Throughout the years, many iconic professional wrestlers like Maurice Tillet have caught the eye of every wrestling fan. However, only one French Angel has caught the attention of the filmmakers of Shrek.
Professional wrestling has been a source of entertainment since the 1800s. Before that, there was proof of wrestling as a source of fun and sport dating back to 15,000 years ago when cave drawings were found in France depicting the sport of wrestling. Throughout school years, the Olympic games, or even mainstream TV audiences, wrestling has heavily influenced our culture.
Maurice Tillet: A Legend Is Born
Maurice Tillet, of Russian and French descent, was born in October 1903. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a railroad engineer. His face was reportedly delicate as a child, and his nickname was “Angel.” However, later, in 1917, his features changed drastically when he was diagnosed with Acromegaly.
This condition causes bone thickening and swelling. It usually stems from a benign tumor on the gland behind the base of the skull. Though Maurice would go on to live for several more decades, his facial and body structure would change completely, giving him a unique and unforgettable look.
Between his physical abnormalities and his father’s passing when he was young, Maurice had his share of hardships. However, he would overcome those challenges in a way that was larger than life. Maurice would impact the world of wrestling like no other from his era.
Life Before the Squared Circle
At first, Maurice wanted to be a lawyer and earned a law degree from the University of Toulouse. However, due to his facial features and intense voice, he thought it best to pursue another career path. He enlisted in the French Navy but soon left and began to look for something else. In addition to being part of the French Navy, Maurice tried out a few different careers, including acting in French films, and was a successful Rugby player.
Maurice began wrestling in 1937 when he met Karl Pojello in Singapore. Pojello convinced Maurice to try out wrestling, and the two men moved to Paris to train. Maurice ended up wrestling in England and France until World War II began. Due to the war, they had to move to the United States. There, they may have been on their way to Boston, Massachusetts.
As far as his personal life, there is not much to say other than that he was dedicated to wrestling and enjoyed playing chess. Though there have been rumors that he was married, there has never been any substantiating evidence that he was. Instead, he focused all of his efforts on his wrestling career.
Maurice Tillet The French Angel
Once in the United States, when Maurice began to wrestle in Boston, he quickly became a prominent competitor and landed a promoter quickly. He was often booked and promoted as the main event. The nickname “The French Angel” stuck. Remember, as a boy, he was called “the angel.” Maurice was constantly booked for events and remained undefeated for nineteen months. He was the AWA World Heavyweight Champion from 1940 to 1942. In every match he had, he did well and defeated his opponent.
Of course, one of the big attractions to Maurice was his appearance. That alone drew in the crowds, as everyone wanted to see this unique man. His large physique was perfect for a wrestler, and he was also a very talented wrestler and a great competitor.
Maurice was so renowned that imitators began to come out of the woodwork. However, no one could light a match to Maurice and his skills.
Even though he was often called “The World’s Ugliest Wrestler,” and his looks may have been part of the draw to him, there is no denying his capabilities were unmatched.
A Wrestling Innovator
His wrestling career did not last very long, but it is one of the most acclaimed wrestling careers ever. Between his looks and his skills, Maurice Tillet is unforgettable. In 1944, his wrestling streak ended, and unfortunately, his condition began to catch up with him and affect his well-being. He continued to try to wrestle until 1953. His last known wrestling match was in Singapore, where it all started. At the time, Maurice was working for the National Wrestling Alliance. He agreed to lose to another wrestler named Bert Assirati. Maurice lost to Assirati.
To this day, wrestling fans know the name Maurice Tillet. You can even check out a match he had in 1940 on YouTube. This particular match was Maurice Tillet versus Luigi Bacigalupi. During another wrestling match filmed in 1940, Tillet and his opponent, the California “Grappler,” used several techniques in modern wrestling today. It is for these reasons he’s considered wrestlers, a wrestler.
Reportedly, there were only three matches ever filmed. Another one you can find online is Maurice wrestling at the Hammond Indiana Civic Center in 1940. He was wrestling against Len Macaluso, a football player and wrestler. Maurice was commemorated for his legacy while he was still alive when, in 1950, a sculptor in Chicago made several plaster busts of him to honor his career.
Heartache and Heartbreak
A few months before his death, a friend and wrestler asked Maurice if he could make molds of his head. Maurice agreed to the project, which involved death masks. One was donated to the York Barbell Museum and USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame. The other two masks that were made were given to Maurice’s close friends. One was donated to the Warren Anatomical Museum, and the other was given to the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
Maurice did not live much past the time his wrestling career ended. In 1954, he died of a heart attack. He had just heard that his friend and former trainer Karl Pojello had died. It is said that this devastated Maurice so much he died because of the news. Understandably, such news would be heartbreaking to Maurice since Karl had not only started Maruice’s career in wrestling but also allowed him to live with him and his wife. He was only 51 at the time of his death. The two men were buried together with a gravestone that reads,” Friends Whom Even Death Couldn’t Part.”
Maurice Lives On
The man and legend of Maurice Tillet lived on through a few fights filmed, sculptors, and the movie Shrek. Dreamworks has never confirmed that Maurice inspired the lovable, silly character of Shrek, but they have also never denied it. Looking at a photo of Maurice and a screen frame of Shrek, you are bound to see the similarities, especially the side profile of his face.
The Legendary Maurice Tillet is a name that lives on to this day. Whether you are an avid wrestling fan or only know a few names here and there, Maurice Tillet, at the very least, knows his face. His skills and wrestling success were unstoppable and undoubtedly memorable.
