(WBIR) - Famed pro wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper has died in California at age 61.
Multiple sources including TMZ and wrestlinginc.com reported Friday night that Piper was found dead Friday at his Hollywood, Calif., home. He apparently died Thursday from a heart attack, according to the website.
Piper, a native of Canada, was in Knoxville last month for a Fanboy Expo gathering of pop culture stars.
He also appeared on 10News to promote his appearance.
"Fanboy Expo is very saddened to announce that our good friend Roddy Piper has passed away," Fanboy posted on its Facebook page. "He was a very giving man and he will be greatly missed. RIP our dear friend."
Piper trash-talked his way to the main event of the first WrestleMania and later found movie stardom.
Born Roderick Toombs, he was the second WWE Hall of Famer to die this summer following the June death of Dusty Rhodes. Piper's death also comes days after Hulk Hogan, his biggest rival for decades, was fired by the WWE. Hogan had used racial slurs in a conversation captured on a sex tape.
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.
