Legendary Rowdy Roddy Piper: Wrestling Villain turned Iconic Actor
Rowdy Roddy Piper, born Roderick George Toombs, was a Canadian professional wrestler, actor, and podcaster.
Piper was a professional wrestler from 1973 until his retirement in 2011. He was known for his villainous persona and trash-talking promos, and he was one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1980s.
He won numerous championships during his career, including the NWA United States Championship, the WWF Intercontinental Championship, and the WCW United States Championship.
Piper is best remembered for his feud with Hulk Hogan in the mid-1980s, which culminated in the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania.
He also participated in the infamous "Piper's Pit" segments, where he would interview other wrestlers and often end up brawling with them.
Piper transitioned into acting in the 1980s and appeared in several movies, including "They Live," "Hell Comes to Frogtown," and "Body Slam."
The line "I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm out of bubblegum" from "They Live" has become a pop culture staple.
Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also ranked #78 on WWE's list of the top 500 wrestlers of all time.
Piper passed away on July 31, 2015, at the age of 61. The cause of death was a heart attack.
At the time of his death, Piper's net worth was estimated to be around $4 million. He made his fortune through his wrestling career, acting roles, and various business ventures.