Hulk Hogan's friend and WWE star Roddy Piper died on July 30 at the age of 31. (Photo : Twitter/Rowdy Roddy Piper)
WWE star Roddy Piper, 61, died from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his Hollywood home on July 30, Thursday. The wrestling legend was also known for starring in the 2006 horror flick "Legion: The Final Exorcism" with his daughter Ariel Teal Toombs, who appeared in a 2012 "CSI: NY" episode.
Almost a week prior to his death, Piper defended Hulk Hogan over the racist rant he made on a 2007 sex tape. On July 24, the late WWE legend told TMZ Sports in an interview in West Hollywood that Hogan is not racist and he was around the time his son Nick Hogan got in a car accident when the sex tape was made.
In 1985, Piper wrestled in "Wrestlemania I" squaring off against Hogan and Mr. T. In 2005, the late wrestling legend was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame and was one of the top 50 WWE villains.
In 2006, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, according to Yahoo News. In the same year, he starred in "Legion: The Final Exorcism," which was directed by "Ghost Aliens" star David Heavener. Also known as "Costa Chica: Confession of an Exorcist," the horror flick also starred Heavener, "Big Baby" actress Jackeline Olivier, "Star Trek: Renegades" star Tad Atkinson and "Jet Set" actress Lee Benton, among others.
In November 2014, Piper said he was cancer free. He left a line-up of several upcoming films, including Larry Longstreth's horror flick "Tales of the Wicked Unseen" in which he is set to play Phil Grimm opposite "My Neighborhood" actor Dian Bachar as Will Grimm.
Born Roderick George Toombs, the late WWE star is survived by his wife Kitty Toombs and their daughters Ariel Teal, Shea Toombs and Falon Danika Toombs and son Colton Baird Toombs, who is pursuing a professional wrestling career.
