Matthew McGrory
{{Not to be confused with|Matt McGorry}}{{short description|American actor (1973–2005)}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Matthew McGrory.jpg
| caption = McGrory at the world premiere of Big Fish in 2003
| name = Matthew McGrory
| birth_date = {{birth date|1973|5|17}}
| birth_place = West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|08|09|1973|5|17|mf=y}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| education = West Chester University
Widener University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1994–2005
| website = http://matthewmcgrory.com/
| height = {{height|ft=7|in=6}}
}}
Matthew McGrory (May 17, 1973 – August 9, 2005) was an American actor. At {{height|ft=7|in=6}}, he was recognized as the tallest actor by Guinness World Records. He portrayed physically imposing characters throughout his career, including Tiny Firefly in the horror films House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil's Rejects (2005) and Karl the Giant in the fantasy comedy-drama Big Fish (2003). McGrory also held the Guinness World Records for biggest feet and longest toe.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1496087/Matthew-McGrory.html|title=Matthew McGrory|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2005-08-12|access-date=2018-09-30|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-toe|title=Longest toe|work=Guinness World Records|access-date=2018-09-30|language=en-GB}}
Early life
McGrory was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Maureen McGrory.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-11-me-mcgrory11-story.html |title=Matthew McGrory, 32; Actor Played Key Role in Movie 'Big Fish' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2005-08-11 |accessdate=2017-05-27}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/high-class-vol-61-no-2/ |title=High Class |publisher=People.com |date=2004-01-19 |accessdate=2017-05-27}} He was over 5 feet (150 cm) tall by the time he completed kindergarten.[http://matthewmcgrory.com/media/news.wmv News Clip], WPLG Miami, Matthewmcgrory.com McGrory grew to the height of {{height|ft=7|in=6}} and had size 29.5 shoes.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-13 |title='Big Fish' Actor Matthew McGrory Dies |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/big-fish-actor-matthew-mcgrory-dies |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Associated Press |language=en-US |via=Fox News}} He studied pre-law at Widener University. He also studied Criminal Justice at West Chester University.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Career
McGrory's large size led to appearances on daytime talk shows hosted by Maury Povich, Jenny Jones and Oprah Winfrey and in music videos including Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man" and the 1999 Marilyn Manson "Coma White"{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2005-08-11 |title=Matthew McGrory, Big Man In 'Big Fish' And 'Devil's Rejects,' Dead At 32 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/94s6sd/matthew-mcgrory-big-man-in-big-fish-and-devils-rejects-dead-at-32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074149/https://www.mtv.com/news/94s6sd/matthew-mcgrory-big-man-in-big-fish-and-devils-rejects-dead-at-32 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=MTV |language=en}} (and God Is in the T.V. VHS cover). He can also be seen in Blondie's video for their 2003 hit "Good Boys."
Due to his extraordinary height and deep voice, he appeared on The Howard Stern Show[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/15/arts/matthew-mcgrory-32-a-film-actor-typecast-as-a-giant.html "Matthew McGrory, 32, a Film Actor Typecast as a Giant"]. New York Times (Associated Press). August 15, 2005. beginning in December 1996.{{cite web |last=Dempster |first=Michael |title=The Rundown - Wack Pack profiles |url=http://www.howardstern.com/archive.hs?h=1266 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530232423/http://www.howardstern.com/archive.hs?h=1266 |archivedate=2008-05-30 |publisher=The Howard Stern Radio Show}}[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1496087/Matthew-McGrory.html "Obituaries: Matthew McGrory"]. The Daily Telegraph (UK). August 13, 2005. He was the first "Bigfoot" in Stern's Wack Pack. He has appeared in movies, often cast as a giant, in films such as Bubble Boy (2001), House of 1000 Corpses (2003), Big Fish (2003), and The Devil's Rejects (2005). Television appearances included Malcolm in the Middle, Charmed, and as a freak show performer during the Great Depression in HBO's period series Carnivàle.
Death
On August 9, 2005, while living in Sherman Oaks, California, with his girlfriend Melissa, McGrory died at age 32 of congestive heart failure.
The DVD release of Rob Zombie's film The Devil's Rejects was dedicated to McGrory’s memory.The Devil's Rejects (2005). Dir. Rob Zombie. Cinelamda, Lionsgate. Dedication.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Coma White | Gaunt | Marilyn Manson - Coma White (Official Music Video) |
| 2000 | The Dead Hate the Living! | Gaunt | |
| 2001 | Bubble Boy | Human Sasquatch | |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Tall Alien | Uncredited |
| rowspan="3"| 2003 | House of 1000 Corpses | Tiny Firefly | |
| Big Fish | Karl the Giant | ||
| Haggard: The Movie | Doorman at 15 North Cafe | Uncredited{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzsoJRu2i-o&t=243s&ab_channel=RandomVideoCircus | title=Bam Margera's Hometown of West Chester Explored: Part 1 | website=YouTube | date=11 February 2022 }} | |
| 2003–2004 | Charmed | Ogre | 2 episodes |
| 2003–2005 | Carnivàle | Giant | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2004 | Planet of the Pitts | Toto | |
| Big Time | Richard Blunderbore | ||
| rowspan="3"| 2005 | Constantine | Demon | Uncredited |
| The Devil's Rejects | Tiny Firefly | ||
| ShadowBox | Hort Willows | ||
| 2017 | The Evil Within | Giant at Overlook Cafe | Posthumous role, dedicated to McGrory; filmed in 2002 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Find a Grave|11516603}}
- {{IMDb name|0570067|Matthew McGrory}}
- [https://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:296335 Matthew McGrory] at Allmovie
- [http://www.matthewmcgrory.com/ MatthewMcGrory.com]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGrory, Matthew}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Male actors from Pennsylvania
Category:People from West Chester, Pennsylvania
Category:People with gigantism