John Aasen

Infobox actor
name = John Aasen


caption = John Aasen in "Why Worry?" (1923)
birthdate = birth date|1890|3|5|mf=n
birthplace = Minneapolis, Minnesota
deathdate = death date and age|1938|8|1|1890|3|5|mf=n
deathplace = Mendocino, California
othername = Johan Aasen
Johnny Aasen

John Aasen (March 5, 1890 - August 1, 1938) was an American silent film actor who was one of the tallest actors in history.

Biography

Early life

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aasen's mother, Kristi (Danielsen) from Rollag in Numedal, [ [http://www.bfk.no/html/saksdok/13154070.html Johan Aasen - culture and travel industry project in Rollag municipality] , Buskerud county municipality no icon] was an extremely tall Norwegian woman of around 2.20 m (almost 7 ft 3 inches) in height. (Latest information sept. 2008, sets her height to 188 cm) It is not certain who his father was, because his mother kept it a secret for her entire life. According to some sources, his father was Nils Janson Bokke, a Swedish man of around 2.44 m (8 ft) tall. (This canno't be right, the Kristi Danielson that was married to Nils Janson Bokke (Bakke) was Johns mothers aunt, she and Nils Janson moved from Norway to America in 1867.

When Johan was ten years old, Aasen and his mother moved from [Ridgeway, Iowa] (where Johans uncle Sam/Sevre lived with his wife Cornelia)] to Sheyenne, North Dakota with his two younger siblings.

When in Sheyenne, Aasen's mother operated a restaurant. He attended school and helped out in the family business. In 1902, Aasen's mother passed away. He was taken in to many homes and families . When a family he was staying with started to operate a hotel in Leeds, North Dakota, he moved with them there. Aasen's growth started slowly. When he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Grandfield Lutheran Church near Sheyenne, North Dakota, he was the shortest in his class. According to some sources, Aasen was around 2.73 m or 8feet, 11 1/2 inches (which, if true, would make him taller than even Robert Wadlow).

In june 2008 Dr. Kerby Oberg of Loma Linda Univ. confirmed that the 7,2' skeleton they had in their collection, was Johan Aasen. This together with Dr. H. Grays published "The Minneapolis Giant" from may 1937- where Johan is measured to 7'brings Johan to a height between 7 and 7.2'

Career

In 1922, Aasen was offered an acting job in a film called "Why Worry?" (produced by Hal Roach and released in 1923) alongside the superstar comedian Harold Lloyd. Later, he acted in several other films like "Bengal Tiger", "Charlie Chan at the Circus", "Growing Pains", "Should Married Men Go Home?", "Legionnaires in Paris", "Two Flaming Youths", "The Sting of Stings", and "Long Fliv the King".

Death

Aasen died August 1. 1938 at Mendocino State Hospital from pneumonia in Mendocino, California. His body was later shipped to Dr. Humberd in Missori for study and dissection. The skeleton was kept by Dr. Humberd, but after his death shipped to Loma Linda CA. John's cremated softparts was sent to a Masonic funeral at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale CA.

Trivia

*According to the 1978 edition of "Guinness Book of Records" he was only 7 ft (213cm).Fact|date=May 2008

*Aasen was a Freemason. He raised to the degree of Master Mason at Highland Park Lodge No. 382, Los Angeles on July 14, 1924.Fact|date=May 2008

References

*Olson, Julia, "Our heritage, 1883-1980, Sheyenne area.", Sheyenne Historical Society, Sheyenne, N.D., 1980 ISBN 088925-204-1

External links

*imdb|0007539
*amg name|2:46

Persondata
NAME= Aasen, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Aasen, Johan; Aasen, Johnny
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= March 5, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH= Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
DATE OF DEATH= August 1, 1938
PLACE OF DEATH= Mendocino, California