George Bell, America's Tallest Man And VA Native, Dead At 67

NORFOLK, VA — George Bell, a Virginia native who was once recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest man in America, has died. He was 67.

Bell, who stood at a towering 7-foot-8, was a Portsmouth native who also served as a deputy for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office from December 2000 until May 2014. The agency confirmed his death in a post shared on social media.

"He was well known for many things, but for those who worked with him, he will be remembered for his kind and fun-loving personality," the agency wrote. "He will always be considered a member of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office family."

In addition to his law enforcement career, Bell played college basketball at Morris Brown and Biola University. He also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Bell also acted, appearing on AMC's "Freakshow" and season four of "American Horror Story."

Bell held the Guinness World Record for the tallest man in America and the third-tallest in the world. In 2010, he was edged out by Igor Vovkovinskiy by one-third of an inch. Vovkovinskiy died in 2021 at 38 years old.