Former professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper died July 31, 2015, reportedly of natural causes, at his home in Hollywood, California. Piper was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006. He was 61.
(Bryan Bedder, Getty Images for WWE)
legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper died after suffering a heart attack in his Hollywood home. He was 61.
Born Roderick George Toombs, Piper joined the WWE in 1984 after getting his start with the NWA in the late 1970s.
Piper and Hogan met in landmark matchups including MTV's "The War to Settle the Score" and the first WrestleMania, where Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff took on Hogan and Mr. T.
His agent Jay Schacter confirmed the news, first reported by TMZ, to Variety.
"Rod passed peacefully in his sleep last night," Schacter said in an email. "I am shocked and beyond devastated."
Other WWE stars quickly shared their condolences on Twitter.
"RIP to Roddy Piper. Prayers to his family and loved ones," wrote WWE Hall-of-Famer Kevin Nash.
"RODDY PIPER. I LOVE YOU FOREVER. GOD BLESS YOU BUBBA," tweeted the Iron Sheik.
"My main man. Always had my back. RIP #RoddyPiper," wrote wrestler Virgil.
Piper, who made a foray into film acting, starring in John Carpenter's sci-fi pic "They Live," had suffered a bout of Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006 but was reportedly deemed cancer-free last November.
The wrestling icon was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was named one of the WWE's top 50 villains, as well.
Piper is survived by his wife, Kitty, and their four children.