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'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dead: Canadian Wrestler Was A Hulk Hogan Foe

The '80s wrestling star was born in Saskatoon.

Canadian-born wrestling star "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61.

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler died of cardiac arrest in his Hollywood home on Friday, TMZ reported.

WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon offered condolences on social media for the man many knew as "Hot Rod."

Born Roderick George Toombs in Saskatoon, Piper began wrestling after moving to Winnipeg, according to Slam! Sports.

He later moved to Los Angeles and captured the NWA Americas title in 1976.

Piper joined the WWE in 1984, where he developed a reputation as a villain, and tangled with fan favourites including Hulk Hogan.

Even though he was a Canadian, Piper played up his Scottish heritage by appearing in a kilt and entering the arena to bagpipe music.

He and Paul Orndorff formed a tag team that fell to Hogan and Mr. T at the first Wrestlemania in 1985.

In addition to his wrestling career, Piper had a number of movie roles, beginning with John Carpenter's "They Live" in 1988.

In that film he uttered the famous line, "I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum."

Numerous WWE wrestlers paid tribute to Piper on Twitter:

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