Dusty Rhodes, whose real name was Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., was an American professional wrestler, promoter, and trainer who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was born on October 11, 1945, in Austin, Texas, and died on June 11, 2015, at the age of 69.
Rhodes was known for his charismatic personality and flamboyant style in the ring, as well as his ability to connect with fans.
He won numerous championships throughout his career, including three National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championships.
Dusty Rhodes's cause of death was reported to be kidney failure. He had been hospitalized for several weeks prior to his death, and his health had been declining for some time.
Rhodes had two sons, Dustin Runnels, who is also a professional wrestler known as Goldust, and Cody Runnels, who is also a professional wrestler and goes by the name Cody Rhodes.
Both of his sons followed in his footsteps and have had successful careers in the wrestling industry.
Dusty Rhodes was married twice in his life. His first wife was Sandra Runnels, and they had two children together, Dustin and Kristin.
He later married Michelle Rubio in 1978, and they had one child together, a son named Cody.
Despite his success in the wrestling world, Dusty Rhodes also faced hard times throughout his life. He grew up in poverty and faced discrimination as a black man in the wrestling industry.