Willig has been an actor for a while, though his path to Hollywood was slightly different from most.
Willig started as a professional football player, per the NFL's website, where he spent 14 years. He played as an offensive tackle for several teams, beginning with the Rose Bowl-winning University of Southern California college football team. After graduation, Willig joined the New York Jets for four years before moving to the Atlanta Falcons and then the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. He was even part of two teams in the Super Bowl. Willig played for the 1999 Super Bowl champions St. Louis Rams and the Carolina Panthers that went to the championship, wrote Journal Now.
He retired from the NFL in 2005 and decided to try his hand at acting. According to his IMDB, Willig's first role was in the movie Full Contact in 1993, but it wasn't until 2006 that he went full tilt in Hollywood.
His first big role was in an episode of Malcolm in the Middle. That same year, Willig also showed up in West Wing and Everybody Loves Chris. Over the years, he's also had roles in Chuck, NCIS, and The Young and the Restless. Most people may know Willig from Brooklyn Nine-Nine or his role as Lash in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Willig's role as Andre the Giant is just the latest in his long acting resume.
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