The former sheriff's deputy played college basketball and also dabbled in acting with an appearance on "American Horror Story" ...

By 2007, he finally earned official recognition as America’s tallest man on “Good Morning America,” where he told the Associated Press, “I’ve been dealing with a small man’s world ...

Born in Portsmouth, Va. in 1957, Bell was first awarded the tallest-man title by Guinness World Records in 2007 before he was dethroned by Igor Vovkovinskiy, who was a fraction of an inch taller.

WCNC Charlotte reports Bell, who was 7 feet 8 inches tall, was also known as the world's tallest man. "The Portsmouth native gained the title in the Guinness World Records back in 2007 ...

Called a “gentle giant,” Bell, who was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, stood at an astounding 7 feet, 8 inches, and was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 as the tallest man ...