Matthew McGrory
Matthew McGrory (May 17, 1973 – August 9, 2005) was an American actor. At, 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).
Matthew McGrory
- Name
- Matthew McGrory
- Born
- 17 May 1973
- Birthplace
- West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Died
- 9 August 2005
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Education
- West Chester University Widener University
- Occupation
- Actor
- Awards
- Guinness World Records: Tallest actor, biggest feet, longest toe.
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Matthew McGrory (May 17, 1973 – August 9, 2005) was an American actor. At, 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).
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Matthew McGrory. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q739668 · wikipedia · Matthew McGrory
In this article
Biography
Biography
McGrory also held the Guinness World Records for biggest feet and longest toe.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Matthew McGrory • Born — 17 May 1973 • Birthplace — West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 9 August 2005 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Education — West Chester University Widener University • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1994–2005 • Awards — Guinness World Records: Tallest actor, biggest feet, longest toe. Matthew McGrory (May 17, 1973 – August 9, 2005) was an American actor. At, 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.
Early life
Early life
McGrory was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Maureen McGrory. He was 15 pounds, 4 ounces when he was born. He was over 5 feet (150 cm) tall by the time he completed kindergarten. McGrory grew to the height of and had size 29.5 shoes. He attended a Catholic School that allowed him to wear sneakers because dress shoes did not exist in his size. He studied pre-law at Widener University. He also studied Criminal Justice at West Chester University.
Career
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" (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 beginning in December 1996. 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
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.
Filmography
Filmography
• 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 • 2001 — Malcolm in the Middle — Lothar — Season 2 Episode 23 • 2002 — Men in Black II — Tall Alien — Uncredited • 2003 — House of 1000 Corpses — Tiny Firefly • Big Fish — Karl the Giant • Haggard: The Movie — Doorman at 15 North Cafe — Uncredited • 2003–2004 — Charmed — Ogre — 2 episodes • 2003–2005 — Carnivàle — Giant — 3 episodes • 2004 — Planet of the Pitts — Toto • Big Time — Richard Blunderbore • 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
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1973
Matthew McGrory was born on 17 May 1973.
2005
Matthew McGrory died on 9 August 2005.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Matthew McGrory was born at West Chester.
Birthplace
Matthew McGrory died at Los Angeles.
Deathplace
West Chester.
Birth place
Los Angeles.
Death place
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Bjorkgren, David. Former Widener Student Named Tallest Actor in the World. DELCO.Today. 2023-05-26.
- 2.Matthew McGrory. Daily Telegraph. 2005-08-12. 0307-1235.
- 3.Longest toe. Guinness World Records.
- 4.Matthew McGrory, 32; Actor Played Key Role in Movie 'Big Fish'. Los Angeles Times. 2005-08-11.
- 5.People.com. High Class. 2004-01-19.
- 6.News Clip, WPLG Miami, Matthewmcgrory.com
- 7.'Big Fish' Actor Matthew McGrory Dies. Associated Press. 2015-01-13.
- 8.Troyer, Kit. NOW THAT'S A FOOT AND A HALF!. Tampa Bay Times. 1994-06-17.
- 9.Kaufman, Gil. Matthew McGrory, Big Man In 'Big Fish' And 'Devil's Rejects,' Dead At 32. MTV. 2005-08-11.
- 10."Matthew McGrory, 32, a Film Actor Typecast as a Giant". New York Times (Associated Press). August 15, 2005.
- 11.Dempster, Michael. The Rundown - Wack Pack profiles. The Howard Stern Radio Show.
- 12."Obituaries: Matthew McGrory". The Daily Telegraph (UK). August 13, 2005.
- 13.The Devil's Rejects (2005). Dir. Rob Zombie. Cinelamda, Lionsgate. Dedication.
- 14.Bam Margera's Hometown of West Chester Explored: Part 1. YouTube. 11 February 2022.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,604 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Matthew M. RossPerson
- Matthew MacfadyenPerson
- Matthew MarsdenPerson
- Matthew McConaugheyPerson
- Matthew McNultyPerson
- Matthew Michael CarnahanPerson
- Matthew ModinePerson
- Matthew MorrisonPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Matthew McGrory?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.