Why André the Giant was one of Montreal's greatest entertainers in and out of the ring

Before he became a global icon, before WrestleMania III and The Princess Bride, André the Giant was Jean Ferré—a towering enigma dominating Quebec’s wrestling scene. There was a strong Montreal connection in his larger-than life, and the city wasn’t just a stop on his path to stardom; it was a place that helped birth the legend he would be remembered by.

It was here that promoters first saw his potential, where he headlined sold-out arenas, and where he learned the power of mystique that would define his career. From his debut in the local Grand Prix Wrestling circuit to the moment he caught Vince McMahon Sr.’s attention, Montreal was the proving ground that transformed a French farm boy into The Eighth Wonder of the World.

Without Montreal, there may never have been André the Giant as the world knew him, and throughout his life he would become one of our greatest entertainers both inside and out of the ring.

Starting out as Jean Ferré

Born in 1946 in Grenoble, France, to parents of average height, André René Roussimoff was already 6’3” and over 200 pounds by age 12. His rapid growth, later diagnosed as acromegaly—a rare hormonal disorder caused by an overactive pituitary gland—set him apart both physically and socially. By 14, he had left school to work manual labor jobs, bouncing between farms and factories, moving crates and furniture that seemed built for people much smaller than him. The world around him wasn’t made for his size, but that changed through wrestling.

André’s entrance into professional wrestling came by chance. A local wrestler in Paris noticed his massive frame and introduced him to the business. He trained under the ring name “Géant Ferré” (a reference to a French folkloric hero) and started touring Europe, where he was billed as an unstoppable force in the ring.

But then came Quebec in 1971: French-Canadian wrestling legend Édouard Carpentier saw the potential in the man who had grown to 6’9” and 300 pounds phenomenon wrestling in France. Carpentier, along with wrestler Paul Vachon, brought André to Montreal’s Grand Prix Wrestling circuit, where he was rebranded as Jean Ferré. The name helped André resonate with Quebec audiences, immediately establishing him as a homegrown titan rather than a foreign spectacle.

His Montreal debut on June 1, 1971, at the Paul Sauvé Arena set the tone for what was to come. Billed as an unstoppable force, he routinely faced multiple opponents in handicap matches, tossing them around like ragdolls. Promoters played up his size and power, crafting a larger-than-life aura that would become his calling card worldwide.

The Montreal Forum and regional dominance

Grand Prix Wrestling was one of North America’s top promotions in the early 1970s, and André quickly became its biggest draw. His feud with Don Leo Jonathan, another giant of the era, culminated in a sold-out event at the Montreal Forum in 1972, drawing over 16,000 fans. Their Titan vs. Titan showdown was one of the most highly anticipated matches in Quebec’s wrestling history, proving André’s ability to sell tickets and command main-event status.

Outside the ring, Montreal’s influence on André went beyond just wrestling. It was here that he fully embraced his role as a traveling attraction, learning how to maintain his mystique by limiting his appearances. His early years in the city taught him the value of being a spectacle rather than just another wrestler, a lesson that would serve him well when he would be catapulted to greater stardom.

From Montreal to Madison Square Garden

By 1973, André’s dominance in Montreal had made him too big for the regional circuit. Vincent J. McMahon Sr. saw an opportunity and negotiated to bring him to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). To appeal to American audiences, he was given a new name—André the Giant—and marketed as an international attraction. His first match at Madison Square Garden in March 1973 was a direct result of his Montreal success, as McMahon had seen firsthand the kind of crowds André could draw.

At this point, André the Giant was billed at 7’4” (224 cm) and 400+ lbs (181 kg). Many believe his actual height was slightly shorter, likely around 7’0” (213 cm) in his prime.

Despite his rise to global stardom, André never lost touch with Montreal. He frequently returned to wrestle in the city throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, often as a special attraction at the Montreal Forum. His connection to Quebec’s wrestling culture remained strong, and he continued to be beloved by local fans who had watched his ascent from Jean Ferré to worldwide icon.

André continued to grow due to acromegaly, reaching 520+ lbs (236 kg) by the mid-1980s. His mobility declined due to joint pain and back issues.

André the Giant’s French brasserie side hustle

"There are so many good André the Giant legends but here are some of my favourites: he once drank 119 US-pints (16 oz or 473 ml) of beer in 6 hours. He once drank 12 bottles of wine on a 3-hour bus ride. He once drank 40 vodka tonics at a hotel bar. While filming The Princess Bride, he rang up a $40,000 bar tab at the London Hyatt. He once drank an airplane dry. He once drank 108 bottles of beer (330 ml) in 45 minutes. One of his most famous parlour tricks would be to put 40 ounces of different liquors into a pitcher and then chug. It's even said that after he 'quit drinking' he would still drink 3-4 bottles of wine with dinner.

How many of those legends are true? Not entirely sure but I choose to believe all of them and I wish I could have gone to Le Pichet on Mackay Street in Montreal." — @canada.gov.ca / John Batt

André the Giant’s legendary appetite didn’t stop at beer—or vodka, or wine, or the 7,000 calories he allegedly downed daily: The man could eat, sure, but what’s lesser known is that he had a refined palate and even a stake in the Montreal dining scene.

Before celebrity restaurant ventures became the norm, André put his money into Le Pichet, a French brasserie that opened in 1974. By the late ‘70s, André was making serious money in the ring, and unlike a lot of athletes who blew through their earnings, he made some strategic investments.

Le Pichet wasn’t just a vanity project—he actually spent time there when he wasn’t on the road, as evidenced by a 1981 Sports Illustrated photo showing him deep in conversation with the maître d’ (or, given the height difference, more like a tête-à-poitrine—head to chest).

If things had gone differently, André might have retired behind the bar at Le Pichet, greeting guests and maybe even pouring the wine himself. He mentioned as much in a 1984 interview with David Letterman, saying he envisioned working at the restaurant after his wrestling days were over.

But that future never materialized. André died in 1993 at just 46, a casualty of the acromegaly that made him a literal giant among men.

Even if he didn’t get to fully embrace life as a restaurateur, and Le Pichet has been gone for some time, its address of 2155 Mackay is still standing around the corner from Concordia University's Hall Building downtown.

A Montreal wrestling icon

Montreal shaped André the Giant as much as he shaped the city’s wrestling history. His time in Grand Prix Wrestling built the foundation for the legend that would follow, proving he was more than just a towering figure—he was a true main-event draw, and the city provided the stage for his transformation from regional talent to global phenomenon.

There's no doubt that without Montreal, André’s story might have played out differently.