The Story of The Real life Shrek- Maurice Tillet

Maurice Tillet was a professional wrestler who was born in Russia but later became a French citizen. He was best known by his ring name, The French Angel.

Maurice Tillet suffered from acromegaly, a medical condition that caused abnormal growth in his hands, feet, and facial features, resulting in an enormous and distinctive appearance. It is speculated that his unique appearance served as the inspiration for the character of Shrek.

During the early 1940s, Maurice Tillet was a prominent attraction in professional wrestling and drew large crowds to his matches. He was a two-time World Heavyweight Champion in the American Wrestling Association, which was run by Paul Bowser in Boston.

The Beginning

Maurice Tillet was born in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1904 to French parents. As a child, he was nicknamed "Angel" due to his cherubic appearance. Unfortunately, Tillet's father passed away when he was very young, leaving his mother to raise him alone. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, Tillet and his mother relocated from the Ural Mountains to Reims, France.

At the age of 17, Maurice Tillet began to notice unusual swelling in his feet, hands, and head, which could not be traced to any specific cause. After consulting with a doctor, he was diagnosed with acromegaly, a rare condition that arises from an excess secretion of human growth hormone (HGH) by the pituitary gland.

The condition often results in the enlargement of extremities, sleep apnea, and a significant alteration in one's physical appearance. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happened to Tillet, who saw a complete change in his physical appearance as a result of acromegaly.

Despite facing growing concerns that his appearance would prevent him from achieving success, Maurice Tillet managed to obtain a degree in law from the University of Toulouse. However, he never pursued his dream of becoming a lawyer. Instead, he joined the French navy and served as an engineer for five years.

In 1937, Tillet traveled to Singapore, where he met Karl Pojello, a professional wrestler who convinced him to enter the world of wrestling. With that decision, Tillet's legendary career as a professional wrestler began.

Tillet's Professional wrestling Career

Maurice Tillet initially trained as a wrestler in France, where he began his career. However, due to World War II, Tillet was forced to emigrate to the United States, where he arrived in 1939. One year later, he caught the attention of Boston-based promoter Paul Bowser. Although largely forgotten today, Bowser was a prominent wrestling promoter of his time, often compared to Vince McMahon in modern times.

Recognizing the potential in Maurice Tillet, Paul Bowser began booking him in a series of main event bouts. For 19 consecutive months, Tillet, wrestling under the name "The French Angel," was virtually unbeatable, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Champion title in May 1940, which he held for over two years. In 1942, Tillet added the World Heavyweight Championship in Montreal, Canada to his list of accomplishments.

However, by the time Tillet won his second World Heavyweight Championship, he was already experiencing failing health. Moreover, several imitators had begun to emerge, diluting the impact of his brand. Despite this, Tillet's legacy as "The Ugliest Man in Wrestling" remained intact.

As early as 1945, Maurice Tillet's health started to deteriorate, and he was no longer marketed as being unbeatable. His final wrestling match took place on February 14, 1953, in Singapore. At that time, he was wrestling for The National Wrestling Alliance Mid South Area, which was known as Tri-State and owned by Leroy McGuirk. In that match, Tillet agreed to lose to Bert Assirati.

Death

Maurice Tillet passed away on September 4, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. He suffered a heart attack after learning about the death of his friend and former trainer, Karl Pojello.

Maurice Tillet and Karl Pojello were buried together at the Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice, Illinois, located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Chicago. Their gravestone bears the inscription "Friends Whom Even Death Couldn't Part."