Jóhann K. Pétursson
Jóhann Kristinn Pétursson (9 February 1913 – 26 November 1984), also known as the Icelandic Giant and the Viking Giant, was an Icelandic circus performer and actor who at his peak measured 2.34 metres (7 ft 8 in) in height and weighed 163 kilograms (359 lb).[1]
Early life
Born in Akureyri, Iceland on 9 February 1913, as the third of nine children in his family. The same year his family moved to Dalvík. At four years old the family moved to Svarfaðardalur. Later he would be known as Jóhann Svarfdælingur (a Demonym for people from Svarfaðardalur).[2]
Jóhann had a normal development until the age of 15, after which he experienced
Career
Due to his physical ailments, Jóhann was unable to find normal employment and instead toured Europe's vaudeville theatres, doing so until the outbreak of World War II. He was in Copenhagen during the German invasion of Denmark and remained there until the end of the war, working in a shipyard.[5] In 1948, he was invited to move to the United States by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The tallest Icelandic man on record, his home, living trailer, vehicles, furniture, and clothing were all custom-made.[5]
During his career, he used the
A prominent member of the Tampa Showmen's Association (TSA) and the International Independent Showmen's Association (IISA), he was involved in their charitable activities. His memory is honoured with personal belongings displayed in the Showmen's Museum of the IISA in Gibsonton, Florida.[citation needed]
Later life and death
He retired in 1963 and moved to Florida. He married and had one child, of average height. He spoke four languages: Icelandic, Danish, German and English.[10] In 1981, he was profiled in the documentary film Being Different.[11]
After sustaining a fall in Tampa, Florida in 1984, he returned to his birthplace Dalvík, where he died a few months later at the age of 71. He is buried in Dalvík.[4]
References
- ^ Berthelsen, Herman (2002). Skjeggete damer og siamesiske tvillinger: fra tivoli til "Big Brother" (in Norwegian). J.W. Cappelens Forlag. p. 93.
- ^
- ^ a b De Herder, W. W. (2009). Acromegaly and gigantism in the medical literature. Case descriptions in the era before and the early years after the initial publication of Pierre Marie (1886). Pituitary, 12(3), 236–244. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-008-0138-y
- ^ ISBN 9780813123585.
- ^ Rætt við Jóhann Svarfdæling árið 1972
- ^ Mannix, Daniel P (2014). Freaks: We Who Are Not As Others. eNet Press. pp. 76–77.
- ^ Staff writer(s) (8 December 1984). "Jóhann K. Pétursson verður jardsunginn í dag". Dagblaðið Vísir.
- ^ Jay Scott, "Rasky's 'freaks' turn out to be extraordinary ordinary people". The Globe and Mail, June 13, 1981.