Terry Funk
Biography
Terry Funk was an American wrestler and actor whose career spanned more than 50 years and included several short-lived retirements. Born in Hammond, Indiana and raised in Amarillo, Texas, he was the son of the wrestler and promoter Dory Funk and began competing in 1965 in his father's Western States Sports promotion. He won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1975, holding it for 14 months, and later became known for the hardcore style he pioneered toward the end of his career. His championships included the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship and the WWF World Tag Team Championship, and he headlined ECW's November to Remember three times. He also acted in several films with Sylvester Stallone and was inducted into multiple halls of fame. He died in 2023.
79years old at death
- Born Hammond
- Died Phoenix
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Terrence Funk (birth name)Also credited as Chainsaw Charlie
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 27 years1978 to 2005
Every film, newest first
- 2005The RingerIMDb rating 5.8
- 1999Beyond the MatIMDb rating 7.6
- 1998Mom, Can I Keep Her?IMDb rating 3.5
- 1987Over the TopIMDb rating 5.9
- 1978Paradise AlleyIMDb rating 5.7
Genres
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A change of course
Funk's role in Paradise Alley, a 1978 movie starring Sylvester Stallone, opened the door to many projects with Stallone. Funk performed stunts on Rocky III and suggested to Stallone that Hulk Hogan be cast in it.
Getting ready for a role
Funk said he picked the "Chainsaw Charlie" persona as a nod to a barber and put the character's outfit together himself, borrowing pantyhose from Chyna and cutting off one leg.
A role that slipped away
In 2005, Funk got an offer from World Wrestling Entertainment to be at the ECW reunion show One Night Stand. He said no and instead worked Hardcore Homecoming, an ECW nostalgia show put together by Shane Douglas.
A first
On April 13, 1997, Funk headlined Barely Legal, ECW's first pay-per-view, and won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship from Raven. Earlier that night, a triple threat win over The Sandman and Stevie Richards earned him that match.
Terry Funk movies on Netflix
Worked with
Terry Funk shares two films with Sylvester Stallone, 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
Sylvester Stallone's page
Brian Cox's page
Robert Loggia's page
Johnny Knoxville's page
Armand Assante's page
Brinke Stevens's page
All films by Barry W. Blaustein
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.