He saved the entire planet.
Rest In Peace, Rowdy, you were always one of my favorites.
Wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61 ... TMZ Sports has learned.
Piper -- born Roderick George Toombs -- died from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood on Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday.
Piper was a wrestling icon -- one of the biggest stars in the WWE back in the '80s, and even wrestled in "Wrestlemania I" back in 1985 ... squaring off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
Roddy's rep tells us, "I am devastated at this news. Rod was a good friend as well as a client and one of the most generous, sincere and authentic people I have ever known. This is a true loss to us all."
Piper had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free. A family source tells us he was "cancer free" at the time of his death.
A family member tells us, "Our family is saddened by the sudden passing of our father and beloved husband, Roderick Toombs aka Rowdy Roddy Piper."
Roddy was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame back in 2005 and was one of the top 50 villains in the history of the WWE.
Piper had a long relationship with WWE -- last wrestling back in 2008 ... but appeared on various WWE shows up until 2014.
Roddy is survived by his wife Kitty and their 4 kids -- including 3 daughters and son Colton who's pursuing a career in professional wrestling.
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If you ever want to see a cool movie, check out the Roddy Piper star vehicle "They Live".
Freaking great flick. Conceptually. Not sure how long it stays great, it get's typical B-movie
actiony at the end I am sure. But I liked it and thought he was great IN IT.
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I understand he had a heart attack. Shame because he was in good shape.
I loved hating him. Jimmy Superfly Snuka was my favorite.
:-)
May he rest in God's comfort.
:-)
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Originally Posted by OLS:
If you ever want to see a cool movie, check out the Roddy Piper star vehicle "They Live".
Freaking great flick. Conceptually. Not sure how long it stays great, it get's typical B-movie
actiony at the end I am sure. But I liked it and thought he was great IN IT.
That's the movie the clip I posted in the OP is from.
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Originally Posted by icehog3:
Favorite moment may have been when he smashed Jimmy Snuka in the head with a coconut on Piper's Pit.
This.
I, too, liked Snuka the best, even when he went "bad guy". Watched wrestling every Sat night at 11:30 p.m with my granddad in the mid to late-70s. Who among us hasn't wanted to pull a Rufus "Freight Train" Jones on someone at work?? Or give someone the Greg Valentine "Atomic Elbow"?
RIP Mr. Piper, kilt and all.
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