The French Angel
Shrek is a lovable ogre who, despite his intimidating size, is actually quite friendly. This may seem out of the left field, but the fictional character of Shrek 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 like his appearance wouldn’t allow him to be successful. 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.