In Remembrance: Matthew McGrory

     Matthew McGrory, the over seven-foot tall actor who appeared in several films including Big Fish (2003) and The Devil’s Rejects (2005), has passed away on August 9, 2005 in Los Angeles, Ca. He was 32.

     Born on May 17, 1973 in West Chester, Pa, McGrory weighed 15 pounds at birth and measured 24 inches long. By the time he graduated kindergarten, McGrory was over five foot tall. He first came to national prominence on Howard Stern’s syndicated radio show, where his deep voice and size 29-and-a-half shoe size earned him the nickname “Bigfoot.”

     Despite attending law school at Widener University, McGrory decided to pursue acting. At almost seven and a half feet tall, McGrory found himself offered roles that almost strictly played off of his height. He made his film debut in the 2000 low-budget horror film The Dead Hate The Living!, followed by appearances in Bubble Boy (2001) and Men In Black II (2002).

     McGrory’s first major role was as a member of a hillbilly family of serial killers in House Of 1000 Corpses (2003) and its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects, released earlier this year. His other major role was that of the gentle Karl in director Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2004).

     McGrory is currently listed in the Guinness Book Of World Records for having the largest feet and being “The Tallest Actor.”

     McGrory was currently working on Andre: Heart Of A Giant, a bio-pic of wrestler-turned-actor Andre The Giant with director Drew Skye. His last completed film was Shadow Box, set to be released at the end of November.