PDA

View Full Version : 7-Foot-Plus Actor Matthew McGrory Dies


edonline
08-10-2005, 08:25 PM
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050810/ap_en_mo/obit_mcgrory

7-Foot-Plus Actor Matthew McGrory Dies
By RYAN PEARSON, Associated Press Writer

Matthew McGrory, the deep-voiced 7-foot-plus actor who moved from appearances on Howard Stern's radio show to a high-profile role as a gentle giant in "Big Fish," has died. He was 32.

McGrory died Tuesday at his home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles, said director Drew Sky, who was working with him on his current movie, a biopic of wrestler-turned-actor Andre the Giant.

Paramedics determined he died of apparent natural causes, police said in a statement.

McGrory had size 29 1/2 shoes and for years held a world record for biggest feet not caused by elephantiasis. The title led to his appearances on Stern's show in the 1990s and other attention from the national media even before he became an actor. He attended law school and showed up in music videos before starting his career in Hollywood B-movies.

He played a human Sasquatch in 2001's "Bubble Boy," an alien in "Men In Black II" (2002) and Tiny in the Rob Zombie horror movies "House of 1000 Corpses" (2003) and its sequel released this year, "The Devil's Rejects."

His big break in Hollywood came in 2003 with Tim Burton-directed "Big Fish." Ewan McGregor's character refuses to be intimidated by the size of McGrory's Karl character, walking up to shake his hand.

McGrory's family and girlfriend declined immediate comment.

Sky said he first met McGrory at a bar in 2000 and had been filming "Andre: Heart of the Giant" on and off for six months. He said that McGrory, who was from West Chester, Pa., felt a connection with the man he was playing, wrestler and "The Princess Bride" actor Andre Rousimmoff, who died in 1993.

"He felt the same way, that he would do anything just to be a person of regular size one day a week, where people don't have to stare at him, where he could go see a regular movie and walk down the street," Sky said.

jeo4
08-10-2005, 09:20 PM
32...wow. :( I loved him in BIG FISH. I also enjoyed him in MIB 2. May he rest in peace.

chasingbanky
08-10-2005, 09:22 PM
One of my favorite actors to see... Seemed like a generally nice guy, and I was always dissappointed with the lack of screen time Carnivale gave him. I didn't even know he was making the Andre the giant movie, so hopefully they have enough to finish the film, and he can have one last hoorah... Best part of big fish, house of 1k corpses, and basically anything else he's been in.


RIP

thedudeman69
08-10-2005, 09:23 PM
I thought he was solid in Big Fish.

RIP

jackson13
08-10-2005, 11:13 PM
I was just gonna start a RIP 'Tiny' topic.

I loved him in the roles he was in. He was a good actor, and I'll be checking out his performance in the Andre the Giant movie.

Interesting tidbit, in one of the CKY movies, which were all filmed in and around West Chester, PA, Matthew is shown and Bam and friends are making fun of him in a weird voice. He was checking I.D.'s at a nightclub and the guys started making fun of him because of the way he looked. I like Bam and his 'crew' and all, but I hope they see this, realize who he is, and feel like assholes for making fun of him.

Good actor, RIP "Tiny".

echo_bravo
08-10-2005, 11:28 PM
Whoa! Good little tidbit on the CKY info jackson13. Which video was it?


Anyways, may he rest in peace. Also my prayers go out to his family and his girlfriend. It is a shame he had to pass away at 32. And yeah he was definitely the most enjoyable character in Big Fish, which is saying something because there were a lot of enjoyable characters.

echo_bravo
08-10-2005, 11:30 PM
Was I very curious about this guy and went to imdb to find out this:

"Trade mark
Is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest feet - size 29 1/2."

Must have been very popular with the ladies

R I P

Cronos
08-11-2005, 07:56 AM
i saw Devils Rejects a couple of nights ago and loved his part (although it was small), he was also great in Big Fish

what a shame

R.I.P.

RavenBlade
08-11-2005, 03:45 PM
RIP Matthew, my heart and prayers go out to his family, girlfriend and friends. Will miss you Big Guy. :(


Raven

poopontheshoes7
08-11-2005, 04:38 PM
Oh my God thats horrible.

I was watching House of 1000 Corpes last night and I thought about how people that big never live long lives. I cant believe it.

So sad. R.I.P.

Mr. HokeyPokey
08-11-2005, 07:29 PM
RIP, Definitally a star in his own for every movie. Ever notice how all eyes were on him rather the main charecter during his sequences. You will be missed on screen, and I'm sure off screen.

bluesbrother965
08-11-2005, 10:46 PM
I know I'm repeating what's already been said, but he was really great in Big Fish. R.I.P.

NuclearMisfit
08-12-2005, 12:07 AM
R.I.P. What a great actor and a class act. This guy was great and he had a good outlook on life. Its a big loss on hollywood. :(

Addi88
08-12-2005, 04:27 PM
Originally posted by echo_bravo
Whoa! Good little tidbit on the CKY info jackson13. Which video was it?

The footage is at the end of CKY: Landspeed. Brandon's doing the voice over.

I was over on Ryan Gee's (from the CKY vids) website and found Rake Yohn commented on this.

This is what he said:

" We were all friends with him... Matt was a real nice guy, nice to all of us. It won't be same around town without him.

He was a bouncer for a long time at 15 N. before he started to get more acting jobs in Hollywood. Some of you that have visited or lived in West Chester have probably seen him around (like me, he's kinda hard to miss).

To those who own a copy of the first CKY movie, Brandon snuck some footage of him in towards the end of the tape/DVD.

For people who have the same growth condition that he did, they usually will pass away from some health condition early than most people. I just didn't think it would be this soon."

and Rake's girlfriend:

"Matt was one of those guys that helped make this town so unique. Our friend Rich was his tattoo artist; his sister was the one who told Ted and I about what happened last night. I remember him bouncing at 15N. and having a few drinks at Jitters with him on Sunday nights. You could hear his voice from across the room even when he whispered. He was so well loved, and he gave the best hugs. I heard that he would not live long with his condition, but I never thought that this would happen this soon. Sad day today."

R.I.P. Matthew. You were awesome

Nachokoolaid
08-13-2005, 03:26 PM
Sad. The heart just can't keep up pumping to a body that big.

RIP