Roddy Piper, WWE Legend Nicknamed ‘Rowdy’ And ‘Hot Rod,’ Dies At 61

The wrestling world lost a legend.

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper — whose real name was Roderick George Toombs — died in his sleep Thursday night, his spokesperson told TMZ Sports. He was 61.

Vince McMahon, WWE’s chairman and CEO, delivered this heartfelt statement upon hearing the news.

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Piper was one of WWE’s biggest stars in the 1980s and participated in the first Wrestlemania main event. Piper, also known as “Hot Rod,” was known for his battles with Hulk Hogan in both WWE and World Championship Wrestling, and also for his “Piper’s Pit” segment throughout the years.

Piper also had a lengthy acting career, most notably appearing in the 1988 sci-fi film “They Live.”

Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. The next year, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but he announced he was cancer free last November, according to TMZ.

Piper is survived by his wife, Kitty, and their four children.