Robert Maillet

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Robert Maillet

|birthname = Robert Maillet

|image = Robert Maillet.jpg

|caption = Maillet at the Monster Brawl premiere in 2011

|names = Acadian Giant
Giant Kurgan
Goliath El Gigante
Goliath The Kurrgan
Goliath Kurrgan
The Interrogator
Kurgan
Kurrgan
Kurrgan The Interrogator

|height = 7 ft 0 in{{cite web |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Kurrgan |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/kurrgan.html |website=canoe.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224120838/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/kurrgan.html|archive-date=February 24, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2022}}

|weight = 350 lb

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|10|26}}

|death_date =

|spouse = {{marriage|Laura Eaton|June 13, 1997}}

|children = 1

|birth_place = Georgetown,
Ontario, Canada

|billed = South Africa
(as The Interrogator)

|trainer = Stephen Petitpas
Paul Peller
Bret Hart
Leo Burke{{Cite book|last=Hart|first=Bret|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jAe6ijqeaswC&dq=kurrgan&pg=PA405|title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling|date=2009-02-24|publisher=Random House of Canada|isbn=978-0-307-37146-1|language=en}}

|debut = 1989

|retired = 2011

|}}

Robert Maillet (born October 26, 1969) is a Canadian actor and retired professional wrestler. He is known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1997 to 1999, where he performed under the ring name Kurrgan and was a member of The Truth Commission and The Oddities. He is also known for his roles in films such as 300 (2006), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Immortals (2011), Pacific Rim (2013), Brick Mansions (2014), Hercules (2014), and Deadpool 2 (2018).

Early life

Maillet was born in Georgetown, Ontario, northwest of Toronto.{{Cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/robert.maillet.3?fref=ts |title = Aanmelden bij Facebook|website = Facebook}} Less than a year later, his family moved to Ste-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick, a French-Acadian village where he grew up.{{cite web |website=WizardWorld.com |url=http://www.wizardworld.com/robertmaillet.html |title=Robert Maillet |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180705/http://www.wizardworld.com/robertmaillet.html }}

Professional wrestling career

= Early career (1989–1997) =

He began wrestling as the Acadian Giant in the early 90s.{{Cite book|last=III|first=Harris M. Lentz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjGSCgAAQBAJ&dq=kurrgan&pg=PA198|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|date=2015-09-15|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0505-0|language=en}} Maillet made an initial appearance in the WWF on November 11, 1991, when he wrestled as The Cajun Giant, defeating Bob Bradley in a dark match at a television taping in Utica, NY.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/91.htm |title=1991 |website = history of WWE |access-date=November 22, 2019}} He worked for Super World of Sports as Giant Goliath in 1991.{{cite web|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-25-1991-wrestling-observer-newsletter-full-wrestlemania-card|title=February 25, 1991 Observer Newsletter: Full Wrestlemania card released|author=Observer Staff|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|website=F4WOnline.com|date=February 25, 1991|access-date=December 8, 2019}} {{subscription required}} He also spent some time working for the Japanese W*ING promotion as Goliath El Gigante.

= World Wrestling Federation (1997–1999) =

He was signed to the WWF in 1997, alongside The Jackyl, as a member of The Truth Commission. The group was sent to the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) before being called up to the main WWF roster in June of that year, where Maillet's ring name evolved into The Interrogator and later to Kurrgan (whose name was inspired by The Kurgan in November 1997, and was occasionally referred to as Kurrgan the Interrogator on television). Under the tutelage of The Jackyl, a charismatic cult leader, Kurrgan was a heel known for applying the Iron Claw to his opponents and not breaking the hold until The Jackyl slapped him across the face.{{Cite book|last=Sidgwick|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgGhDgAAQBAJ&dq=kurrgan&pg=PA53|title=Development Hell: The NXT Story|date=2017-03-20|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-326-97167-0|language=en}}

After The Truth Commission disbanded in March 1998, Maillet (now billed simply as Kurrgan) continued as a singles wrestler managed by The Jackyl. He later went on to be part of The Oddities, The Jackyl's new stable; however, once The Jackyl was removed as the advisor of The Oddities and replaced by the Insane Clown Posse, The Oddities turned face{{Cite book|last=Norman|first=Jason|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78f3DwAAQBAJ&dq=kurrgan&pg=PT274|title=Actors in Action: How Our Favorite Action Stars Became Their Characters|publisher=BearManor Media|language=en}} and became fan favourites.{{Cite book|last=Reynolds|first=R. D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&dq=kurrgan&pg=PA347|title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!|date=2010-11-16|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-287-3|language=en}} Kurrgan was taken off WWF TV in February 1999 and was later released that November.

= Mexico and Canada (1999–2001) =

After WWF, Kurrgan worked in Mexico CMLL as Gigante Kurrgan. He also worked in the Independents in Canada working in Nova Scotia, Calgary and British Columbia. By the end of 2001, Kurrgan took a hiatus from wrestling.

= Later career (2005–2011) =

Maillet returned to wrestling working for Jacques Rougeau's wrestling events in Quebec as Kurgan. On July 8, 2005, he lost to Jim Duggan in Montreal.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} He continued working in Quebec and other parts of Canada until he retired from wrestling in 2011.

Acting career

Maillet appeared in the 2006 film 300, an adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name.{{Cite web|title=Where Are They Now?: Kurrgan|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/where-are-they-now-kurrgan|website=WWE|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106232205/https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/where-are-they-now-kurrgan|archive-date=6 November 2013|access-date=3 October 2022}} He played the Über-Immortal, a savage berserker who was part of the enemy's imperial guard.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/n-b-wrestler-makes-hollywood-debut-in-300-1.668686 | work=CBC News | title=N.B. wrestler makes Hollywood debut in 300 | date=March 9, 2007 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109012228/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2007/03/09/nb-maillet300.html | archive-date=9 January 2012 }} In November 2008, during a fight scene for the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, he accidentally punched Robert Downey Jr. in the face, bloodying Downey and knocking him down.{{cite news|author=Yvon Gauvin|title=New Brunswick actor knocks down star|work=Times & Transcript|date=January 5, 2009|url=http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/529930|access-date=January 5, 2009}} Downey later stated on an episode of the Late Show with David Letterman that Maillet was "10 times more upset about it" than he was.{{Cite video|title=Robert Downey Jr. on David Letterman|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzfsSAlRLco |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jzfsSAlRLco |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|series=Late Show with David Letterman|work=CBS|date=December 16, 2009}}{{cbignore}}

Maillet played a Russian professional boxer who takes a dive in the 2011 film The Big Bang. Later that year, he appeared in the film Monster Brawl as Frankenstein in a wrestling tournament of eight classic monsters that fight to the death.{{IMDb title|1716753|Monster Brawl}} He played Polyphemus in the 2013 film Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Blackwell in the 2013 film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and the executioner in the 2014 film Hercules.

He also had a recurring role on the Syfy original series Haven billed as a "Heavy", a thug for the series antagonist. In 2018, Maillet had a small part in the superhero film Deadpool 2 as Sluggo, a mutant mercenary who is in prison alongside the titular character.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/robert-maillet-deadpool-actor-new-brunswick-1.4677557|title=Actor, former wrestler Robert Maillet lands role in Deadpool 2|last=Blanch|first=Vanessa|date=May 26, 2018|publisher=CBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120024131/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/robert-maillet-deadpool-actor-new-brunswick-1.4677557|archive-date=20 January 2022}} He also had a part in the 2018 Netflix film Game Over, Man!. He appeared in the 2020 thriller film Becky alongside Kevin James, in a rare non-comedic role.

Personal life

Maillet has been married to Laura Eaton since June 14, 1997. He has two stepdaughters, as well as a daughter adopted from Ethiopia. Being an Acadian, his first language is French and he is conversant in English.{{cite web |url= https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2012/01/16/mat-matters-when-a-giant-came-for-dinner/ |title= When a giant came for dinner |first= Greg|last= Oliver|work=slam.canoe.ca |date= January 16, 2012|access-date=October 3, 2022}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Director ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2006 \| 300 \| Über-Immortal \| Zack Snyder \| MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (vs. Gerard Butler)
2009 \| Sherlock Holmes \| Dredger \| Guy Ritchie \|
rowspan=3\| 2011 \| data-sort-value="Big Bang, The" \| The Big Bang \| Anton Protopov \| Tony Krantz \|
Monster Brawl \| Frankenstein \| Jesse Thomas Cook \|
Immortals \| Minotaur \| Tarsem Singh \|
2012 \| data-sort-value="Little Bit Zombie, A" \| A Little Bit Zombie \| Terry Thompkins \| Casey Walker \|
rowspan=5\| 2013 \| data-sort-value="Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The" \| The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones \| Samuel Blackwell \| Harald Zwart \|
Septic Man \| Giant \| Jesse T. Cook \|
data-sort-value="Young and Prodigious Spivet, The" \| The Young and Prodigious Spivet \| Giant Hobo \| Jean-Pierre Jeunet \| Uncredited
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters \| Polyphemus & Laistrygonian \| Thor Freudenthal \| Polyphemus voiced by Ron Perlman
Pacific Rim \| Lt. Aleksei Kaidonovsky \| Guillermo del Toro \|
rowspan=2\| 2014 \| Brick Mansions \| Yeti \| Camille Delamarre \|
Hercules \| Executioner \| Brett Ratner \|
2015 \| Rabid Dogs \| Bear Man #2 \| Éric Hannezo \|
2016 \| Killer Waves \| Barracuda Ben \| James Balsamo \|
2018 \| Game Over, Man! \| Tall Thug \| Kyle Newacheck \|
2018 \| Deadpool 2 \| Sluggo \| David Leitch \|
2019 \| Polar \| Karl \| Jonas Åkerlund \|
2020 \| Becky \| Apex \| Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion \|
2020 \| Vicious Fun \| Mike \| Cody Callahan \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Director

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2006

| 300

| Über-Immortal

| Zack Snyder

| MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (vs. Gerard Butler)

2009

| Sherlock Holmes

| Dredger

| Guy Ritchie

rowspan=3| 2011

| data-sort-value="Big Bang, The" | The Big Bang

| Anton Protopov

Monster Brawl

Immortals

2012

| data-sort-value="Little Bit Zombie, A" | A Little Bit Zombie

| Terry Thompkins

| Casey Walker

rowspan=5| 2013

| data-sort-value="Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The" | The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

| Samuel Blackwell

| Harald Zwart

Septic Man

| Giant

| Jesse T. Cook

data-sort-value="Young and Prodigious Spivet, The" | The Young and Prodigious Spivet

| Giant Hobo

| Jean-Pierre Jeunet

| Uncredited

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

| Polyphemus & Laistrygonian

| Thor Freudenthal

| Polyphemus voiced by Ron Perlman

Pacific Rim

| Lt. Aleksei Kaidonovsky

| Guillermo del Toro

rowspan=2| 2014

| Brick Mansions

| Yeti

| Camille Delamarre

Hercules

| Executioner

| Brett Ratner

2015

| Rabid Dogs

| Bear Man #2

| Éric Hannezo

2016

| Killer Waves

| Barracuda Ben

| James Balsamo

2018

| Game Over, Man!

| Tall Thug

| Kyle Newacheck

2018

| Deadpool 2

| Sluggo

| David Leitch

2019

| Polar

| Karl

| Jonas Åkerlund

2020

| Becky

| Apex

| Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion

2020

| Vicious Fun

| Mike

| Cody Callahan

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2001 \|Lexx \|Leroy \|1 episode
2003 \|Liocracy \|Behemoth Jones \|1 episode
2011 \|Merlin \|Derian \|1 episode
2011 \|Once Upon a Time \|Behemoth \|1 episode
2012 \|Transporter: The Series \|Momo \|1 episode
2013; 2015 \|Haven \|Heavy \|5 episodes; also credited as Robert Norman Maillet in Season 5
2014–2015 \|data-sort-value="Strain, The" \| The Strain \|The Master/Jusef Sardu \|11 episodes
2014 \|Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds \|Bedard \|5 episodes
2019 \|American Gods \|Balor \|1 episode
2020 \|Titans \|Ring Fighter \|1 episode, "Faux Hawk"
2020 \|data-sort-value="Umbrella Academy, The" \| The Umbrella Academy \|Lights Out Lubbock \|1 episode, "The Swedish Job"
2021 \|Jupiter's Legacy \|Big Man \|1 episode, "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2001

|Lexx

|Leroy

|1 episode

2003

|Liocracy

|Behemoth Jones

|1 episode

2011

|Merlin

|Derian

|1 episode

2011

|Once Upon a Time

|Behemoth

|1 episode

2012

|Transporter: The Series

|Momo

|1 episode

2013; 2015

|Haven

|Heavy

|5 episodes; also credited as Robert Norman Maillet in Season 5

2014–2015

|data-sort-value="Strain, The" | The Strain

|The Master/Jusef Sardu

|11 episodes

2014

|Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds

|Bedard

|5 episodes

2019

|American Gods

|Balor

|1 episode

2020

|Titans

|Ring Fighter

|1 episode, "Faux Hawk"

2020

|data-sort-value="Umbrella Academy, The" | The Umbrella Academy

|Lights Out Lubbock

|1 episode, "The Swedish Job"

2021

|Jupiter's Legacy

|Big Man

|1 episode, "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine"

Championships and accomplishments

Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling
AGPW Continental Championship (1 time)
NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
NWA/ECCW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Legend City Wrestling
LCW Newfoundland Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Fantastic
Real Action Wrestling
RAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
United States Wrestling Association
USWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) {{ndash}} with Recon
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Worst Tag Team (1998) {{ndash}} with Golga
Worst Gimmick (1998) {{ndash}} as Kurrgan,as part of The Oddities
World Wrestling Association (South Korea)
WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/korea/wwa/kr-wwa-h.html|title=World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title|accessdate=January 16, 2024|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}