Let's talk about giants. Acromegaly is a serious hormonal condition that causes excessive growth of bone. One particular sufferer was called Maurice Tillet. Tillet was a good-looking, highly intelligent Frenchman who aspired to write poetry and act on stage. Fate chose differently and symptoms of acromegaly began to become more apparent throughout his twenties, as his hands and feet continued to grow. Eventually his face also expanded and suffering ridicule in France, he escaped for a life in the U.S, desperate to find a vocation more tolerant. His break came when he was asked to become a wrestler under the nickname 'The French Angel' (also known less flatteringly as the 'Freak Ogre of the Ring'). His success was widespread and well-documented and he even won the American Wrestling Association World Championship in 1944.
However, his professional success belied his personal problems and his bizarre appearance turned him ever more reclusive. Eventually, deprived of the medical assistance that could have saved him, he died from heart problems caused by his condition. Actors Richard Kiel (Jaws in James Bond films) and Ted Cassidy (Lurch in 'The Addams Family') also suffer from acromegaly, though improvements in treatment have made their condition more manageable. More recently Maurice Tillet received more posthumous attention - why? Someone spotted a certain similarity between Tillet and Shrek. Make up your own minds.
Let's talk about giants. Acromegaly is a serious hormonal condition that causes excessive growth of bone. One particular sufferer was called Maurice Tillet. Tillet was a good-looking, highly intelligent Frenchman who aspired to write poetry and act on stage. Fate chose differently and symptoms of acromegaly began to become more apparent throughout his twenties, as his hands and feet continued to grow. Eventually his face also expanded and suffering ridicule in France, he escaped for a life in the U.S, desperate to find a vocation more tolerant. His break came when he was asked to become a wrestler under the nickname 'The French Angel' (also known less flatteringly as the 'Freak Ogre of the Ring'). His success was widespread and well-documented and he even won the American Wrestling Association World Championship in 1944. 
However, his professional success belied his personal problems and his bizarre appearance turned him ever more reclusive. Eventually, deprived of the medical assistance that could have saved him, he died from heart problems caused by his condition. Actors Richard Kiel (Jaws in James Bond films) and Ted Cassidy (Lurch in 'The Addams Family') also suffer from acromegaly, though improvements in treatment have made their condition more manageable. More recently Maurice Tillet received more posthumous attention - why? Someone spotted a certain similarity between Tillet and Shrek. Make up your own minds.
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