Wrestling Legend Rowdy Roddy Piper Dead At 61, RIP

The Hot Rod has passed away and far too young …

Wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61.   Roddy Piper, born Roderick George Toombs, died of an apparent cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood on Thursday night. The “Hot Rod” Piper was one of professional wrestling’s true icons who participated in WWE’s Wrestlemania 1 in 1985 where he squared off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.  Back in my youth when I used to watch wrestling, Piper was one of my favorites. His actions were off the charts and he could go from bad guy to good guy on the wrestling mat with ease. Of course we know that professional wrestling is sports entertainment, but Rowdy Roddy Piper was a master of entertainment and during his era of wrestling was truly the Golden Age. Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Roddy Piper is survived by his wife Kitty and their 4 kids, including 3 daughters and son Colton who’s pursuing a career in professional wrestling.

Shawn Michaels vs Roddy Piper from 1992

Wrestlers Sean Michaels and Roddy Piper, Announcers Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby the Brain Heenan, and Manager Sherry Martel. Sadly, 3 of 5 have died.

TMZ:

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 Piper makes his entrance at WrestleMania I