Anyone who’s ever explained to their child that Shrek is just a fictional character is a filthy liar.

The above photograph is that of Maurice Tillet and his head was the basis for the CGI ogre. Unlike his movie counter part, however, Tillet was very intelligent. After he was diagnosed with acromegaly (a condition that causes one’s bones to grow uncontrolably), he turned the disfigurement to his fortune by traveling to the U.S. and becoming a pro wrestler. On top of that, he was a successful writer and poet who could speak 14 languages.

Doubtlessly, Maurice Tillet was a very brave person who refused to be put down by his physical deformity; in a sense, I think he would have liked to know Shrek was modeled after him… after all there’s a positive message to this cartoon, which closely resonates Tillet’s own legacy of positive self-esteem and upbeat personality. He was the kind of person who learned to make lemonade, rather than complaining for getting only lemons out of life; his example should be inspirational for us all. [Link]