Wrestler.
Born at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on 17 April 1954, son of Stanley Toombs and Eileen Anderson, his family lived in Quebec and Ontario before eventually settling at Winnipeg. He attended Windsor Park Collegiate where, in 1971, he won an amateur wrestling tournament. He fought in his first professional wrestling match when he was 20 years old and competed under the name of “Roddy the Piper” wearing a kilt, tartan shorts, and playing the bagpipes. He continued to “grapple” under the name Rowdy Roddy Piper, playing the role of a slightly deranged Scotsman. In 1984, he was hired by the World Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Entertainment, now WWE) and rose to the top ranks of televised wrestling, competing in over 7,000 matches. He performed in action films, television movies, and children’s cartoons. He retired from wrestling in 2014. He died at Hollywood, California on 31 July 2015.
“Saskatoon native Rowdy Roddy Piper was among first WrestleMania stars,” Globe & Mail, 16 August 2015.
“WWE Legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper dies at 61,” Variety, 31 July 2015.
“WWE legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper dead at age 61,” Washington Post, 31 July 2015.
“Wide variety of Manitobans left us in 2015” by Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press, 2 January 2016.
This page was prepared by Ian Stewart.
Page revised: 10 January 2021
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