I've stumbled across several posts about Maurice Tillet recently which are dubbing him the "real Shrek" which is a shame as they're as misrepresentative of the man as Irving Penn's "beauty & the beast" photographs (see above).

Born in France(1903) and a keen poet, he spoke 14 languages and was eager to become an actor yet in his twenties, he developed acromegaly which caused his bones to grow out of control leading to his disfigured appearance.

Moving to the US, he became a wrestler as this fit his outward appearance. Known as "The French Angel", he won the American Wrestling Association World championship in 1944 and soon after became a recluse.

Among the few who he befriended was businessman Patrick Kelly with whom he would regularly play chess. He died in 1954 of heart disease in Massachusetts.

** If anyone has access to any of his poetry or know where samples can be found, send me a message.