Two-time American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion who became one of the most popular Wrestlers of the 1940's. He passed away from heart disease at age 50 and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
He and his mother fled Russia for France during the Russian Revolution in 1917. He later served as an Engineer in the French Navy for five years.
He had originally intended to become a Lawyer, but his lifelong struggle with a syndrome known as acromegaly prevented him from doing so.
His birth name was Maurice Tillet.
He participated in several matches against Wrestler and actor Tor Johnson, who was billed as The Swedish Angel.
