WWE legend Roddy Piper smiles for the press. (Photo: Associated Press)
WWE wrestling legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper has died at his California home at the age of 61, the athlete and actor’s agent confirmed Friday. The WWE also confirmed that Piper died Friday, allegedly shortly after suffering from cardiac arrest.
“Rod passed peacefully in his sleep last night,” Jay Schacter told the publication in an e-mail.
The famous wrestler joined the WWE in 1984 — when it was still WWF, the World Wrestling Federation — after spending a number of years with the National Wrestling Alliance. He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and four children.
Born Roderick George Toombs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he was well known for his bouts with fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan, his biggest rival for decades, who was fired by the WWE.
Piper and Hogan battled for years and headlined some of the biggest matches during the 1980s. In one of the biggest, most memorable matches, Hogan and Mr. T defeated Piper and Paul Orndorff on March 31, 1985, at the very first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.
He was also known for matches against stars like Jack Brisco, Ric Flair and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Piper was a villain for the early portion of his career, once cracking a coconut over the skull of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.
The six-foot-two WWE Hall of Fame inductee’s signature move was the Sleeper Hold. Despite his Canadian roots, Piper focused on his Scottish heritage, coming down to the ring wearing a kilt and playing the bagpipes as a brawler from Glasgow. Piper retired in 2011 after wrestling and entertaining fans in over 7,000 matches. Mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey adopted Piper’s “Rowdy” nickname, with the wrestler’s permission, following his retirement.
Piper was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006, but was reportedly declared cancer-free in 2014. Fellow wrestlers and celebrities lamented his death on social media, with WWE chairman Vince McMahon calling Piper “one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world.”
Piper starred in Carpenter’s 1988 science-fiction film, “They Live,” in which he played a tough-guy drifter who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth.
“Devastated to hear the news of my friend Roddy Piper’s passing today. He was a great wrestler, a masterful entertainer and a good friend,” film director John Carpenter wrote on Facebook.
“Rest well friend, you will be missed. #lifeWellLived,” tweeted John Layfield.
“Roddy Piper. I love you forever. God bless you, Bubba,” The Iron Sheik tweeted.
