George Bell, who was once the tallest man in the United States at 7 feet, 8 inches, has died at age 67. He was remembered for his kindness and fun-loving personality by his colleagues at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, where he served from 2000 to 2014.
Bell died at home in Durham, North Carolina, surrounded by loved ones, as reported by People. Known as a “gentle giant,” Bell’s height was caused by gigantism, a condition causing excess growth hormone production. He grew up in Portsmouth and did not reach his full height until his 20s.
Before joining law enforcement, Bell played basketball. He was a backup center at Biola University in California in the early 1980s and later joined the Harlem Wizards, a team similar to the Harlem Globetrotters. In 2007, Guinness World Records officially recognized him as the tallest living man in the U.S.
Bell also appeared on TV, including a role in American Horror Story: Freakshow. He often spoke about the everyday struggles of being exceptionally tall, like finding clothes or fitting into cars.
Bell is survived by his daughter, Dawnie Bell, who fondly remembered her father as someone who “loved people” and made everyone around him feel special.
