Roddy Piper
Biography
Roddy Piper was a Canadian performer who made his name in professional wrestling before turning to acting. Born in Saskatoon and raised in Winnipeg, he competed for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling between 1984 and 2000 and became one of the sport's most recognizable stars. Promoted as a Scot from Glasgow, he wore a kilt and made his entrances to bagpipe music, while his temper and quick wit earned him the nicknames Rowdy and Hot Rod. He headlined major pay-per-view events, among them WrestleMania and Starrcade, held 34 championships, and hosted the interview segment Piper's Pit. Ric Flair inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and called him the most gifted entertainer in professional wrestling history. As an actor he took the lead in They Live (1988) and played the wrestler Da' Maniac on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He died in 2015.
61years old at death
- Born Saskatoon
- Died Hollywood
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Roderick George Toombs (birth name)Also credited as Rowdy Roddy Piper and Rowdy
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 30 years1988 to 2018
Genres
- Action64%, 9 films
- Drama36%, 5 films
- Comedy21%, 3 films
- Crime21%, 3 films
- Documentary21%, 3 films
First and latest
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First role
Under promoter Al Tomko in Canada, Piper began his wrestling career. His first match took place in Churchill, Manitoba, against "midget wrestlers" and before a lumberjack audience.
A change of course
Piper was an amateur boxer before becoming a professional wrestler, and Gene LeBell awarded him a black belt in Judo.
Getting ready for a role
Piper came up with the They Live line about chewing bubble gum and kicking ass, and the fight over sunglasses with Keith David took three weeks to rehearse.
A first
Piper won his only Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship by defeating The Mountie at the 1992 Royal Rumble, then lost it to Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII.
A first
Piper was among the earliest wrestlers whose entrance music was performed by a live band. In February 1985, before his WWF Title match with Hulk Hogan at Madison Square Garden, the NYPD Pipes and Drums played his theme at the War to Settle the Score.
Behind the camera
In 2012, Piper and Don Coss started Portland Wrestling Uncut, bringing back the original Portland Wrestling and combining new wrestlers with old ones.
Roddy Piper movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Roddy Piper shares two films with Billy Blanks, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Billy Blanks's page
Grey Griffin's page
Keith David's page
Cary Elwes's page
Jason Isaacs's page
Corbin Bernsen's page
Joe EckardtDirector, 2 films, 2011 to 2014
All films by Joe Eckardt
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| WWE Hall of Fame | Won | ||
| Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.