The 1940s French Wrestler Who May Have Been The Real-Life Inspiration For Shrek

In the 1940s, a man named Maurice Tillet gained fame as a wrestler in France. His parents were French, but Tillet was born in Russia. During the Russian Revolution, his mother relocated them to Reims, France. Though he began to suffer from strange physical changes, such as growing hands and facial features, he received a law degree and joined the French Navy for five years. A meeting with a Singaporean wrestler inspired Tillet to become a wrestler as well. Tillet moved to the United States in 1939, and his fights as "The French Angel" were popular. He even became the AWA World Heavyweight Champion in 1942. 

The condition that caused his eye-catching appearance was acromegaly. This occurs when the pituitary gland in the brain produces too much growth hormone. It manifests itself in the facial features, hands, and feet. It can also be painful, making it surprising that Tillet had success in a physically demanding sport.

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