Neil Fingleton
Encyclopedia
Neil Fingleton is the United Kingdom
's tallest British-born man at 7 ft 7.56 in (232.6 cm) in height.
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.
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.
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."
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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's tallest British-born man at 7 ft 7.56 in (232.6 cm) in height.
This title has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records in the summer of 2007 and he takes over from Christopher Greener
Christopher Greener
Christopher Paul Greener is the United Kingdom's second tallest British-born man at in height. His weight ranged from 20-30 stone during his adulthood. Greener, from a very young age, had a tumour at the base of his pituitary gland, which controls the release of human growth hormone...
who stands at 7ft 6 ¼in (229.2 cm) in height.
Life and career
Fingleton won a basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
scholarship to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first playing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and later at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was playing for the Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real is a city in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, with a population of c. 74,000. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid, located 115 miles to the north. A high capacity...
club in Spain but has now returned to his home city of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
while he pursues a career in showbusiness.
On the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
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
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
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
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Now I am concentrating on acting and trying to move to LA
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
soon to jump in with both feet so to speak."
Two 2007 British TV documentaries, Britain's Tallest Men on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
directed by Greg Clark and Superhuman: Giants on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, 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.