- Neil Fingleton
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Neil Fingleton (born December 18, 1980) is the United Kingdom's tallest British-born man at 7 ft 7.56 in (232.6 cm) in height.[1][2]
This title has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records in the summer of 2007 and he takes over from Christopher Greener who stands at 7ft 6 ¼in (229.2 cm) in height.[1]
Life and career
Fingleton won a basketball scholarship to the United States first playing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was playing for the Ciudad Real club in Spain but has now returned to his home city of Durham while he pursues a career in showbusiness.[1]
On the Guinness World Records website, Fingleton says: "I am one of three siblings - my sister who is 6' 2" is the eldest at 34, my brother is 6' 9" who is 32 and I am 7' 7" at 29… my mother is 6 foot and my late father was also. My great grandfather was 6' 8". I have always been taller than everyone since I can remember. My height really took off when I reached 11 and was touching 7 foot. By the time I was 16 I was 7' 5" and stopping growing at 18 when I was 7' 7.56".
"I have never been self conscious about my height. I am more conscious of going bald so that should tell you. I never let my height play a negative part in my life. I always do what I want, some tall people may be restricted as they are constantly stared at or people ask the same questions over and over. This is the only bad thing about being tall – the stupid remarks and questions. Other than that, being tall is great.
"I have been doing acting work since my basketball career finished. I spent 8 years in the USA attending High School and College. I graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2004 with a degree in History. I have played professionally in Greece, Italy, Spain. Now I am concentrating on acting and trying to move to LA soon to jump in with both feet so to speak."[3]
Two 2007 British TV documentaries, Britain's Tallest Men on BBC Three directed by Greg Clark and Superhuman: Giants on ITV, featured Fingleton and covered the difficulties and constant attention, quite often considerable rudeness, that he faces day to day. Neil is the tallest actor in the world and recently starred as the Giant in jack and the beanstalk at the light house theatre in Poole. Neil also has a clothing company called www.sevenfootseven.com helping other tall people out with clothes.
Neil Fingleton attended Holy Name high school in Worcester, Massachusetts, and played in the division one state finals against Central Catholic High School.
He appeared in pantomime in Southport, Lancs, as the Genie in "Aladdin" alongside Michelle Heaton and Brendan Healy in the Christmas 2010 season.
Currently, Neil is filming alongside Keanu Reeves and others in the upcoming film 47 Ronin to be released November 2012.
See also
References
Categories:- 1980 births
- Apollon Patras B.C. players
- English basketball players
- Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball players
- Living people
- McDonald's High School All-Americans
- North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- People from Durham, County Durham
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