Jean Christensen remains a quiet yet important figure in wrestling history. Most fans know her as the mother of André the Giant’s only child. She worked behind the scenes in the industry during its growth years and later built a life focused on family and craftsmanship.
Her story connects the glamorous world of professional wrestling with everyday resilience. She raised a daughter largely on her own while navigating the demands of a high-profile partner’s career.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jean Christensen (née Gantriis) |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1949 |
| Place of Birth | Minnesota, United States |
| Date of Death | September 2, 2008 |
| Age at Death | 59 |
| Nationality | American (Danish heritage) |
| Known For | Mother of Robin Christensen-Roussimoff; partner of André the Giant; seamstress and costume designer |
| Partner | André René Roussimoff (André the Giant) |
| Children | One daughter, Robin |
| Residence (later years) | Lynnwood / Shoreline area, Washington |
Early Life and Background
Jean Christensen was born on August 15, 1949, in Minnesota. Her parents, Nels Peter and Paula Gantriis, came from Danish roots. She grew up in a typical Midwestern American household.
As a teenager, she showed an athletic side. She wrestled in high school and described herself as a “big, strapping gal.” After graduation she moved into the music industry. There she worked as a stage manager and sometimes mended performers’ clothes on the road.
A car accident later shifted her path. She returned to education and earned degrees in manufacturing techniques, fashion design, and marketing. These skills prepared her for the practical work that defined much of her adult life.
Career and Achievements
Jean entered the wrestling business in the early 1970s. She took on multiple roles at a time when few women held steady positions behind the scenes.
She worked as a seamstress, creating robes, tights, trunks, and specialty breakaway gear for wrestlers. She also served as a photographer and handled various support tasks. Some reports note public-relations work helping wrestlers with media appearances.
Her most visible contribution came through costume design. She introduced more colorful and imaginative outfits when solid black still dominated. She traveled widely making custom pieces for talent of all sizes.
In her later years she opened a costume shop called Andre’s Bodacious Babe Costumes in the Shoreline area near Seattle. The shop specialized in outfits for people of size and also served local parties and entertainers. She continued sewing for performers such as Weird Al Yankovic and others into the 2000s.
Relationship
Jean met André René Roussimoff, known as André the Giant, through the wrestling business around 1972 or 1973. Their connection developed over the following years.
According to Jean, they married in Canada, though the marriage was never formally registered in the United States. Sources describe it as a common-law relationship. André was already a major international star. His size (reportedly over 7 feet tall and more than 500 pounds) and constant travel shaped their life together.
Jean became pregnant in the late 1970s. André initially believed he could not father children. A paternity test confirmed he was the father of their daughter, Robin, born in 1979 in France. The couple separated not long after Robin’s birth.
André provided child support and occasional visits, mostly at wrestling events or related to legal matters. Robin later stated she saw her father only a handful of times. Jean raised their daughter primarily on her own in the Seattle area.
André died on January 28, 1993, in Paris at age 46. Jean spoke of him with measured respect in later interviews. She kept some of his belongings, including oversized shoes, at her shop.
Personal Life Today
Jean spent her final decades in the Lynnwood and Shoreline communities of Washington. She focused on her costume business and private life. She stayed largely out of the public eye after André’s death.
Her daughter, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, has remained the main public link to André’s legacy. Robin has spoken positively about both parents and has appeared at WWE events related to her father’s career.
Jean died on September 2, 2008, in Lynnwood, Washington, at age 59. She left behind a small circle of family and the practical craft she practiced for decades.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Public estimates place Jean Christensen’s net worth at the time of her death in the range of $100,000. The figure remains unconfirmed and likely reflected income from her costume business and earlier work rather than large inheritance or celebrity earnings.
She lived modestly. Her lifestyle centered on sewing, her shop, and raising her daughter. She did not pursue the spotlight or luxury associated with wrestling’s biggest stars. Friends described her as unassuming yet skilled and independent.
Conclusion
Jean Christensen never sought fame. She built a working life in an industry that rarely highlighted women behind the curtain. Her relationship with André the Giant produced one child and a lasting family connection to wrestling history. Through quiet craftsmanship and steady parenting, she left a practical legacy that continues through her daughter.
Her story reminds readers that even the largest figures in sports entertainment relied on people who stayed mostly out of the frame.
FAQs
Who was Jean Christensen?
She was an American seamstress, costume designer, and former wrestling-industry worker best known as the mother of André the Giant’s only child, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff.
Was Jean Christensen married to André the Giant?
According to Jean, they married in Canada, but the marriage was never registered in the United States. Most sources describe their relationship as common-law. They separated after their daughter’s birth.
When did Jean Christensen die?
She passed away on September 2, 2008, in Lynnwood, Washington, at the age of 59.
Did Jean Christensen and André the Giant have children?
Yes. They had one daughter, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, born in 1979.
What was Jean Christensen’s occupation?
She worked as a seamstress and costume maker in professional wrestling, later owned a costume shop called Andre’s Bodacious Babe Costumes, and earlier held roles in the music industry.
Where did Jean Christensen live?
She spent her later years in the Lynnwood and Shoreline areas near Seattle, Washington.
