Max Palmer

Max Palmer
Birth name Max Edmund Palmer
Born (1927-11-27)November 27, 1927
Pontotoc, Mississippi, U.S.
Died May 17, 1984(1984-05-17) (aged 56)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Paul Bunyan
Billed height 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Billed weight 500 lb (230 kg)
Billed from Arnold, Missouri

Max Edmund Palmer (November 27, 1927 – May 7, 1984) was an American actor and professional wrestler. Known for his great height, in 2014 he was described as the second tallest professional wrestler in history.[1]

Career

After high school Max left Mississippi to play with the professional basketball team Rochester Royals. After basketball Max went back to Mississippi only to work odd jobs working his way to Hollywood to get into acting. Max was discovered by an ex-Chicago newspaper man named Fritz Blocki. Max's first appearance on film was on the "Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis Comedy Hour". Max's acting career spanned from 1952 to 1954. He starred in such movies as Invaders from Mars and Killer Ape with Johnny Weissmuller. He also guested variety shows such as Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis Comedy Hour, "Spade Cooley TV Show", and The Jimmy Durante Show.

Flyer for a Baptist crusade including Max Palmer

After he left acting, Max became a professional wrestler in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was billed as "Paul Bunyan". He became an evangelist in 1963. He preached all over the United States, calling himself "Goliath for Christ". He preached until his death in 1984 from heart disease.

Personal life

Max Palmer was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi. In May 1975, Max married a woman, Betty, and they remained married until his death. When measured for his coffin, he measured 8 feet 2;inches and needed a 9-foot coffin. Max is buried in Randolph, Mississippi, near Pontotoc, Mississippi at Carey Springs Baptist Church.

References

  1. ↑ Binks, Elliot (May 2, 2014). "WWE: 10 Tallest Wrestlers Ever (And How Giant They Actually Were)". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved April 29, 2016.

1930 U.S. Federal Census, Beat 4, Quitman County, Mississippi 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Beat 4, Quitman County, Mississippi

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