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WWE wrestling legend 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper has died at his California home at the age of 61, the athlete's agent told Variety Friday.
"Rod passed peacefully in his sleep last night," Jay Schacter told the publication in an e-mail.
Piper suffered a heart attack shortly before his death, Variety said.
The wrestler joined the WWE in 1984 after spending a number of years with the National Wrestling Alliance.
He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and four children.
Born Roderick George Toombs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he was well known for his bouts with fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Piper's death comes days after Hogan, his biggest rival for decades, was fired by the WWE.
Piper and Hogan battled for years and headlined some of the biggest matches during the 1980s. Hogan and Mr. T defeated Piper and Paul Orndorff on March 31, 1985, at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.
Piper was a villain for the early portion of his career, once cracking a coconut over the skull of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
The six-foot-two WWE Hall of Fame inductee's signature move was the Sleeper Hold.
Numerous fellow wrestlers and celebrities lamented his death on social media.
"Devastated to hear the news of my friend Roddy Piper's passing today. He was a great wrestler, a masterful entertainer and a good friend," film director John Carpenter wrote on Facebook.
Piper starred in Carpenter's 1988 science-fiction film, "They Live."
"Roddy Piper. I love you forever. God bless you, Bubba," The Iron Sheik tweeted.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/07/31/wrestling-legend-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/
"Rod passed peacefully in his sleep last night," Jay Schacter told the publication in an e-mail.
Piper suffered a heart attack shortly before his death, Variety said.
The wrestler joined the WWE in 1984 after spending a number of years with the National Wrestling Alliance.
He is survived by his wife, Kitty, and four children.
Born Roderick George Toombs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he was well known for his bouts with fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Piper's death comes days after Hogan, his biggest rival for decades, was fired by the WWE.
Piper and Hogan battled for years and headlined some of the biggest matches during the 1980s. Hogan and Mr. T defeated Piper and Paul Orndorff on March 31, 1985, at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.
Piper was a villain for the early portion of his career, once cracking a coconut over the skull of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
The six-foot-two WWE Hall of Fame inductee's signature move was the Sleeper Hold.
Numerous fellow wrestlers and celebrities lamented his death on social media.
"Devastated to hear the news of my friend Roddy Piper's passing today. He was a great wrestler, a masterful entertainer and a good friend," film director John Carpenter wrote on Facebook.
Piper starred in Carpenter's 1988 science-fiction film, "They Live."
"Roddy Piper. I love you forever. God bless you, Bubba," The Iron Sheik tweeted.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/07/31/wrestling-legend-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/