George Bell, formerly the tallest man in the United States at 7 feet, 8 inches, has died. He was 67.

On March 19, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office in Virginia posted a Facebook message announcing his death.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of former deputy George Bell,” the sheriff’s office stated. “He was well-known for many things, but those who worked with him will remember him for his kind and fun-loving nature. He will always be regarded as part of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office family.”

Bell served with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office from December 2000 until May 2014, according to the agency. His cause of death was not immediately known.

Bell, dubbed a “gentle giant” by his loved ones, died surrounded by family and friends in his Durham, North Carolina, home, according to ABC station WVEC-TV.

Growing up in Portsmouth, Bell was considered tall for his age, but he didn’t achieve his full height until his 20s, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The site also revealed that a medical disorder known as gigantism, characterized by the overproduction of growth hormone, diagnosed him.

Before working in law enforcement, Bell played basketball, something people regularly inquired about after they saw his true height, according to The New York Times.

He was a backup center for Biola University in California in the early 1980s before moving on to play with the Harlem Wizards, a professional basketball team akin to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Guinness World Records named him the tallest person in America in 2007, a title he held for several years. Bell has recently dabbled in acting, appearing as himself on Freakshow and in season 4 of American Horror Story.

“There are a lot of challenges for us being so tall,” he told AMC while promoting the reality show. “For example, how can I fit into automobiles, and where can I buy clothes?” I have trouble sleeping in beds.” He went on to say, “Those obstacles are not a concern for me. I’ve learned to accept them as they are and not let it become a mental issue.

Dawnie Bell, Bell’s daughter, told the Pilot what it was like to have her father. “My father loved people,” Dawnie, 37, explained, adding that he would regularly visit her primary school, where he was considered a “star.” She went on to say, “He loved any shape, any size, any color, any—he didn’t care who you were.” He simply liked people. He enjoyed life. He was simply a suitcase full of affection.