The former sheriff’s deputy played college basketball and also dabbled in acting with an appearance on “American Horror Story”
George Bell — once the tallest man in the United States who stood at 7 feet, 8 inches — has died. He was 67.
The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office in Virginia announced his death in a statement on Facebook on March 19.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of former deputy George Bell,” the sheriff’s office said. “He was well-known for many things, but for those who worked with him he will be remembered for his kind and fun-loving personality. He will always be considered a member of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office family.”
Bell was a member of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office from December 2000 to May 2014, the department said. His cause of death was not immediately available.
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Called a “gentle giant” by his loved ones, Bell died surrounded by family and friends at his home in Durham, N.C., ABC affiliate WVEC-TV reported.
Growing up in Portsmouth, Bell was considered tall for his age, but he didn’t reach his full height until he was in his 20s, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The outlet added that he was diagnosed with gigantism, a medical condition that involves the overproduction of growth hormone.
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Before Bell began working in law enforcement, he played basketball — which is what people would frequently ask him about, once they learned his full height, The New York Times reported.
He was a backup center for Biola University in California in the early 1980s, and went on to play for the Harlem Wizards, a professional basketball team similar to the Harlem Globetrotters.
In 2007, he earned the Guinness World Records title as the tallest person in America — an honor he held for several years. In the time since, Bell dipped his toes in the acting world, and was featured on season 4 of American Horror Story and appeared as himself on Freakshow.
“There’s a lot of challenges for us being so tall,” he told AMC while promoting the reality TV show. “Like how do I fit in cars, or where do I find clothes? I have a hard time sleeping in beds.” He added, “Those challenges are not an issue to me at all. I’ve learned over the years of living just to deal with them as they are and not let it become a mental problem.”
The Virginia native leaves behind a daughter, Dawnie Bell, who recalled to the Pilot what it was like to have Bell as a dad. “My father loved people,” Dawnie, 37, said, sharing that he would frequently visit her elementary school where he was treated like a “star.” She added, “He loved any shape, any size, any color, any — he didn’t care who you were. He just loved people. He loved life. He was just a bag full of love.”
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