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{{Short description|English actor and basketball player}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{infobox basketball biography
| name = Neil Fingleton
| image = NEIL-FINGLETON-resize.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1980|12|18}}
| birth_place = [[Durham, England|Durham]], [[County Durham]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2017|2|25|1980|12|18}}
| death_place = Durham, County Durham, England
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 7
| weight = 168 kg
| high_school = [[Holy Name Central Catholic High School|Holy Name Central Catholic]]<br/>([[Worcester, Massachusetts]])
| college = *[[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] (2001–2002)
*[[Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball|Holy Cross]] (2002–2004)
| draft_year = 2005
| career_start = 2004
| career_end = 2007
| career_number = 15
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| years1 = 2004
| team1 = Boston Frenzy
| years2 = 2005–2006
| team2 = [[Tees Valley Mohawks]]
| years3 = 2006
| team3 = [[CB Illescas]]
| years4 = 2006–2007
| team4 = CB Ciudad Real
| highlights = * Third-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (2000)
* [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All-American]] ([[2000 McDonald's All-American Boys Game|2000]])
}}
'''Neil Fingleton''' (18 December 1980 – 25 February 2017)<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary - Neil Fingleton, actor and star of Game of Thrones |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15135251.obituary-neil-fingleton-actor-and-star-of-game-of-thrones/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=HeraldScotland |language=en}}</ref> was an English actor and basketball player. Neil became the tallest living British-born man and the tallest man in the [[European Union]] at 7 ft 7.56 in (232.6 cm) and among the 25 tallest men in the world.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100530121912/http://www.neilfingletonlive.com/About_the_Artist.html Official website] on [[archive.org]].</ref><ref name="high honour">{{cite news|last=Toland|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/NEWS/702160734/0/FRONTPAGE|title=A high honor|work=Worcester News & Telegram|date=16 February 2007|access-date=10 July 2007|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530051933/https://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070216%2FNEWS%2F702160734%2F0%2FFRONTPAGE|url-status=dead}}</ref>
This title has been confirmed by the ''[[Guinness
==Life and career==
Fingleton was born in [[Durham, England]], in 1980, to mother Christine and father Michael. He had an older brother, Michael, and an older sister, Keely.<ref name="deathinfo">{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Laura|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/funeral-game-thrones-star-neil-12708054|title=Funeral of Game of Thrones star Neil Fingleton to be held at Durham Cathedral|work=Chronicle Live|date=8 March 2017|accessdate=16 June 2018}}</ref> Fingleton decided to attend high school in the [[United States]] after attending a basketball camp in [[Connecticut]] when he was 16. In 1997, Fingleton moved from Durham to [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], and began attending [[Holy Name Central Catholic High School]], graduating in 2000.<ref name="UNC">{{cite web|title=Player Bio: Neil Fingleton|url=http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205674002&DB_OEM_ID=3350|website=GoHeels.com|publisher=[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]|accessdate=2 April 2017|___location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina}}</ref> Fingleton's coach was [[J. P. Ricciardi]], who would later become general manager of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] baseball team.<ref name="high honour" /> Fingleton helped the Holy Name basketball team to the Central Massachusetts Division I title and a berth in the Massachusetts final game in 1999, and a 22–4 record in 2000.<ref name="UNC"/>
Fingleton was awarded 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. In August 2000, Fingleton had back surgery and then earned a medical [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] from North Carolina.<ref name="UNC"/> Fingleton played only one game with North Carolina then transferred to Holy Cross in 2002.<ref name="D-League">{{cite web|title=Neil Fingleton|url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/neil_fingleton.html|publisher=[[NBA G League|NBA Development League]]|accessdate=25 March 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627092449/http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/neil_fingleton.html|archivedate=27 June 2006|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>That game was a 58–54 loss to [[Davidson College]] on 20 November 2001. Fingleton missed both field goal attempts and committed two turnovers. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20021011234554/http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/scores/20011120/dadnav.html Boxscore])</ref> Fingleton graduated from Holy Cross in 2004 with a degree in history.<ref name="new career">{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Andrew|title=Neil Fingleton '04: Exploring a New Career|url=http://magazine.holycross.edu/issue_45_2/45_2_alumni_spotlights/45_2_neil|work=Holy Cross Magazine|date=Spring 2011|volume=45|issue=2}}</ref>
Fingleton debuted professionally in the 2004–2005 season with the Boston Frenzy of the [[ABA 2000|ABA]]. The Frenzy waived Fingleton in December 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=McKay|first=Neil|title=Why Neil is ready for another giant leap.|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Why+Neil+is+ready+for+another+giant+leap.-a0129307187|work=The Journal (Newcastle, England)|accessdate=2 June 2012|date=26 February 2005}}</ref> In the [[2005 NBA Development League Draft]], the [[Austin Toros]] selected Fingleton as the eighth pick in the fifth round. On 6 December 2005, Fingleton started playing with the [[English Basketball League]] team [[Tees Valley Mohawks]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Peter|title=Sound and fury|work=Evening Standard|date=7 December 2005|page=41|url=http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/basketball/tm_objectid=16457354}}{{dead link|date=July 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sound+and+fury.-a0139517258 Alt URL]</ref> In November 2006, Fingleton signed with Spanish team [[CB Illescas]] and later with [[Ciudad Real]].<ref>{{cite web|title=El gigante Fingleton cambia el Illescas por el Ciudad Real|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=35491|publisher=[[Liga ACB]]|language=Spanish|date=23 November 2006|accessdate=2 June 2013|archive-date=18 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718091621/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=35491|url-status=dead}}</ref> After an injury forced him to retire in 2007, he returned to his home city of [[Durham, England|Durham]] to pursue a career in showbusiness.
On the [[Guinness World Records]] website, Fingleton says:<blockquote>I am one of three siblings – my sister who is 6'3" is the eldest at 30, my brother is 6'8" who is 29 and I am 7'7" at 26 ... my mother is 6 foot and my 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 7'7.57.<ref name=guin />
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.<ref name=guin>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/2008/neil_fingleton.aspx|title=Guinness World Records - Book 2008 - Neil Fingleton|date=25 March 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325150028/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/2008/neil_fingleton.aspx|archivedate=25 March 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
I have been doing acting work since my basketball career finished. I spent eight 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 [[Los Angeles|LA]] soon to jump in with both feet so to speak.<ref name=guin /></blockquote>
Two 2007 British TV documentaries, ''Britain's Tallest Men'' and ''Superhuman: Giants'' featured Fingleton and covered the difficulties and constant attention, quite often considerable rudeness, that he faces day to day.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tvline.com/2017/02/26/neil-fingleton-dies-game-of-thrones-mag-the-mighty-dead/ | title = Thrones' Neil Fingleton Dead at 36 | first = Michael | last = Ausiello | date = 26 February 2017 | accessdate = 27 February 2017 | work = [[TVLine]] | archive-date = 26 February 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170226202944/http://tvline.com/2017/02/26/neil-fingleton-dies-game-of-thrones-mag-the-mighty-dead/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
He appeared in the film ''[[47 Ronin (2013 film)|47 Ronin]]'', starring [[Keanu Reeves]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whoaisnotme.net/articles/2011_0912_47r.htm|title=47 Ronin|accessdate=26 April 2015}}</ref> From 2014 to 2017 Fingleton played the giant Mag the Mighty in the TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]''. He also appeared in the 2015 film ''[[Jupiter Ascending]]'', starring [[Channing Tatum]] and [[Mila Kunis]]. He played Russian General's Bodyguard 1 in the [[20th Century Fox|Fox Studios]] film ''[[X-Men: First Class]]'', and he provided the motion capture for the CGI character [[Ultron]] (which was voiced by [[James Spader]]) in the [[Marvel Studios]] film ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]''.
Fingleton appeared in a two-part serial written by [[Toby Whithouse]] for the [[Doctor Who (series 9)|9th series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', filming in January 2015 in Cardiff. He played the villain "The Fisher King", an alien warlord. The series was transmitted in autumn 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/e03e1e3f-c5c3-4d48-8212-6bf6d1ad9608 |title=Filming Begins on Doctor Who, Series 9 |author=The Doctor Who Team |date=14 January 2015 |website=Doctor Who |publisher=[[BBC One]] |accessdate=14 January 2015 }}</ref>
==Death==
Fingleton died on 25 February 2017, at the age of 36, at his home in [[Gilesgate]].<ref name="deathinfo" /> The cause of death has been reported by British media as heart failure;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/feb/26/neil-fingleton-game-of-thrones-star-and-uks-tallest-man-dies-aged-36 |title=Neil Fingleton, Game of Thrones star and UK's tallest man, dies aged 36 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 February 2017 |accessdate=27 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-neil-fingleton-20170227-story.html|title=Neil Fingleton, 'Game of Thrones' giant and a former basketball player, dies at 36|last=Saad|first=Nardine|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=27 February 2017 |access-date=2017-02-28}}</ref> however his brother says he died of pneumonia in the documentary ''Big Smooth''. He is survived by his mother and his two siblings.<ref name="deathinfo" /> His funeral was held at [[Durham Cathedral]] on 17 March.<ref>{{cite news|last=Engelbrecht|first=Gavin|title=Hundreds mourn Game of Thrones star Neil Fingleton as funeral held at Durham Cathedral|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15165182.Hundreds_mourn_Game_of_Thrones_star_Neil_Fingleton_as_funeral_held_at_Durham_Cathedral/|work=The Northern Echo|date=17 March 2017|accessdate=16 June 2018}}</ref>
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|2011|| ''[[X-Men: First Class]]'' || Russian General's Bodyguard #1 ||
|-
|2013|| ''[[47 Ronin (2013 film)|47 Ronin]]'' || Lovecraftian Samurai ||
|-
|2014-2017|| ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' || Giant Wight #2 / Mag the Mighty ||
|-
|2015|| ''[[Jupiter Ascending]]'' || Sargorn Fight Sequence ||
|-
|2015|| ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'' || [[Ultron]] || Motion capture only
|-
|2015|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || The Fisher King || 9th series
|}
==See also==
* [[
* [[
* [[List of tallest people]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|2807170}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091016081151/http://www.sevenfootseven.com/ 7 foot 7 – Fingleton's clothes shop]}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Christopher Greener]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=Britain's tallest living man | years=January 2007 – 25 February 2017}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Paul Sturgess (basketball)|Paul Sturgess]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fingleton, Neil}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Apollon Patras B.C. players]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Greece]]
[[Category:British expatriate basketball people]]
[[Category:British expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:British expatriate basketball people in Spain]]
[[Category:CB Illescas players]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:English men's basketball players]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball players]]
[[Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans]]
[[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Durham, England]]
[[Category:English male actors]]
[[Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]
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