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
- WWE Rivals as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Biography: Wrestlemania I as Self (archival footage)
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
- The Chair as Murphy
- The Bet as Mr. Jablonski
- WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness as Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- Our Nation's Pride: The Best of Canadian Superstars as Rowdy Roddy Piper
2015
- WWE Table For 3 as Roddy Piper
- Adventures of a Pizza Guy as Marek Slavomir
- It's Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story as Himself
- The Green Fairy as Oscar Wilde
- Lights Out as Detective Callahan
- The Old Boys as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Portal to Hell!!! as Jack
- The Reconciler as Russ
2014
- Wrestlemania Rewind as Roddy Piper
- WWE Rivalries
- WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story as Himself
- WWE Legends' House as Himself
- WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash as Himself
- WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
- Other Plans as Dean Evans
- WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1 as Himself
- I Am Santa Claus as Himself
- Don't Look Back as Eddie Starks
- Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies as Rowdy Roddy Piper
2013
- Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual as Self
- WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden as Himself
- The Very Best of Monday Nitro: Volume 2 as Self
- PWG Sells Out: Volume 3 as Himself
2012
- WWE RAW 1000
- WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection as Himself
- Clear Lake as Wayne
- WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009 as Roddy Piper (archive footage)
2011
- Breaking In as Mr. Weller
- Green Lantern: Emerald Knights as Bolphunga (voice)
- Alien Opponent as Father Mulluzzo
- Pizza Man as Self
- The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol.1 as Himself
- Fancypants as Smiley
- PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning as Himself
- Timeline The History of WWE – 1984 – As Told By Roddy Piper as Himself
2010
- Storage Wars as Himself
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Portal as Homeless George
- 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
- WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event as Himself
- A Family Underground as Self
- Bloodstained Memoirs as Himself
2008
- WWE Royal Rumble 2008 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Cyber Sunday 2008 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
- Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection as Himself
- The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens as William Thurgood
- A Gothic Tale as Narrator
2007
- Inside MMA as Self - Guest
- Blind Eye as Fred Mears
- Super Sweet 16: The Movie as Mitch Connors
- Ghosts of Goldfield as Jackson Smith
- Street Team Massacre as Roddy
- Life In The Fast Lane
2006
- WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
- Honor as LT Tyrell
- Sin-Jin Smyth as Trent Polly
- Domestic Import as Bronco Bill
- WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 as Roddy Piper
- TNA: The 50 Greatest Moments as Self
- Legends Never Die as Himself
- Shut Up and Shoot! as Yokum The Bartender
- Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story as Self
- The Damn! Show as Self
- Legion : The Final Exorcism as Lucas McMurter
2005
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Da' Maniac
- WWE Hall of Fame as Self
- TNA Final Resolution 2005 as Roddy Piper (Special Guest Referee)
- Celebrity Wrestling
- The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s as Self
- Three Wise Guys as Pastor Roberts
- WWE: Wrestlemania Recall as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Lost Episodes of the XWF
- WWE Hall of Fame 2005 as Himself
2004
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
- Cold Case as Sweet' Sil Tavern (2010)
- The Mullets
- WWE Wrestlemania XIX as Rowdy Roddy Piper
- WWE Backlash 2003 as Roddy Piper
- WWE Judgment Day 2003 as 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 Friday Night SmackDown as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Man Show as Self
- WCW Starrcade 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
- WCW Slamboree 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW SuperBrawl IX as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Last to Surrender as Nick Ford
- WCW The Great American Bash 1999 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
- Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
- WCW Thunder
- Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows as Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- Hard Time as Randy
- WCW The Great American Bash 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Slamboree 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Fall Brawl 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Spring Stampede 1998 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Shepherd as Miles
1997
- The Bad Pack as Dash Simms
- First Encounter as Lieutenant Edward Ganz
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Uncensored 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Dead Tides as Mick Leddy
- WCW SuperBrawl VII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW The Great American Bash 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWF Summer Flashback!
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WCW Slamboree 1997 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1996
- Marked Man as Frank Gibson
- WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (WWE President)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1996 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
- Terminal Rush as Bartel
- WWE WrestleMania XII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Sci-fighters as Det. Cameron Grayson
- WCW Starrcade 1996 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1995
- The Outer Limits as Marlon
- WCW Monday Nitro
- MADtv as Self
- No Contest as Ice
- Tough and Deadly as Elmo Freech
- WWE WrestleMania XI as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
- The Misery Brothers as Himself
- Jungleground as Lt. Jacob 'Jake' Cornell
1994
- WWE WrestleMania X as Roddy Piper (Referee)
- Back in Action as Frank Rossi
- Immortal Combat as John Keller
- WWE King of the Ring 1994 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- German Fan Favorites as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The History Of WrestleMania
- The Life And Times of Paul Boesch as Himself
- 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 SummerSlam 1992 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
- 3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania VIII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Wrestling's Hottest Matches as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE World Tour 1992 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Royal Rumble 1992 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Crunch Classic as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE March to WrestleMania VIII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Fighting Fit with Rowdy Roddy Piper as Self
1991
- WWE SuperTape: Volume 4 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Survivor Series 1991 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania VII as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Ringside)
- WWE World Tour 1991 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Funniest Moments as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- 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
- 2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
- WWE WrestleMania VI as 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
- The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage as Maurice Steiger
- WWE Survivor Series 1990 as Roddy Piper
- WWE SuperTape: Volume 2 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Royal Rumble 1990 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleFest '90 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling Superheroes as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1989
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! as Roddy Piper
- Buy & Cell as Cowboy
- WWE Survivor Series 1989 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE WrestleMania V as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Host)
- The Brains Behind the Brawn as Roddy Piper
1988
- They Live as John Nada
- Hell Comes to Frogtown as Sam Hell
- Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake as Roddy Piper
- Hulkamania 3 as Roddy Piper
- The Making of 'They Live' as Self
1987
- The Highwayman as Preacher
- WWE WrestleMania III as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments as Roddy Piper
- Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Best of the WWF: volume 11 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- The Best of the WWF: volume 10 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
- WWF Superstars as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWF Wrestling Challenge as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Body Slam as Quick Rick Roberts
- WrestleMania II as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Villains of the Squared Circle as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Grudge Match as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Inside the Steel Cage as Roddy Piper
- The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat as Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
1985
- WWE Saturday Night's Main Event as Roddy Piper
- WrestleMania as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams as Self
- Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (archive footage)
- The Wrestling Classic as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular as Self
- The Best of the WWF: volume 4 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Best of the WWF Volume 3 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! as Roddy Piper
- WWE War to Settle the Score as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits as Roddy Piper
- Most Unusual Matches as Roddy Piper
- Best of the WWF Volume 1 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- PNW 60th Anniversary Wrestling Extravaganza
1984
- Tuesday Night Titans as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84 as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1983
- NWA The Final Conflict as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- NWA Starrcade 1983 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 (uncredited)
- WWF All-Star Wrestling as Roddy Piper
1973
- WWE Old School as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper