Wrestling legend "Rowdy"
Roddy Piper has died at the age
of 61.
Piper -- born Roderick George Toombs -- died
from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood
on Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday.
Piper was a wrestling icon -- one of the biggest
stars in the WWE back in the '80s, and even wrestled in "Wrestlemania I"
back in 1985 ... squaring off against
Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
Roddy's rep tells us, "I am devastated at
this news. Rod was a good friend as well as a client and one of the most
generous, sincere and authentic people I have ever known. This is a true loss
to us all."
Piper had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma
in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free. A family source tells us
he was "cancer free" at the time of his death.
A family member tells us, "Our family is
saddened by the sudden passing of our father and beloved husband, Roderick
Toombs aka Rowdy Roddy Piper."
Roddy was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame
back in 2005 and was one of the top 50 villains in the history of the WWE.
Piper had a long relationship with WWE -- last
wrestling back in 2008 ... but appeared on various WWE shows up until 2014.
Roddy is survived by his wife Kitty and their 4
kids -- including 3 daughters and son Colton who's pursuing a career in
professional wrestling.
The death is especially shocking considering we
just spoke to him on Friday and asked his opinion about the Hulk Hogan scandal.
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