Jean Christensen is best known as the former partner of André the Giant and the mother of his only child, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. She also worked around the professional wrestling world before her relationship with André became widely known.

Jean and André never legally married, but they shared an important family link through their daughter. This article covers Jean Christensen’s wrestling connection, her relationship with André, her role as Robin’s mother, and other key facts about her life.

Quick Facts

Who Was Jean Christensen?

Jean Christensen was an American woman linked to professional wrestling. She became widely known because of her relationship with André René Roussimoff, better known as André the Giant.

Reliable public records about Jean Christensen’s early life are limited. Her connection to André and their daughter, Robin, is the main part of her life that has been widely reported.

Jean also worked around the wrestling industry. Her role brought her into contact with wrestlers, promoters, and others working behind the scenes.

Jean Christensen’s Work in the Wrestling World

Jean Christensen worked in professional wrestling during the 1970s. She has been described as working in public relations and promotion within the industry.

Her work helped her meet André the Giant. At the time, André was becoming one of the best-known wrestlers in the world.

Jean’s work was different from André’s role in the ring. She worked behind the scenes, while André spent much of his time wrestling and traveling for events.

How Did Jean Christensen Meet André the Giant?

Jean Christensen met André the Giant through professional wrestling in the early 1970s. André was working as a wrestler, while Jean was involved in wrestling public relations.

Jean later spoke about their first meeting in an interview. She said there was no strong romantic spark at first. Their relationship developed later.

The two continued to meet through the wrestling world. Over time, their connection became personal.

Was Jean Christensen André the Giant’s Wife?

Jean Christensen is often called André the Giant’s wife in online articles. However, available reports say they were never legally married.

Jean was André’s partner and the mother of his daughter. This is why some reports have used the word “wife” when describing her.

The more accurate description is former partner. André is not known to have legally married Jean Christensen.

Their relationship was also affected by André’s wrestling career. His work required frequent travel across the United States and other countries.

Jean Christensen and André the Giant’s Relationship

Jean Christensen and André the Giant had a relationship during a busy period in André’s career. He spent much of his time traveling for wrestling events.

The travel made it hard for them to spend regular time together. André often moved from one event to another for work.

Their relationship later became strained. These problems also affected André’s contact with their daughter.

Jean later became the main parent in Robin’s daily life. André continued traveling and working as a wrestler.

Jean Christensen Became the Mother of André’s Only Child

In 1979, Jean Christensen gave birth to Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. Robin is André the Giant’s only known child.

Reports say André first questioned whether Robin was his daughter. A paternity test later confirmed that he was her father.

After paternity was confirmed, André was required to provide financial support for Robin. Reports state that support was first set at $750 per month and later increased to $1,000.

Jean Christensen raised Robin mainly in the Seattle area. André continued his wrestling career and spent much of his time away from home.

Jean Christensen Raised Robin Away From André’s Wrestling Life

Robin Christensen-Roussimoff grew up mainly with Jean Christensen. André was not a regular part of her daily childhood.

Robin reportedly met her father only a small number of times. Some meetings took place during legal matters, while others happened at wrestling arenas.

Jean remained the main parent raising Robin. André’s career and travel kept him away for long periods.

The limited contact between André and Robin continued for much of his life.

Robin Christensen’s Relationship With André the Giant

Robin Christensen-Roussimoff had limited time with her father. She later said she remembered seeing André in person only about five times. Some meetings took place at wrestling arenas, while others happened during court matters.

André’s wrestling schedule was one main reason for the distance. He spent much of his career traveling. Robin also lived with Jean Christensen in the Seattle area, far from many places where André worked.

Robin has said Jean did not stop her from seeing André. At times, André wanted Robin to visit him without Jean. Robin was still young and did not feel comfortable making those trips without her mother.

André the Giant’s Contact With His Daughter

André and Robin stayed in contact by phone even though they rarely met. Robin said she always had a phone number where she could reach him. They also spoke during holidays.

Their last known phone call was around Christmas 1992. André died only a few weeks later in Paris. Robin later said she and Jean Christensen learned about his death through a message from André’s lawyer.

Robin has also said that she did not grow up watching much of André’s wrestling work. She saw some matches when he came to Seattle, but wrestling was not a regular part of her home life.

André the Giant’s Death and Estate

André the Giant died in Paris in January 1993. He was 46 years old. He had traveled to France after the death of his father and died from heart failure while there.

After his death, his body was returned to the United States for cremation. His ashes were later scattered at his ranch in North Carolina.

Robin was the main beneficiary named in André’s estate plans. Public reports state that he made financial plans for his daughter before his death. This gave Robin an important link to her father’s estate and later to the use of his name and image.

Jean Christensen’s Later Life

Jean Christensen continued living in the Seattle area, where she had raised Robin. She was no longer part of the wrestling business during Robin’s childhood. Robin later said her mother wanted her to form her own view of André instead of knowing him only through wrestling and the media.

Jean also remained part of the story of André’s private life because she was the mother of his only child. Much of what is known about their relationship comes from later interviews and accounts from Robin and people who knew André.

Jean Christensen died in 2008. CBS Sports also reported her death while discussing Robin and André’s family history.

Robin Christensen-Roussimoff After André’s Death

Robin later became involved in projects linked to her father’s life and legacy. She appeared in the 2018 HBO documentary André the Giant, which looked at André’s wrestling career, acting work, health, and private life.

She has also taken part in interviews about her father. Public reporting has described her as having a role in matters linked to André’s name, image, and legacy.

In April 2026, Robin appeared at the WWE Hall of Fame when André the Giant’s famous WrestleMania III match with Hulk Hogan was honored as an Immortal Moment. Her appearance gave wrestling fans another public link between André and his only daughter.

Interesting Facts

• Jean Christensen met André the Giant through the professional wrestling business in the early 1970s.

• Jean Christensen and André had one daughter, Robin Christensen-Roussimoff.

• Robin was born in 1979 and is André the Giant’s only known child.

• Jean raised Robin mainly in the Seattle area.

• Robin later said she remembered seeing André in person about five times.

• André and Robin also stayed in touch by phone.

• Their last known phone conversation took place around Christmas 1992.

• André died in Paris in January 1993 at age 46.

• Robin was the main beneficiary of André’s estate plans.

• Jean Christensen died in 2008.

• Robin appeared in the 2018 HBO documentary André the Giant.

• Robin also appeared at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026 for a tribute linked to André’s WrestleMania III match.