Frank Simmons Leavitt, better known by his stage name Man Mountain Dean, was born in 1891 in New York City, and from a young age, he stood out due to his exceptional size. He was able to convincingly claim to be older than he actually was, allowing him to enlist in the army at just 14 years old.
Initially stationed at the US-Mexican border, Leavitt served under the command of General John J. Pershing and later saw combat duty in France during World War I. After the war, he pursued a career in professional football, playing for the New York Giants team, although he didn't achieve significant success.
While recovering from an injury in Florida, Leavitt met and married Doris Dean, who would later become his manager. He left football to focus on professional wrestling, and his first tour, which took him to Germany, was a huge success. He went on to tour England, where he was hired as a double for the renowned actor Charles Laughton in the film The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).
Leavitt's success in pictures led to him becoming a favorite among the Hollywood crowd, and he was able to command substantial salaries for his wrestling matches, with his impressive girth and long, full beard serving as his trademark.
After a successful wrestling career, Leavitt retired to his farm near Norcross, Georgia, in 1937. He became involved in local politics and later pursued a degree in journalism at the University of Georgia in Atlanta.
Sadly, Frank Simmons Leavitt, also known as Man Mountain Dean, passed away at his farm on May 29, 1953.
