Maurice Tillet and Wrestling's Angels

THE HISTORY OF WRESTLING MANAGERS-Part 2

By Tom Burke

One of the most interesting and heart breaking stories deals with that of a wrestler and his manager. The union began in Singapore in 1939 and ended in 1954. The partnership lasted for fifteen years and is still talked about in wrestling circles today. The wrestler was a man named Maurice Tillet and the manager was Karl Pojello. Born in Russia to French parents, Tillet lived a normal life until he reached the age of seventeen. His head and hands started to swell. Acromegaly had begun. This is a disease causing swelling of the bones, caused by a malfunction of the pituitary gland. The gentle lad suddenly turned into a monster with an enlarged head and gross features. Even though his family had wealth, there was nothing that could be done for Maurice. He joined the French navy and gained a talent for various languages. After his discharge he was active in the cinema world making horror films. He also became a well known rugby star. Seeking a way to get away from all the looks and stares, he left France to see the world.

It was while he was in Singapore that he met Karl Pojello. A friendship sprung up between the two. Karl convinced Maurice that he should become a wrestler. He thought about it and agreed. After a very successful tour of Europe, Karl Pojello decided to bring Maurice (The Angel) Tillet to America. The timing was right. The American public took to the Angel, not with love, but hat. He was considered to be a villain. His looks preceded his kind heart and personality. This caused him to be a very lonely man. He won a world championship while in America. He defeated Steve (Crusher) Casey but still this did not make him a happy or contented man. He was a very devout Catholic and, through his prayers and faith, he was able to live day by day. However, his last day on earth was August 4, 1954, when he died of grief. Thirteen hours before his death, he had learned that his friend-manager, Karl Pojello, had died of cancer. The physicians attending to Tillet, who was 51 at the time, said that he died due to his grieving for his friend, Karl Pojello.

Tor Johnson (Johansson), was born on October 19, 1903, in Sweden.

Tor Johnson wasn't a big name wrestler. He mostly wrestled out of Los Angeles, middle of the card. Soon after arriving in LA, he found work as an actor, appearing in several movies. He had a full head of blonde hair early in his career, but shaved it for a more menacing look. Johnson took on the ring name Super Swedish Angel to capitalize on the fame of the more well known Swedish Angel (Phil Olafsson).

Today, Tor Johnson's major claim to fame is his appearance in some Ed Wood movies, most notably as a zombie detective, Inspector Dan Clay in "Plan 9 from Outer Space." Ed Wood is generally considered to be among the worst, if not the worst, movie directors of all time, and "Plan 9" is Wood's "greatest" achievement.

George "the Animal" Steele playted Johnson in the movie "Ed Wood." Johnson has since became a cult figure and by far today's the most well known wrestling Angel.

Johnson died on May 12, 1971, at the age of 67.





Super Swedish Angel - Houston