The Eighth Wonder of the World

I miss Andre the Giant. He was one of those rare pop culture figures who achieves true legend status during his lifetime. He was, of course, an unparalleled wrestler and showman. He was also a beloved actor. What you may not know is that he was also a drinker of mythic proportions.

Check out this amazing article about his drinking prowess from Modern Drunkard magazine. It's full of stunning anecdotes like this one:

"You won’t find it in the Guinness Book of World Records, but Andre the Giant holds the world record for the largest number of beers consumed in a single sitting. These were standard 12-ounce bottles of beer, nothing fancy, but during a six-hour period Andre drank 119 of them. It was one of the few times Andre got drunk enough to pass out, which he did in a hallway at his hotel. His companions, quite drunk themselves, couldn’t move the big man. Fearing trouble with cops, they stole a piano cover from the lounge and draped it over Andre’s inert form. He slept peacefully until morning, unmolested by anyone. Perhaps the hotel people thought he was a piece of furniture."

Today Andre lives on in the hearts of millions and as a pop art icon. Andre the Giant has a posse, indeed.