Roderick “Roddy” George Toombs also known by his ring name “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, has died at the age of 61.
According to celebrity website TMZ, the wrestling legend died from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood on Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday.
PHOTO CR: BRYAN BEDDER/GETTY IMAGES FOR WWE
“Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved my millions of fans around the world,” WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon said in a statement. “I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”
Rowdy made his wrestling debut in Canada at the age of 15, where he made his way to the ring playing bagpipes, and, as a result, was given the nickname “Roddy Piper.”
In a statement, WWE chairman Vince McMahon called Piper “one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world.”