Biography
Who is Paul Wight?
Early life and background
Paul Wight was born on February 8, 1972, in Aiken, South Carolina. During his youth, he had a condition called acromegaly, which caused his body to grow at a rapid rate. By the time he was twelve years old, he already stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds. He eventually underwent surgery on his pituitary gland in the early 1990s to stop this accelerated growth.
He attended high school at W. Wyman King Academy in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. There, he participated in football and basketball. He later moved on to higher education, attending Northern Oklahoma Junior College, Wichita State University, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He played basketball at these institutions, including stints with the Wichita State Shockers and the SIU Edwardsville Cougars, though he eventually left college without earning a degree.
Professional wrestling career
Paul began his professional wrestling training at Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory. He wrestled his first match in December 1994 for the World Wrestling Association. In 1995, he signed with World Championship Wrestling and debuted as The Giant, initially billed as the son of André the Giant. He quickly became well known by challenging Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Halloween Havoc.
He won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship multiple times during his tenure there. After leaving WCW in 1999, he joined the World Wrestling Federation, later known as WWE. Over the course of his career, he held 23 total championships between the two organizations. This included winning the WWE Championship, the World Heavyweight Championship, and the ECW Championship. He is recognized as a Triple Crown and Grand Slam winner within WWE history.
Film and television work
Outside of the wrestling ring, Paul has appeared in various film and television projects. His acting credits include roles in movies such as Jingle All the Way and The Waterboy. He also appeared in WWE Studios films like the comedy Knucklehead.
His television work spans several genres. He has appeared in shows such as Star Trek: Enterprise, Royal Pains, Psych, and Burn Notice. He also starred in the Netflix sitcom titled The Big Show Show.
Physical attributes and personal life
Due to his stature, Paul has experienced practical challenges in his daily life. At his peak, he was listed at 7 feet 1 inch tall. His shoe size is 22 5E, and his chest measures 64 inches in circumference. In 2005, he began leasing his own bus and hiring a driver to handle travel because his size made standard air travel and car rentals difficult.
Before finding success in wrestling, he worked a variety of jobs to make ends meet. This included positions as a bouncer, a bounty hunter, and answering phones for a karaoke company. During his time at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Birthday and age
Paul Wight was born on February 8, 1972, which makes Paul 54 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Paul shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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