Roddy Piper
Born: 1954-04-17 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: 2015-07-31
Known For: Acting
Biography
Roderick George Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, comedian and actor. In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, because of his Scottish heritage he was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. Piper earned the nicknames "Rowdy" and "Hot Rod" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to The Daily Telegraph, he is "considered by many to be the greatest 'heel' (or villain) wrestler ever". One of wrestling's most recognizable stars, Piper headlined multiple PPV events, including the WWF and WCW's respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. He accumulated 34 championships and hosted the popular WWF/E interview segment "Piper's Pit", which facilitated numerous feuds. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ric Flair, who dubbed him "the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling". Outside of wrestling, Piper acted in dozens of films and TV shows, most notably taking the lead role of John Nada in the 1988 cult classic They Live and a recurring role as a deranged professional wrestler called Da' Maniac on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He is also widely known for his role in Hell Comes to Frogtown as the character Sam Hell.
Filmography
2024
- Mr. McMahon as “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Archive Footage)
2023
- Superfan: The Story of Vladimir as Self (Archival Footage)
2022
- Biography: Wrestlemania I as Self (archival footage)
- WWE Rivals as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2021
- Biography: WWE Legends as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2020
- The Firefly Funhouse Match as Himself (archive footage)
2019
- Cyndi Lauper: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits as Self (archive footage)
2018
- Andre the Giant as Self (archive footage)
- Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2017
2016
- The Masked Saint as Nicky Stone
- Our Nation's Pride: The Best of Canadian Superstars as Rowdy Roddy Piper
- The Chair as Murphy
- WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness as Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- The Bet as Mr. Jablonski
2015
- The Reconciler as Russ
- It's Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story as Himself
- Portal to Hell!!! as Jack
- The Green Fairy as Oscar Wilde
- Lights Out as Detective Callahan
- Adventures of a Pizza Guy as Marek Slavomir
- WWE Table For 3 as Roddy Piper
- The Old Boys as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2014
- Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies as Rowdy Roddy Piper
- WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story as Himself
- Other Plans as Dean Evans
- I Am Santa Claus as Himself
- WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1 as Himself
- Wrestlemania Rewind as Roddy Piper
- WWE Rivalries
- WWE Legends' House as Himself
- Don't Look Back as Eddie Starks
- WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
- WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash as Himself
2013
- WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden as Himself
- The Very Best of Monday Nitro: Volume 2 as Himself
- PWG Sells Out: Volume 3 as Himself
2012
- WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009 as Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- Clear Lake as Wayne
- WWE RAW 1000
- WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection as Himself
2011
- Green Lantern: Emerald Knights as Bolphunga (voice)
- Pizza Man as Himself
- Breaking In as Mr. Weller
- The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol.1 as Himself
- Alien Opponent as Father Mulluzzo
- Fancypants as Smiley
- Timeline: The History of WWE – 1984 – As Told By Roddy Piper as Himself
- PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning as Himself
2010
- Storage Wars as Himself
- The Portal as Homeless George
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes as William Thurgood
- WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Roddy Piper and Terry Funk
2009
- Celebrity Ghost Stories as Self
- WWE WrestleMania XXV as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- A Family Underground as Self
- Bloodstained Memoirs as Himself
- WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event as Himself
2008
- WWE Royal Rumble 2008 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- A Gothic Tale as Narrator
- WWE Cyber Sunday 2008 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
- The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens as William Thurgood
- Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection as Himself
2007
- Life In The Fast Lane
- Blind Eye as Fred Mears
- Ghosts of Goldfield as Jackson Smith
- Inside MMA as Self - Guest
- Super Sweet 16: The Movie as Mitch Connors
- Street Team Massacre as Roddy
2006
- Honor as LT Tyrell
- Legion : The Final Exorcism as Lucas McMurter
- WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
- Domestic Import as Bronco Bill
- Shut Up and Shoot! as Yokum The Bartender
- WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 as Roddy Piper
- Legends Never Die as Himself
- The Damn! Show as Self
- TNA: The 50 Greatest Moments as Self
- Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story as Self
2005
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Da' Maniac
- The Greatest Stars of the 80's as Self
- Three Wise Guys as Pastor Roberts
- TNA Final Resolution 2005 as Roddy Piper (Special Guest Referee)
- The Lost Episodes of the XWF
- WWE Hall of Fame as Self - Inductee (as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper)
- Celebrity Wrestling
- WWE Hall of Fame 2005 as Himself
- WWE: Wrestlemania Recall as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2004
2003
- Cold Case as Sweet' Sil Tavern (2010)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- WWE Judgment Day 2003 as Roddy Piper
- The Mullets
- WWE Backlash 2003 as Roddy Piper
- WWE Wrestlemania XIX as Rowdy Roddy Piper
2002
- Ultimate Fights from the Movies as Nada (They Live) (archive footage)
2000
- Jack of Hearts as Detective Deeks
- WCW SuperBrawl 2000 as Roddy Piper (Referee)
1999
- WWE SmackDown as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Starrcade 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
- Last to Surrender as Nick Ford
- WCW The Great American Bash 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW SuperBrawl IX as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Slamboree 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
- The Shepherd as Miles
- Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows as Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- WCW Slamboree 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
- WCW The Great American Bash 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Thunder
- Hard Time as Randy
- WCW Fall Brawl 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Spring Stampede 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
- The Bad Pack as Dash Simms
- WCW SuperBrawl VII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW The Great American Bash 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Dead Tides as Mick Leddy
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- First Encounter as Lieutenant Edward Ganz
- WCW Uncensored 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWF Summer Flashback!
- WCW Bash at The Beach 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Slamboree 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1996
- WWE WrestleMania XII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Terminal Rush as Bartel
- Sci-fighters as Det. Cameron Grayson
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1996 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
- Marked Man as Frank Gibson
- WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (WWE President)
- WCW Starrcade 1996 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1995
- The Outer Limits as Marlon
- No Contest as Ice
- The Misery Brothers as Himself
- Tough and Deadly as Elmo Freech
- WCW Monday Nitro
- Jungleground as Lt. Jacob 'Jake' Cornell
- MADtv as Self
- WWE WrestleMania XI as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
1994
- Immortal Combat as John Keller
- WWE King of the Ring 1994 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania X as Roddy Piper (Referee)
- The Life And Times of Paul Boesch as Himself
- German Fan Favorites as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Back in Action as Frank Rossi
- The History Of WrestleMania
- Bret "Hit Man" Hart as Roddy Piper
1993
- Raw as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Walker, Texas Ranger as Cody 'The Crusader' Conway
1992
- Highlander: The Series as Anthony Galen
- WWE World Tour 1992 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE March to WrestleMania VIII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania VIII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Royal Rumble 1992 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- 3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Crunch Classic as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Wrestling's Hottest Matches as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Fighting Fit with Rowdy Roddy Piper as Self
1991
- Tagteam as Rick McDonald
- WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Greatest Hits as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE SuperTape: Volume 4 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Funniest Moments as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania VII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Ringside)
- WWE Survivor Series 1991 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- 2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE World Tour 1991 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
- WWE WrestleMania VI as 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
- The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage as Maurice Steiger
- WWE SuperTape: Volume 2 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleFest '90 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Royal Rumble 1990 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Survivor Series 1990 as Roddy Piper
- Wrestling Superheroes as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1989
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! as Roddy Piper
- WWE Survivor Series 1989 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania V as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Host)
- The Brains Behind the Brawn as Roddy Piper
- Buy & Cell as Cowboy
1988
- They Live as John Nada
- Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake as Roddy Piper
- The Making of 'They Live' as Self
- Hell Comes to Frogtown as Sam Hell
- Hulkamania 3 as Roddy Piper
1987
- The Best of the WWF: volume 10 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments as Roddy Piper
- WrestleMania III as Rowdy Roddy Piper
- The Best of the WWF: volume 11 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Highwayman as Preacher
- Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania III as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
- WWF Wrestling Challenge as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWF Superstars
- Body Slam as Quick Rick Roberts
- Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
- Inside the Steel Cage as Roddy Piper
- WWE Grudge Match as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat as Roddy Piper
- The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WrestleMania II as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Villains of the Squared Circle as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WrestleMania 2 as Rowdy Roddy Piper
1985
- Saturday Night's Main Event as Roddy Piper
- WrestleMania as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Best of the WWF: volume 4 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE War to Settle the Score as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- PNW 60th Anniversary Wrestling Extravaganza
- Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! as Roddy Piper
- Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- WrestleMania
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular as Self
- The Wrestling Classic as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams as Self
- Best of the WWF Volume 1 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Most Unusual Matches as Roddy Piper
- Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits as Roddy Piper
- Best of the WWF Volume 3 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1984
- Tuesday Night Titans as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1983
- NWA Starrcade 1983 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- NWA The Final Conflict as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- NWA The Race to Starrcade as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1981
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling as Roddy Piper
1978
- The One and Only as Leatherneck Joe Brady (uncredited)
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- WWF All-Star Wrestling as Roddy Piper
1973
- WWE Old School as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper