'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Passes Away at 61

Legendary professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper died on Thursday night at the age of 61. Reported by TMZ, he died from cardiac arrest on Thursday and was found in his home on Friday. The iconic wrestler that fans loved to hate was a huge part of the early years of the WWE fighting in early incarnations of Wrestlemania, including a boxing match against Mr T in Wrestlemania II.

Piper battled cancer in 2006 but told reporters that he was cancer free last November. Aside from wrestling, Piper was known for his acting roles in films like They Live and television shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and continued to work with the WWE up until 2014. He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and four children.

Roddy Pipper wasn't just an iconic wrestler, he was known for his skills on the microphone and had the ability to talk anyone under the table, especially during his segment "Piper's Pit." During one "Piper's Pit" segment, he smashed a coconut over the head of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, and it was one of the most iconic moments in professional wrestling.

Roddy Piper was a master of his craft and will be missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

I like to imagine that when he gets to St. Peter, he tells him that he's there to kick ass and chew bubblegum.

*sniff* I'm really gonna miss this crazy bastard.

One of my faves when I still watched wrestling in the late 80s/early 90s.

:(

So sad, He was a legendary character and Hot Rod will forever live on in the memories of every wrestling fan.

R.i.P. Rowdy Piper

RIP

Time to re-watch "They Live". "I'm giving you a choice. Either put on these glasses or start eating that trashcan!"

My all time favourite back in the day.

So shocked by this news :(

He was a great villain, his villainy made the early wwf what it was.

RIP Piper. :(

This begs the question, how and why are wrestler dying at such a (relatively) young age? I mean 60's? C'mon man.

My wife had to hug me and tell me this news. I'm deeply saddened by this.

@comicace3: Considering what they do to their bodies every day for many years it's actually very surprising that most of them live that long

I will ask the inevitable about the early deaths of so many professional wrestlers later.

Right now I'm just sad.

RIP Rowdy Roddy Piper. I absolutely loved his work, in wrestling, in movies and even in It's Always Sunny. His legend will always live on.

what????

First Dusty now Rowdy!?!?

~MiB

But... Who's going to kick ass and chew bubblegum? This sucks!

Makes you feel old, doesn't it? R.I.P., Roddy...

"Just when they think they have the answers, I change the questions!"

Probably the greatest personality of the 80's and one of the greatest mic maestros of all time.

Definitely the biggest star in history to never wear the gold.

Damn....

Sad day indeed. Yeah feeling old when all your childhood icons are dying off these days. :(

R.I.P

One of the masters of the mic and ring.

Standing ovation for the Hot Rod.

aww man that sux

This sucks, he was the best heel in wrestling, none of the chumps around today even hold a candle to the Rowdy one.

RIP.

RIP ya bastard

Now I need to assault a pacific islander with fruit

All out of bubblegum, a sad day indeed.

R.I.P to a legend.... it's a very sad day in wrestling.

I remember my dad taking me to see the WWF event in miami back when i was a kid. And rowdy was fighting macho man.

R.I.P

It should be mentioned in the article, Piper has a couple of comic book/toy connections: he was immortalized as a G.I. Joe figure in 2007, and voiced Bolphunga the Unrelenting in the 'Green Lantern: Emerald Knights' movie, in the segment that adapted Alan Moore's 'Why Mogo Doesn't Socialize' story.

R.I.P

Not a fan of wrestling, nor am I particularly familiar with him, but sorry to hear about his passing. Rest in Peace.

Damn.

Smh, this sucks. R.I.P. Hot Rod.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo...................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my favourite wrestlers of all time, I remember seeing him when I was young and immediately loving him because he wore his kilt.

RIP Hot Rod

Another legend passes away.

Good one! -- I gotta keep that in mind.

@prospero_locke:

My wife had to hug me and tell me this news. I'm deeply saddened by this.

You and me both, mon ami. We 80's kids need to stick together at a time like this.

@guardiandevil83:

But... Who's going to kick ass and chew bubblegum? This sucks!

Exactly. I just hope Ronda Rowsey isn't taken off her game tonight in her fight against Correia when she get wind of this news. She loved the guy, and personally asked him for permission to use his "Rowdy" moniker. First the Ultimate Warrior, now Piper. This just blows...

@kcomicfan:

What has this got to do with comic books?

its sad that he died but....

Because in its own way, Pro Wrestling IS a comi... Ahh, never mind.....

RIP Rowdy.

And kids ... steroids are bad.

@super_soldierxii: That dude was to little to be on roids

Just watched They Live, it's always been on my 'must see' list, wished I had watched it ages ago.

RIP.

The most Canadian sounding man on the planet...

You will be missed Hot Rod.

Not really. Not all wrestlers train the same way (i.e bodybuilding), or take care of their diet (protein, protein and more protein with limited carbs etc. etc.). The other two important elements required to stack muscle mass (genetics are important as well to be sure).

Doesn't mean they're not juicing. Steroids give more energy, endurance, strength and keep you going. They can also supplement the "lazier" wrestlers who tend not to hit the gym as much.

Look at the various UFC fighters busted for roids. A lot of them were not "huge". Depends how you train. WWE wrestlers are notoriously riddled with injury and various pains. Pain killers, enhancers, drugs of all kinds ... leads to an unhealthy lifestyle and shortened life expectancy. So few from the heyday have lived to see 70 thus far.

@super_soldierxii: Yeah but Roddy hadn't been a wrestler for years, he properly retired around 2010\11

No time limit. Pending the extent of the use, your body is damaged regardless whether you were using extensively 20 years ago, or today. The damage is done. It damages the heart long term. Among other issues ...

So if Roddy was abusing in the 80's and 90's, his life expectancy is reduced all the same. Body pays for it down the line ...

A sad year to be a wrestling fan, 2 legends in one year and hopefully that's it.