#3: The French Angel
Despite his intimidating size, Shrek is a lovable ogre who is quite friendly. This may seem out of the left field, but Shrek’s fictional character was actually inspired by a famous pro wrestler nicknamed “The French Angel.” Morris Tile was a popular wrestler in the 1940s and stood out because of his memorable physical appearance.
Morris (who was actually Russian, not French) was diagnosed with acromegaly, a condition that causes atypical growth in areas like the hands, feet, and face. Although Morris successfully studied to be a lawyer, he felt his appearance wouldn’t allow him to succeed. He instead turned to wrestling and found much success. He was a beloved star, and it seems that the creators of Shrek paid homage to Morris with this sweet character.