’s still nice to see him show up here, even if his screen time is limited, and The Fall Guy is one of the most influential shows of that decade, which makes up for André’s small role.
9 The Greatest American Hero (1983)
Another show in the 1980s that André the Giant appeared in is The Greatest American Hero, which tells the story of a school teacher named Ralph who acquires a suit made by aliens and subsequently receives a series of enhanced abilities. In this episode, André is credited only as a monster in what is a brief cameo appearance.
Despite his limited role, this episode succeeds because of its fun and entertaining premise, with Ralph tasked with saving Bill from a mad scientist. André may be in a blink and you’ll miss it role, but this is a fun watch nonetheless.
8 B. J. And The Bear (1981)
One television series where André the Giant has a more substantial role is B.J. and the Bear. Here, André plays Manny Felcher in a two-part episode titled Snow White and the Seven Lady Truckers in season 2. This is one of André’s best on-screen appearances, not only because of his increased screen time, but because of his unique role as well.
Manny Fletcher, despite his size and huge presence on screen, is much more gentle than other characters played by the wrestler. He’s friendly, which can’t be said for many of André’s other roles in his career, making this one of his most memorable turns as an actor.
7 The Six Million Dollar Man (1976)
The Six Million Dollar Man is one of the most iconic shows of the 1970s, and André the Giant plays a sizable role in a two-part storyline, which was later turned into a TV movie. He plays Sasquatch in a two-episode that later became a feature-length TV movie titled The Secret of Bigfoot.
There isn’t much in the way of arc or overall depth of the character, but it’s still a great appearance overall, especially with the excellent makeup and prosthetics that help turn him into the iconic creature.
6 The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough (1985)
André the Giant makes an appearance as himself in a music video made to promote the film The Goonies. He’s uncredited, but his cameo is still very much intentional as he acts alongside other wrestlers from the WWF.
This isn’t a traditional role for André, but it’s still a fun watch nonetheless, and one that links him to one of the
5 I Like To Hurt People (1985)
I Like to Hurt People features André the Giant in another unique role. Rather than a scripted series or movie, this is a documentary film which focused on the rise of professional wrestling and André the Giant himself.
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Fans of the wrestler may especially enjoy this title, which dives deeper into André’s public persona as a giant and shows him in a more authentic light overall.
4 Micki & Maude (1984)
Dudley Moore stars in this romantic comedy film from the mid 1980s, which also features André the Giant in a brief but memorable role. It’s a different type of story for the wrestler, who often appears in action films or dramas.
However, in Micki & Maude, André gets a chance to act alongside one of the most famous comedy stars of his time, and although his role is small, his cameo works on virtually every level.
3 Conan The Destroyer (1984)
André appears uncredited as Dagoth in Conan the Destroyer, which was released in 1984. He plays a creature that is brought back to life through magic, and again is a character designed to be a physical presence on the screen.
This marks one of André’s very best appearances in film or television, as the wrestler turned actor fits in and the rest of the cast.
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