Roderick George “Roddy” Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known by his ring name “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, actor, and podcast host.
In professional wrestling, Piper is best recalled for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later 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. He earned the nicknames “Rowdy” and “Hot Rod” by displaying his trademark “Scottish” rage, spontaneity, and quick wit. Industry veteran Ric Flair hailed Piper as “the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling”.
Roddy Piper cause of death
On July 31, 2015, Piper died in his sleep at the age of 61, in his home in Hollywood, California. His death certificate attributes this to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension, listing a pulmonary embolism as a contributing factor; TMZ reported this as a heart attack caused by the embolism. Piper is survived by his wife, Kitty, their four children and four grandchildren.
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Repo Man vs. Roddy Piper