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Maurice TilletFrench wrestler who suffered from acromegaly and later became the prototype of Shrek
Date of Birth: 23.10.1903
Country:  France |
Content:
- Biography of Maurice Tillet
- Diagnosis and Wrestling Career
- Championship and Popularity
- Declining Health and Legacy
Biography of Maurice Tillet
Early Life and CareerMaurice Tillet, also known as "The French Angel," was a French wrestler who suffered from acromegaly. He was born in Russia, in the Ural region, to French parents. Tillet's mother was a teacher, while his father worked on the railway. Sadly, his father passed away when Maurice was young. In his childhood, before the disease affected his bones, he was given the nickname "The Angel" due to his angelic appearance. In 1917, during the revolution, Maurice and his mother moved to Reims, France, in search of a new life.
Diagnosis and Wrestling Career
At the age of 17, Tillet noticed strange protrusions on his legs, arms, and head, which greatly disturbed him. A visit to the doctor confirmed his fears - Maurice was diagnosed with acromegaly, a condition caused by the dysfunction of the pituitary gland. This condition is characterized by the excessive growth of bone tissue and thickening, and in his early years, it also led to gigantism, a condition later suffered by the famous wrestler Andre the Giant. Maurice had dreamt of becoming a lawyer, but his illness interrupted his plans. However, he was drafted into the army and served five years in the navy.
In February 1937, while in Singapore, Tillet met wrestler Carlo Pojello, who convinced him that wrestling was the perfect career for someone like Maurice. Pojello also highlighted the financial benefits of the sport. Tillet agreed, and they traveled to Paris to start training. Before the outbreak of World War II, Maurice wrestled in France and England for two years, enjoying relative success.
Championship and Popularity
The war forced Tillet to relocate to the United States, where promoter Paul Bowser in Boston decided to make him the main wrestler. The French Angel quickly gained popularity and became a dominant force in the ring. For 19 months, he remained undefeated and in May 1940, he became the world champion in the super heavyweight division, holding the title until May 1942. Maurice's success led to many imitators from Russia, Sweden, Poland, Greece, and he even faced off against the Swedish Angel Tor Johnson several times.
Declining Health and Legacy
In 1945, Tillet's health began to deteriorate, and he was no longer positioned as an invincible wrestler. In his final match in Singapore on February 14, 1953, he lost to English wrestler Bert Assirati. In 1950, a Chicago sculptor named Louis Linck created several plaster busts in memory of Tillet's wrestling career to support him. One of these busts remains in the Museum of Natural Sciences in Chicago. Maurice Tillet was not only an excellent wrestler but also a talented actor, poet, and polyglot. However, his disease hindered his achievements. He passed away on September 4, 1954, in France due to heart disease and was buried in the Lithuanian National Cemetery, twenty miles from Chicago.
According to unofficial reports, Maurice Tillet served as the inspiration for the famous animated ogre named Shrek, whose full-length animated film was released in 2001.
