# Who's the stereotypical "huge guy" in popular culture today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144 "2024-01-16T04:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/21 "2024-01-16T14:34:59Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > But they’re both huge, not tall You don’t have to be tall to be “the big guy”. Look at Arnold. He’s barely 6 feet. But he _acts_ big. You get the Terminator roles when you act like one. I think Mr Rock is the current “big guy”. He has Arnold’s send of humor and comic timing. He seems approachable. He even made _Baywatch_ a fun movie. Dave Bautista could be, but he looks like I should be afraid of him. He did a good acting job in Glass Onion, but now I hate him. What a jerk his character was! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/22 "2024-01-16T14:49:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Shaq is actually taller than Andre ever was. According to wiki, Andre was 7’4" and Shaq is 7’1". ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/23 "2024-01-16T15:21:45Z")
Andre was not 7’4" tall. It is said that if he could straighten his spine he might have been that tall, but he couldn’t. He could always walk under a 7’ high bar. If you stretched my spine until I had an extra 3/8" between each of my vertebrae I’d be 7 feet tall but I’d be in a lot of pain just like Andre would if you straightened out his spine somehow. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/24 "2024-01-16T15:32:19Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Smart, funny dude. If you’re talking about Paul Wight, aka The Big Show, just an aside: His 2020 Netflix sitcom _The Big Show Show_ was fun, heartwarming couch candy during the early part of the COVID pandemic. For viewers that can no longer abide 1980s-90s style sitcoms, it won’t have appeal. But for others, it’s worth a click. I would love to see Wight get a second turn in something with a profile and some marketing behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/25 "2024-01-16T15:37:08Z")
He also showed some good comedy on SNL I think. It must be frustrating to always be sold as “the brute.” ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/26 "2024-01-16T16:18:32Z")
The actor (Paul Benedict) who played the nextdoor neighbor on _The Jeffersons_ had acromegaly, but it was undiagnosed. Until a doctor was in the audience at a play Benedict was in. The doctor went backstage afterwards and told the Benedict to see a doctor about the condition. He had treatment and avoided most of the serious issues with the disease. He did have a large and rather oddly shaped face, though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/27 "2024-01-16T17:38:55Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Dave Bautista could be, but he looks like I should be afraid of him. For the really big dudes, that’s often a large part of the roles they play. They _should_ look scary / dangerous. They’re the berserker personal combat enforcer dude against whom mere mortals stand no chance. One who looked like a 7’ version of the late Mr. Rogers, complete with red cardigan and gentle measured voice, wouldn’t cut it. Not at all. But it would be funny to see some of the current berserkers play the Mr. Rogers role in e.g. an SNL skit. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/28 "2024-01-16T17:41:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For the really big dudes, that’s often a large part of the roles they play. I kinda meant, like, when standing around the craft services table on set. 🙂 Arnold and Mr Rock seems like happy guys. Let’s do lunch! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/29 "2024-01-16T17:48:47Z")
Just don’t get stuck with the check. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/30 "2024-01-16T18:14:17Z")
You could make a case for Brian Posehn and Steve Agee, who played gay lovers in The Sarah Silverman Program. There’s also Kevin Brown and Grizz Chapman, gentle giants who were part of Tracy Jordan’s entourage. They’re not as imposing as Andre, but they each take up considerable amounts of space. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/31 "2024-01-16T18:33:41Z")
Sidebar - when in college, my wife worked security for a wrestling show involving Andre. Her impression was extremely negative - even compared to the other wrestlers. I believe the more polite descriptors would be along the lines of “unbelievably stupid, rude, and smelly.” ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/32 "2024-01-16T18:57:11Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Carel Struycken. He was Lurch in the two 90s Addams Family films. 7 feet tall. > > He’s old now. Just last night we saw Struycken in Gerald’s Game, a 2017 Netflix thriller. He was still scary enough in it (with plenty of makeup) to give my wife proto-nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/33 "2024-01-16T20:32:05Z")
Yao Ming and Shaq. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/34 "2024-01-16T20:37:53Z")
I think the fact that there are so many names being put up, that it proves the negative: There is no “one” big guy that plays the cultural role that Andre filled in his time. When I was a kid _everyone_ knew him, and there just weren’t any other guys that you’d even try to compare to him. None of the names suggested so far are so well-known that they pretty much exclude every other guy from the “Big Guy” discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/35 "2024-01-16T20:42:20Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > Shaq is actually taller than Andre ever was. > > According to wiki, Andre was 7’4" and Shaq is 7’1". > [@TriPolar](#): > > Andre was not 7’4" tall. Andre with Wilt Chamberlain & Arnold in '83: [![](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-137383cff309ebf2c1500d79d22805f7-lq) ](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-137383cff309ebf2c1500d79d22805f7-lq) No way was Andre taller than 7’1" Wilt without camera tricks being involved. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/36 "2024-01-16T20:58:23Z")
Andre looked more like 6’11" next to the Six Million Dollar Man in '76. Lee Majors is listed as being 5’11". [![](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/93748058/photo/the-six-million-dollar-man.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=gPdu9kOHtBcK664-J-aZ8nq57v9NKxct8Ey8uSJVF_o=) ](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/93748058/photo/the-six-million-dollar-man.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=gPdu9kOHtBcK664-J-aZ8nq57v9NKxct8Ey8uSJVF_o=) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/37 "2024-01-16T21:11:20Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Andre with Wilt Chamberlain & Arnold in '83: I’m most likely taller by a couple inches than Arnold. I’ve never felt so short! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/38 "2024-01-16T23:00:09Z")
That picture shows Mr. the Giant as taller than Mr. Chamberlain. Don’t just look at where their heads are; look at their feet, too. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/39 "2024-01-17T01:10:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > look at their feet, too. I did. Wilt’s feet place him further back from the camera, approximately the distance of a Schwarzenegger foot. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/40 "2024-01-17T01:22:17Z")
I have to say that Shaq is the stereotypical “huge guy” based on hearing him referenced at times as the default reference when you want to talk about someone big. He’s in the public consciousness due to his ubiquity; sports, movies, television, commercials. He’s everywhere and a household name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144.md?page=3)