Topeka ? For years, Daniel Gilchrist heard the same three questions: How tall are you? What is your shoe size? Do you play basketball?

The answers are easy. Gilchrist is 7 foot, 7 inches tall, wears a size 22 shoe, and yes, he played ball in high school but doesn’t anymore.

Recently, however, friends started asking Gilchrist a new question, one he isn’t completely comfortable with yet.

Can I have your autograph?

Gilchrist, 23, has been signed to play the title role in the film “Andre: Heart of the Giant.” Filming is scheduled to start in March, and the movie will be released in October. Gilchrist said filming would take place in Los Angeles, Montreal, Paris and Palm Springs, Fla.

Andre Roussimoff, aka the Gentle Giant, was a professional wrestler with the World Wrestling Federation. He died Jan. 27, 1993, at age 46 from complications of acromegaly, or giantism. Roussimoff was 7 foot, 4 inches tall and weighed 540 pounds.

The film is independent at this point, but director Drew Sky is in talks with major studios, said Stephen Boulton, Gilchrist’s agent. Gilchrist was cast after the actor originally scheduled to play the role, Matthew McGrory, died in August. McGrory played a giant in the film “Big Fish” in 2003.

Gilchrist said his height came from “good genes,” not acromegaly. His father is 6 foot, 8 inches; his mother is 6 foot, 1 inch; and his brother and sister are 6 foot, 5 inches and 6 foot, 2 inches, respectively.

Diane Keith, who is 5 feet tall, stands on a stepladder next to 7-foot-7 inch Daniel Gilchrist. The pair worked together at the Shawnee County Courthouse. Gilchrist, 23, has been signed to play the title role in the film Andre:

He said he doesn’t remember ever being shorter than anyone. Even in kindergarten, Gilchrist stood a head taller than his classmates. And he hit 7 feet as a freshman in high school.

Gilchrist recently quit his job in the carpentry shop of the Shawnee County Courthouse. He towered over his workmates, automatically ducked his head to go through doorways and had to slouch while riding the elevator.

Getting into mode

Every day, he smiles when people gawk at his height, politely answers the three questions they inevitably ask and takes all the attention in stride. And he knows that a main reason he was cast in the movie is because of his height.

He also knows those experiences will help his performance.

“Right now, I’m concentrating on getting into Andre mode,” Gilchrist said. “I want to try to get into his head. We’re both tall, and we’ve experienced the difficulties. That part is easy.”

Speaking about everyone who stands significantly taller than average, Gilchrist said: “We may be big, but we’re people, too. Being stared at, all the whispering and talking – it gets old. I wish people would accept us and not look at us like a freak show.”

He also doesn’t want to be typecast as “the thug or someone for the hero to beat up.”

Don’t misunderstand him, though. Gilchrist isn’t complaining, he is just explaining what life as a giant is like. He described himself as a laid-back, happy-go-lucky kind of guy who liked his height best when he was 6 foot, 6 inches tall.

But, he said with a shrug and a grin, you can’t change your height, so you just need to go with it.

That acceptance of whatever life gives you and his inner strength have won Gilchrist several fans already.

Bruce Smith, a volunteer at the Topeka Civic Theatre for more than 20 years, said Gilchrist – who starred as the creature in TCT’s “Frankenstein” last year – breaks the stereotype of the big guy.

“There is a gentleness you really don’t expect to see there,” Smith said. “He brings a very unexpected quiet strength” to the stage and his personal relationships.

Just an ‘average guy’

Smith said he doesn’t think Gilchrist’s future in the arts will be limited by his size.

“He’s just an average guy until you stand next to him,” Smith said. “Then you notice how tall he is. And he is tall.”

Diane Keith, who stands 5 feet tall, saw Gilchrist on a daily basis at the courthouse, where she is an administrative assistant. She is thrilled with his success and has been spreading the word on his behalf.

And she promised Gilchrist that she plans to start the Daniel Gilchrist Shawnee County Courthouse Fan Club.

Gilchrist smiled but didn’t say anything. It will take him a while to get used to the fanfare.