Random Behind-The-Scenes Stories About André The Giant In ‘The Princess Bride’ (15 items)

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  (#13) He Once Passed Gas So Loudly, Production Screeched To A Halt

  Cary Elwes shared a story about Roussimoff with ABC News, explaining that during one scene, Roussimoff "let out a 16-second fart and brought production to a standstill... It could be heard three counties away! Nobody said anything except Rob [Reiner], who said 'Are you OK, André?' And André replied, 'I am now, boss.' He was comfortable enough to do that!"

  Elwes further elaborated upon the incident in his book:

  I suppose you wouldn't expect a man of André's proportions to pass gas quietly or unobtrusively, but this particular one was truly epic, a veritable symphony of gastric distress that roared for more than several seconds and shook the very foundations of the wood and plaster set we were now grabbing on to out of sheer fear. It was long enough and loud enough that every member of the crew had time to stop what they were doing and take notice.
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  (#6) Chris Sarandon's Children Screamed When They First Saw Him

  When Chris Sarandon, who played the infamous Prince Humperdinck, told his children he was working with a giant, they peppered their father with questions about Roussimoff's size.

  When they finally met him, however, their reaction was less than enthusiastic - rather than walking up to greet the actor, they ran screaming.

   
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  (#2) He Kept Robin Wright Warm By Putting His Hand Over Her Head

  During filming, André Roussimoff often felt overheated, whereas Robin Wright, who played Buttercup, shivered from the cold. To combat this problem, the two worked out a plan, which Westley's actor, Cary Elwes, described in his book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of 'The Princess Bride':

  [Roussimoff], sweetheart of a man that he was, devised a technique to keep [Wright] warm, which was very simple really. He would use one of his hands as a hat on top of Robin's head. She said it was like having a giant hot water bottle up there, and it certainly did the trick - and he didn't even mess up her hair!
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  (#14) He Once Passed Out, And Nobody Could Move Him

  Roussimoff was a well-known drinker, and though he could hold his alcohol well, his size presented some problems when he did become inebriated. One evening, after the day's filming wrapped, he passed out in the hotel bar. Roussimoff weighed approximately 520 pounds, meaning no one around could move him.

  The hotel housekeepers had no choice but to leave him where he was. They placed a velvet rope around him for privacy, and he woke up the next morning.
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  (#4) His Back Problems Prevented Him From Performing His Stunts Unassisted

  Roussimoff was constantly in pain due to back problems resulting from his physical size. According to Cary Elwes, he drank to dull this pain, since no pharmaceutical pain relief could effectively combat his mass. He underwent back surgery in 1986, which made walking for extended periods particularly difficult. The resulting pain prevented him from performing any of his stunts unassisted.

  In the fight scene between Fezzik and the Man in Black, Roussimoff couldn't manage the strain on his back. This was remedied by clever camera tricks and hidden ramps for each actor to stand upon, creating the illusion that Elwes was on Roussimoff's back when, in reality, they were merely walking beside one another.

  In another scene, Fezzik catches Buttercup after she jumps down to him from a window. This stunt was equally difficult for Roussimoff, so Wright was lowered by a wire rig and safely "dropped" into Roussimoff's arms.
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  (#10) He Told The Script Supervisor He Enjoyed The Shoot Because 'Nobody Looked At Him'

  Mandy Patinkin, the actor who played Inigo Montoya, recalled his favorite moment with Roussimoff. The actors were on a boat with the script supervisor, who asked Roussimoff if he enjoyed working on the film.

  The wrestler replied that he was very happy on set because nobody stared at him. Instead, he was just another castmember.

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