Anecdotes

It was his idea for his character in the Superman movies to be mute.

Stated that fans often confuse him with Richard Kiel, due to the similarity in their celebrated roles, height and facial features.

Was considered to play the role of Jaws in L'espion qui m'aimait (1977) before Richard Kiel got the part. Had he gotten the role, it would have been the first of two times he played a mute, with Superman II (1980) being the second.

Former professional boxer fighting out of Boston, MA

Says that the reaction he gets most often from Superman fans when they meet him is "My God he can talk!" even though he had a speaking role in Joe Friday (1987).

A boxing contender in the heavyweight division from 1966-1974, he beat Danny McAlindon via an eight-round decision in one match; he lost to George Foreman in five rounds in another. Illness forced his retirement in 1974. He won 34 heavyweight bouts and at one time was the world's 10th-ranked heavyweight fighter.

In his last professional boxing match in 1974, he was knocked out in 6 rounds by Howard Smith in a bid for the California State Heavyweight Championship.

Displayed superhuman strength in big-box office films, notably Superman II, and dim-bulbed henchmen in others (Farewell, My Lovely).

In his book Family Legacy, he claimed Albert Anastasia, who was a mafia hit-man and crime boss, was his illegitimate father.