"Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
#1
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"Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
http://www.tmz.com/2015/07/31/roddy-...estler-cancer/
They Live... Hell Comes to Frogtown... god damned classics.
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 at a home in Hollywood at around noon 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 Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free.
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.
Piper -- born Roderick George Toombs -- died from cardiac arrest at a home in Hollywood at around noon 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 Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free.
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.
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
Bummer He was supposed to be here for a showing of They Live in a couple months.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I had the pleasure of meeting him 3 years ago. Unbelievably nice guy. RIP
Who'da thunk in 1985 that, 30 years after Wrestlemania I, that Hulk would be a villain and Piper would be beloved?
Who'da thunk in 1985 that, 30 years after Wrestlemania I, that Hulk would be a villain and Piper would be beloved?
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Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
We just aired an interview with him earlier this week. How weird to know he would be gone in a few days...
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Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
He was a total class act. I shared a limo with him after a convention several years back and he was so gracious, laid back and COOL.
"They Live" is one of my favorite '80s movies, and his lines, scene chewing and THAT FIGHT will go down in infamy as undeniably classic.
"They Live" is one of my favorite '80s movies, and his lines, scene chewing and THAT FIGHT will go down in infamy as undeniably classic.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I am in the minority but his horrible acting nearly ruined They Live, imo. But I can't deny his popularity and bigger-than-life personality. He was one of the select few pro wrestlers that I would've paid to watch. RIP Roddy.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
Awww, hell. That totally sucks.
Piper was a villain I always loved. He was so charismatic and likeable most of the time that you could easily forgive him doing some underhanded stuff.
And on screen he was actually pretty good. I always wondered why he didn't get more action roles after They Live. He was really good in that one.
Damn.
R.I.P. Rowdy Roddy Piper. You will be missed.
Piper was a villain I always loved. He was so charismatic and likeable most of the time that you could easily forgive him doing some underhanded stuff.
And on screen he was actually pretty good. I always wondered why he didn't get more action roles after They Live. He was really good in that one.
Damn.
R.I.P. Rowdy Roddy Piper. You will be missed.
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I just saw They Live for the first time a couple weeks ago. He was a poor actor, but it was a B movie. More importantly, he came across as likable.
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I only knew him from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and his two episodes were pretty funny.
#14
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
A class act. Probably the one wrestler that could have went Hollywood but roles kept going to Hogan (like the title in wrestling). Dude could cut one of the best promos in the world and had some of the best movie lines as well. He's also one of the most down to Earth people around. As others said, meeting him he didn't come off as a celebrity or I'm better than you. He took the time to make each fan feel special and let them experience something magically (like a sleeper hold). This planet is going to miss him dearly.
#16
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Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I felt like I was punched in the stomach when I heard the news. My absolute favorite wrestler when wrestling was at it's height. I saw him in person once at the Prince of Darkness premiere. He escorted Cyndi Lauper to the showing. I was in awe being like 6 feet away from him. He was that cool to me.
Rest in peace, Hot Rod.
Rest in peace, Hot Rod.
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
You know, it's funny - I've been using a recording of the, "I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bublegum," line for over a year on Vista Records Radio. I sure didn't think when I added that spot a year ago that he'd be dead now.
But I'll definitely keep that spot in the rotation. It's a great line and he delivered it perfectly.
But I'll definitely keep that spot in the rotation. It's a great line and he delivered it perfectly.
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
They live, he sleeps.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - officially out of bubble gum - Dead at 61
I am a fan of Hell Comes to Frogtown as well as They Live. I was not a big fan of wrestling in the 80's but I really liked Roddy...very charismatic.
RIP
RIP