Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

Every week I have to ask myself a question. What makes a man an Awesome Fat Guy? Firstly he must be fat. That is the easy part. The hard part is on deciding what makes someone Awesome. Normally I look at how talented or successful the man is. Other times it comes down to just how likable or interesting he is. This week’s Awesome Fat Guy falls into the later category. While he was successful and talented, in his own right, I chose him because he is beloved and remembered in spite of his limitations. That to me makes Tor Johnson the Awesome Fat Guy of the week.

A rare Photo of Tor with his hair. He is the one not rocking the beard.

Tor Johnson was born Tor Johansson on October 19, 1903 in Sweden. Tor spent most of his early adult life as a professional wrestler. Though he had naturally curly blond hair he shaved his head to achieve a more monstrous appearance. At 6’3” and reaching 400 pounds he was a larger man. He revealed, on the Groucho Marx show You Bet Your Life, that he was 387 pounds, his hips were 60”, his waist was 54”, his chest was 62”, his biceps were 22” and his neck was 20”. During his time as a wrestler he was billed under a number of names including Super Swedish Angel, Thor Johnson, and my favorite the Scandinavian Skyscraper.

Tor is best known for his acting roles. After moving to California he began to get bit parts in movies. Mostly as a strong man or weight lifter. It wasn’t until later that Tor would make his mark. Tor would find himself in the world of B-horror movies. Including films by Ed Wood. Ed Wood was known to make some of the worst, and yet fondly remembered, movies ever. One such movie, Plan 9 From Outer Space, is considered by some to be the worst movie ever made. Tor Johnson was one of the stars of Plan Nine From Outer Space.

Aside from the movies of Ed Wood, Tor had many other roles. He starred in such B-Movie classics as Night of Ghouls, Bride of the Monster, and The Beast of Yucca Flats. Tor’s many appearances in these types of movies made him a Horror Icon. So much so that there are even Halloween masks made in his likeness.

  
Though much of his success, or if you prefer infamy, came from the B-Movies he was not limited to them. He had smaller bit and even unaccredited parts in none B-Movies. Such as Angels in the Outfield, Man on the Flying Trapeze, and Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion. Sadly as time went on Tor’s movie career slowed. During that time he appeared on the small screen in Bonanza, Peter Gunn, Shirley Temple Theatre, and The Adventures of Hiram Holliday. At this time he could also be seen in numerous commercials.

Tor died on May 21, 1971 in San Fernando, California. He was 67 years old. To this day Tor is remembered as a Horror Icon along with Bela Lugosi, and Boris Karloff. Even in death Tor was not forgotten. He appeared frequently in the comics of Drew Friedman. The Halloween mask made in his likeness was used by wrestler Duke Myers. He used the mask when he was playing the Colossus of Death, Andy Kaufman’s henchman. Tor was portrayed by fellow wrestler George “The Animal” Steel in the Tim Burton film Ed Wood.

Tor was known to be a strong guy. On the set of Plan Nine 9 from Outer Space he accidentally knocked out fellow actor Paul Marco when sparks from a prop gun landed on Tor’s arm. Tor felt bad about the incident even though it was an accident. Which brings me to the last reason Tor is an Awesome Fat guy. He was nice. He was well liked by his costars. Valda Hansen who starred with Tor in Night of the Ghouls said “Tor was like a big sugar bun”. Other friend said “Tor had such warmth! He was so cooperative-- just a lovely man.”

The face of a nice guy? You bet your ass.

Tor Johnson looked like a monster. He played the part when needed but was as far from a monster as you could get. He took what he had and used it the best he could. In doing so he gained a cult following. He was a big guy who was as nice as they came and that makes him the Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

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