Roddy Piper

Roddy Piper

1954-04-17 – 2015-07-31 (age 61) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
View on IMDb ↗

Biography

Roderick George Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, comedian and actor.

In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, because of his Scottish heritage he was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. Piper earned the nicknames "Rowdy" and "Hot Rod" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to The Daily Telegraph, he is "considered by many to be the greatest 'heel' (or villain) wrestler ever".

One of wrestling's most recognizable stars, Piper headlined multiple PPV events, including the WWF and WCW's respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. He accumulated 34 championships and hosted the popular WWF/E interview segment "Piper's Pit", which facilitated numerous feuds. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ric Flair, who dubbed him "the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling".

Outside of wrestling, Piper acted in dozens of films and TV shows, most notably taking the lead role of John Nada in the 1988 cult classic They Live and a recurring role as a deranged professional wrestler called Da' Maniac on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He is also widely known for his role in Hell Comes to Frogtown as the character Sam Hell.

Photos

Known For

They Live
They Live

1988

as John Nada

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

2011

as Bolphunga (voice)

WWE WrestleMania III
WWE WrestleMania III

1987

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Jack of Hearts
Jack of Hearts

2000

as Detective Deeks

Pizza Man
Pizza Man

2011

as Self

Hell Comes to Frogtown
Hell Comes to Frogtown

1988

as Sam Hell

Andre the Giant
Andre the Giant

2018

as Self (archive footage)

WrestleMania
WrestleMania

1985

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

WWE Royal Rumble 2008
WWE Royal Rumble 2008

2008

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

WWE King of the Ring 1994
WWE King of the Ring 1994

1994

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Ultimate Fights from the Movies
Ultimate Fights from the Movies

2002

as Nada (They Live) (archive footage)

No Contest
No Contest

1995

as Ice

WWE WrestleMania VIII
WWE WrestleMania VIII

1992

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Body Slam
Body Slam

1986

as Quick Rick Roberts

WWE Wrestlemania XIX
WWE Wrestlemania XIX

2003

as Rowdy Roddy Piper

Dead Tides
Dead Tides

1997

as Mick Leddy

WWE Royal Rumble 1992
WWE Royal Rumble 1992

1992

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

The Portal
The Portal

2010

as Homeless George

WWE WrestleMania V
WWE WrestleMania V

1989

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Host)

WrestleMania II
WrestleMania II

1986

as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper