Former North Carolina basketball player and Game of Thrones actor Neil Fingleton will be the subject of a not-for-profit documentary titled “Big Smooth.”
“From basketball star to world record actor, Big Smooth is a documentary telling the story of Neil Fingleton,” director Paul Stainthrope wrote. “The story of a politely spoken and gracious man who just happened to be a bit taller than most of us. We want everyone who watches this film to play to their strengths and question their own dreams. Neil’s life story inspires us all to strive to reach our own potential.”
On what would have been Neil Fingleton’s 40th Birthday, we are proud to release this teaser trailer of #BigSmoothFilm. Please retweet to help spread the word about this special project. Thank-you! ?? #NeilFingleton #Documentary @SaintBasilFilms @HillValley pic.twitter.com/738Z3yeEp2
— Lone Pine Pictures (@LonePinePics) December 18, 2020
A native of England, Fingleton was the tallest British-born man and the tallest man in the European Union at 7-foot-7.56, and among the 25 tallest men in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
“I am one of three siblings – my sister who is 6-foot-3 is the eldest at 30, my brother is 6-foot-8 who is 29, and I am 7-foot-7 at 26. My mother is 6-foot, and my father was also,” Fingleton told Guinness World Records. “My great grandfather was 6-foot-8. I have always been taller than everyone since I can remember. I have never been self-conscious about my height. I am more conscious of going bald, so that should tell you. This is the only bad thing about being tall – the stupid remarks and questions. Other than that, being tall is great.”
After attending a basketball camp in Connecticut at the age of 16, he decided to move from England to the United States to pursue a career on the hardwood. Starting high school at Worcester, Massachusetts’ Holy Name Central Catholic, Fingleton guided his team to the Central Massachusetts Division I title and a berth in the Massachusetts final game in 1999. During his senior season in 2000, Fingleton averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocked shots per game, leading his team to a 22-4 record and earning a trip to the McDonald’s All-America Game.
After signing with UNC as part of the class of 2000, Fingleton had to medically redshirt his freshman season due to a long recovery from a back surgery he had over the previous summer. As a redshirt freshman in 2001-02, he played in one game for four minutes, grabbed one rebound, and missed both of his field-goal attempts. At the end of the season, Fingleton decided to transfer to Holy Cross, where he played two years and averaged 2.7 points.
My former teammate and one of the funniest guys I had the chance to be around. https://t.co/OF4qfonphJ
— Jawad Williams (@WORLDWAD) July 6, 2020
Post-college, Fingleton had several stints playing in the ABA, the NBA’s D-League, and overseas before retiring and pursuing a career in acting. From 2011-15, he had minor roles in X-Men First Class, 47 Ronin, Jupiter Ascending. He also landed starring spots as the motion capture Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and most notably as the giant, Mag the Mighty, in Game of Thrones.
Unfortunately, Fingleton passed away in 2017 at the age of 37 due to heart failure. He is survived by his mother and his two siblings.
