When you picture Andre the Giant, you probably think of the massive, beer-chugging titan from the 80s wrestling boom. Or maybe you see Fezzik from The Princess Bride, the rhyming gentle soul who just wanted a peanut. But behind the 7-foot-4 frame and the world-famous "Eighth Wonder of the World" moniker, there was a man with a surprisingly quiet—and often complicated—private life. People always ask, did Andre the Giant have kids, or was he simply too much of a physical anomaly to have a family?
The answer is yes. He had one daughter. Her name is Robin Christensen-Roussimoff.
Honestly, for decades, her existence was a bit of a mystery to the general public. While Andre was selling out Shea Stadium and headlining WrestleMania III, Robin was growing up in a world far removed from the bright lights of the squared circle. It wasn't exactly a Hallmark movie relationship. It was messy, distant, and filled with the kind of friction you’d expect when one parent is a global traveling circus act and the other is trying to raise a child in normalcy.
The Complicated Arrival of Robin Christensen-Roussimoff
Robin was born in 1979. Her mother was Jean Christensen, a woman who worked in public relations for the wrestling industry back in the 70s. It’s kinda interesting because Jean and Andre weren't exactly a "power couple." In fact, Jean later admitted there wasn't much of a romantic spark between them. They met through the business, things happened, and suddenly, Jean was pregnant.
Here’s where it gets heavy. Andre actually believed he was sterile. Because of his acromegaly—the hormonal disorder that caused his massive size—he didn't think he could father children. When Jean told him she was pregnant, he was skeptical. He even requested a paternity test to be sure. It wasn't until the results came back positive that the reality set in: the giant had a daughter.
Despite the biological confirmation, the two never lived together. Jean raised Robin primarily in the Seattle area, while Andre continued his grueling schedule of 300 days a year on the road.
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A Relationship Measured in Hours
If you’re looking for stories of Andre the Giant taking his daughter to the park or helping with homework, you won’t find many. By Robin’s own account, she only saw her father about five times in her entire life. That’s a staggering statistic when you think about it. Most of those meetings happened in courts or briefly backstage at wrestling events.
It’s easy to judge from the outside, but the 1980s wrestling world was a different beast. Andre was a massive attraction—literally. He was in constant pain, his back was failing, and he was being shuffled from city to city to keep the WWE (then WWF) machine running.
"When I saw him, he was dad—because I saw him behind the ring. I didn't watch the matches. I saw him backstage." — Robin Christensen-Roussimoff in a 2018 interview.
One of the most human stories Robin tells is about seeing The Princess Bride. Her mom took her to the theater when she was eight years old. Robin had no idea her dad was in the movie. When Andre appeared on screen as Fezzik, she apparently shouted out in the theater, "That's my dad!"
Did Andre the Giant Have Kids Who Followed in His Footsteps?
With a father that big, you’d assume Robin would be a powerhouse athlete. While she didn't become a world-renowned pro wrestler, she did inherit some of the "Giant" genes. She stands about 6 feet tall, which is tall for a woman but obviously a far cry from her father's legendary height.
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She actually tried her hand at wrestling briefly, but she realized early on that it wasn't her path. Can you imagine the pressure? Stepping into a ring when your father is arguably the most famous wrestler to ever live is a weight most people couldn't carry. Instead, she chose to protect his legacy from the sidelines.
Today, Robin is the primary gatekeeper of Andre’s estate. When you see his likeness in a video game like WWE 2K or on a vintage T-shirt, Robin is usually the one behind the scenes making sure it’s done right. She’s famously protective of his image. She doesn't want people to just see the "freak show" aspect of his size; she wants them to remember the man who was often lonely and in pain but still managed to make the world smile.
The Inheritance and the Legacy
When Andre passed away in 1993 from congestive heart failure, he left the bulk of his estate to Robin. He wanted to make sure she was taken care of, even if he couldn't be there in person during her childhood.
- Estate Management: Robin receives royalties from WWE and other licensing deals.
- Documentary Work: She was a key consultant for the 2018 HBO documentary Andre the Giant.
- Comic Cons: She frequently appears at fan conventions to meet the people who still love "Dede" (his family nickname).
It’s a bittersweet reality. She didn't get the father-daughter bond she deserved while he was alive, but she has spent her adult life getting to know him through the stories of his friends and the records of his career. She’s found a way to be close to him after he's gone.
Why This Still Matters
The question of did Andre the Giant have kids isn't just a piece of trivia for wrestling nerds. It's a reminder that even the biggest legends have a human side that often gets lost in the spectacle. Andre was a man who lived a life of isolation because of his size. He couldn't fit in a normal car, sit in a regular chair, or walk down the street without being stared at.
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Knowing he had a daughter adds a layer of tragedy to his story, but also a layer of hope. A piece of him is still here.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the man behind the myth, your best bet is to watch the HBO documentary Andre the Giant. It features extensive interviews with Robin and gives a much clearer picture of their relationship than any tabloid ever could. You can also check out the graphic novel Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven, which Robin helped bring to life to tell the story from a more personal perspective.
Next Steps for the Reader:
To truly understand the legacy Robin manages, look up the "Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal" held annually by WWE. It’s the most visible way his name stays in the modern zeitgeist. If you want to see the human side of the giant, revisit The Princess Bride and watch his performance through the eyes of a daughter who was seeing her dad on screen for the first time.