Max Edmund Palmer (November 27, 1927–May 7, 1984) was an American actor and wrestler who was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He stood at a towering 7 feet 7 inches, which made him the second tallest wrestler in documented history (after Jorge González at 8 ft). Palmer grew up with three sisters shorter than him in a rural Mississippi town. He started out as a high school basketball player before dropping out after the 11th grade. He started having drinking problems when he was 18 years old. He worked as a bartender and a security guard.
-> See also: Alexander Sizonenko: The Tallest Basketball Player in History
He Was a Literal Giant Early On
Palmer was a normal-sized Clarksdale boy until he was 14. She suffered from gigantism from an early age and reached 7’4″ at 17. His growth spree slowed down at 19 when he reached 7’6″ but he still kept gaining weight and hit 450 lbs. The man wore a size 10 hat, a size 64 suit, a size 20 (right) and 21 shoes (left), which cost $140 in total. His chest measured 49″ while his hands were 19″ long and they were allegedly the biggest in America. He could lift a child in the palm of each hand, like holding a Coke bottle. His clothes were also made on special order in Chicago.
The Tallest American Actor in History
Palmer began playing professional basketball with the Rochester Royals during his high school years, when he was 7 feet tall. After moving back to Mississippi, he worked odd jobs and was then discovered by Chicagoan Fritz Blocki, a former newspaperist, which led him to Hollywood to pursue acting.
Max Palmer is the tallest American actor in history. Because of his stature, he was cast in a number of movies and TV shows, such as “Invaders from Mars” and “Killer Ape.” In the 1953 Killer Ape movie, he starred as “Man Ape,” and he was the mutant carrying Dr. Blake in the 1953 film Invaders from Mars, where he uncreditedly co-starred with Johnny Weissmuller.
In addition, he appeared on other TV programs thanks to invitations from big names like singers, comedians, and actors Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Jimmy Durante.
-> See also: Robert Wadlow: The Tallest Man Ever in History
A Career as a Professional Wrestler
Palmer’s acting career lasted just from 1952 to 1954, when he left for Salt Lake City, Utah, to pursue a career as a professional wrestler. The mythical lumberjack giant Paul Bunyan was the inspiration for his stage moniker.
Palmer was almost 8 feet tall and 500 pounds, according to the ring announcer. His most reported height was 7 feet 7 inches but he might have weighed close to 500 pounds. Palmer was just 33 years old when his wrestling career was cut short by alcohol-related health problems as well as his dependence on cathartics.
Goliath for Christ: A Career as a Preacher
Once an alcoholic, Palmer stopped the habit in 1963 and dedicated the rest of his life to preaching the gospel all over the United States while calling himself “Goliath for Christ.” This all happened after being a lifelong Druid, and his ultimate decision to become an evangelist was probably related to his alcohol issue. He traveled the country, preaching against alcohol and drugs.
He was 56 years old when he died on May 7, 1984, from heart failure, a bleeding disorder, liver failure, and kidney failure. He preached until his death and was buried near Pontotoc.
From 1975 until his death in 2014, Palmer was happily married to Betty Ingram. Through this marriage, he adopted Major League Baseball player Jim Palmer (b. 1945). Betty was measured at 4 feet 11 inches, while Palmer’s mother was 5 feet tall, and his three sisters were of normal height. Betty had two kids from a previous relationship, and Max loved them as his own.
-> See also: Zhang Juncai: At 7’11”, He is the Tallest Living Chinese
Height Conflicts
Circuses and other show programs are known to exaggerate the figures of their workers; however, there are more conflicts over Max Palmer’s real height. According to a flyer for a Baptist crusade, he was 7’8″ tall, weighed 385 pounds, and wore size 21 shoes. When his coffin dimensions were taken, the cabinetmaker recorded Max’s height as 8 feet 2 inches, necessitating a 9-foot coffin. At 25, when he was arrested and fined for drinking, he was reported as 8’4″ tall.
Filmography
- The Thing in “The Kate Smith Evening Hour” — 1951
- Chadwick in the “The Sniper” — 1952
- Mutant in the “Invaders from Mars” –1953
- Man Ape in the “Killer Ape” — 1953
- “Stone” — 1974