America's tallest man, a 7-foot-8-inch former Virginia law officer, actor, and Harlem Globetrotter, died at his family home in North Carolina, officials confirmed. George Bell, 67, earned the nickname "gentle giant" for his warm personality.
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"He was well known for many things, but for those who worked with him, he will be remembered for his kind and fun-loving nature," the Norfolk Sheriff's Office said. "Our heartfelt prayers go out to his friends and family."
The cause and date of Bell's death remained unclear Thursday. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1957, Bell first claimed the Guinness World Records title as the tallest man in 2007. He lost it to Igor Vovkovinskiy, who edged him out by a fraction of an inch but reclaimed it after Vovkovinskiy's death in 2021.
Bell recalled a normal birth size, but a growth spurt hit in fourth grade, pushing him to 5 feet. Doctors later diagnosed him with gigantism, a condition tied to excessive growth hormones.
By middle school, Bell stood 6 feet tall. He reached 7-foot-6 by high school graduation. "It was a great childhood," he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2019. "My teachers, neighbors, and friends accepted me as George. I was never teased." Bell played basketball at Morris Brown College and Biola University, then briefly joined the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1980s.
Man of Many Hats
His height launched an acting career in 1984. Bell debuted as an alien at the Los Angeles Olympics closing ceremony, a moment he called "unique" but nerve-wracking. Later, he landed roles in shows like "American Horror Story," playing a "tall ghost" alongside Jessica Lange. "I didn't want to bruise her," he said of filming. Bell also met towering celebrities like 6-foot-9 Hafthor Bjornsson, known as "The Mountain" from "Game of Thrones."
Last year, while teaching at a basketball camp, Bell noted kids' initial shock at his size. "They stare, but once they get comfortable, they shake my hand and ask questions," he said. "We're here to have fun and teach skills." Beyond entertainment, Bell served as a Norfolk Sheriff's deputy from 2000 to 2014, earning praise as a "valued member."
Bell also fought bullying, speaking at Virginia schools. "The main thing is to tell kids how to handle it," he told the Danville Register and Bee in 2023. From the court to the screen, Bell's towering presence left a lasting mark. News of his death closes a chapter for a man who embraced his height and heart.
