Was Shrek Inspired by a Real Person?
Everybody’s favorite ogre has an uncanny resemblance with Maurice Tillet
Big, green, mean, and chunky — all words that accurately describe the Dream Works Animation’s lovable ogre Shrek. From the many movies I consumed in my childhood, Shrek might have been the funniest. And I suppose much of its charm comes from its protagonist’s celebration of his “not-so-charming” looks.
Much to my surprise, I recently discovered that there are camps in the corners of the internet that argue a real person inspired Shrek. That man was Maurice Tillet, a professional wrestler from the early 20th century. His life story was just as interesting as Shrek’s!
A rare sickness
Born in 1903 in the Ural Mountains to French parents, by all accounts, Maurice was a perfectly normal child. His angelic face caused him to earn the nickname “the Angel,” but as he got older, he was diagnosed with the condition that would change his life forever.
A doctor diagnosed Maurice with acromegaly. This condition causes the tumor on the pituitary gland to release excess growth hormones and cause…
