Updated on July 15, 2025
Childhood and Family History
Mariann Roussimouff was born in January 1910 in Korytnica, Poland. She moved to France in 1935 and settled in Molien. There she married Boris Roussimoff that same year. Boris worked in agriculture and milling before they started a family.
Raising a Giant
Mariann and Boris had five children: Jacques, Mauricette, André René, Hélène, and Antonine. André René was born on May 19, 1946, in Coulommiers, France. A 1977 wedding photo of Jacques’s shows the entire family together. André’s rapid growth posed many challenges that Mariann met with unwavering support.
Maternal Support Through Health Challenges
At age 24, André was advised to undergo surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. He declined to preserve his wrestling career. In later years, he underwent knee surgeries that involved removing large bone sections. Mariann managed his hospital stays and at-home recovery with steadfast care.
Life of Strength and Dedication
In their home in Molien, Mariann taught her children the values of humility and hard work. André debuted as a professional wrestler on January 25, 1966. By the 1970s and 1980s, he earned the title “Eighth Wonder of the World.” His humility and kindness reflected the lessons he learned from his mother.
Loss and Grief in 1993
Boris Roussimoff was born on March 15, 1907, in Ribaritsa, Bulgaria. He passed away on January 15, 1993, in Meaux, France, at age 85. Thirteen days later, on January 28, 1993, André died of heart failure in Paris. Mariann endured the loss of her husband and her son within weeks.
Legacy Through Generations
André’s only child, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, was born in 1979 in France and grew up in Seattle. Standing 6 ft (182 cm), she is much shorter than her father’s 7 ft 4 in. After a brief appearance in Titan Championship Wrestling, Robin took charge of André’s estate. She oversees his trademarks and approves every use of his likeness.
Recent Family News
In late 1992, André called Robin in Seattle to share stories about her hobbies and the coming holidays. Robin later spoke about forgiving him for his frequent absences, while acknowledging some emotional distance. On March 29, 2018, Robin attended the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s “Andre the Giant” documentary to support the film about her father.
Lasting Effect of Motherly Love
Mariann Roussimouff’s steadfast love and discipline shaped her family’s destiny. Her care enabled André to face health challenges and fame with grace. Today, her legacy endures through her descendants and the millions of fans who cherish André’s memory.
Archival Images from Molien
Family albums and Molien municipal archives hold early photographs of the Roussimoff household. One 1938 image shows Mariann standing at the front door of their stone cottage, her hands resting on a wooden cart used for harvesting wheat. Another photo from 1947 captures young André playing outside while his mother watches from the threshold.
Personal Anecdotes from Descendants
Robin Christensen‑Roussimouff recalls her grandmother’s Saturday morning routine: Mariann would bake rye bread, singing lullabies in Polish as the dough rose. Robin’s aunt Mauricette once shared how Mariann taught her children to swim in a shallow farm pond, turning every lesson into a family picnic.
Cultural Context in 1930s–1950s France
When Mariann arrived in Molien in 1935, Polish immigrants formed tight‑knit communities centered on Catholic churches. Annual Polish harvest festivals brought traditional dances, pierogi, and embroidered folk costumes—events where Mariann and Boris first introduced their children to family heritage.
Home Life and Daily Routines
Each morning, Mariann rose before dawn to milk the family cow and prepare porridge for the children. Schooldays began with André carrying his books in a leather satchel, guided by his mother along country lanes. Evening meals featured hearty stews cooked over a wood-fired stove, where Mariann blended Polish spices with French vegetables.
Correspondence and Family Letters
Letters between Mariann and André during his wrestling tours reveal her loving guidance. In a 1978 letter from Seattle, André wrote: “Mama, I miss your dumplings and your faith in me.” Mariann replied: “My son, your heart is stronger than any crowd’s roar. Stay humble and safe.”
Community Involvement in Molien
Beyond her family, Mariann organized Sunday school classes at the local chapel and led fundraising dinners for flood relief in 1952. Neighbors remember her as the one who stitched blankets for newborns and delivered vegetables from her garden to the infirm.
Health Management Expertise
Without formal training, Mariann learned caregiving techniques from midwives and French health pamphlets. She mastered making poultices for André’s joint pain and coordinating post‑surgery exercises, ensuring he regained as much mobility as possible.
Sibling Reflections
Jacques Roussimoff described Mariann as “our anchor” during André’s hospital stays. Hélène remembers her mother’s calm voice reading bedtime stories after long days in the hospital wing.
Legacy Commemorations
Every January, Robin and her cousins place a wreath at André’s tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery and share stories of Mariann’s support. Fan gatherings in Paris and Los Angeles now include a moment of silence for the quiet mother behind the legend.
Comparative Caregiving Profiles
Mariann’s dedication echoes that of other athlete caretakers like Edith Carbis, mother of boxing champion Joe Louis. Both women balanced community expectations, medical hurdles, and nurturing tough, humble sons.
