AnnaK

Maurice Tillet, the man who was the rumored inspiration behind the animated character Shrek, was a Russian-born French professional wrestler. He was better known by his ring name, The French Angel, and was a leading box office draw in the early 1940s. Tillet was twice the World Heavyweight Champion in the American Wrestling Association, which was run by Paul Bowser in Boston. At the age of 17, Tillet noticed that his face and hands were growing out of proportion with the rest of his body. By the time he was 19, he had been diagnosed with Acromegaly. This diagnosis in 1922 must have dramatically changed his perspective on the world. The term "acromegaly" was first established by Pierre Marie in 1886, along with a clear clinical diagnosis and descriptions based on two patients with the characteristic presentation. Autopsy findings consistently revealed a correlation between acromegaly and pituitary enlargement. Acromegaly is most often caused by a benign or non-cancerous tumor on the pituitary gland but can also be caused by tumors in other parts of the body that affect the growth hormone. Despite the physical difficulties he faced, Tillet continued to pursue his dreams as a lawyer and actor. It was said that he could speak 14 languages. In the 1940s, Tillet rose to fame after moving to America and taking an interest in professional wrestling, which eventually led to a successful acting career. Early articles mention that Maurice had dated and had girlfriends. However, his attitude towards dating and women underwent a radical shift in the 1940s. An article from the Bakersfield Californian on July 17, 1941, quoted him as saying, "He would like to marry some rich pretty girl, settle down to a life of ease and travel. So he said last night, through an Interpreter. He's a bit choosy about the girl, as she would be undoubtedly if she picked him." In contrast, an article from the Evening Independent on May 10, 1947, described him as unmarried and stating that girls would only want to marry him "for his money." Maurice Tillet passed away on September 4, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. He suffered a heart attack upon hearing the news of his friend and former trainer Karl Pojello's death.

Happy Birthday to my favorite girl @AnnaKSchaefer 🥳🤩❤️😍 Thank you for all the memories and for being my friend! Let’s make some more!!!