Roddy Piper
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.
Acting
Movie
They Live
as John Nada
1988
TV
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
as Da' Maniac
2005
TV
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Cody 'The Crusader' Conway
1993
Movie
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
as Bolphunga (voice)
2011
TV
Saturday Night Live
as Self (uncredited)
1975
TV
Cold Case
as Sweet' Sil Tavern (2010)
2003
TV
Highlander: The Series
as Anthony Galen
1992
TV
Raw
as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1993
TV
Raw
as Roddy Piper
1993
TV
Raw
as Rowdy Roddy Piper
1993
TV
Raw
1993
TV
The Outer Limits
as Marlon
1995
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest
2003
TV
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
TV
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
1999
Movie
Hell Comes to Frogtown
as Sam Hell
1988
Movie
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
2018
TV
MADtv
as Self
1995
TV
Storage Wars
as Himself
2010
TV
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
as Roddy Piper
1989
Movie
The Masked Saint
as Nicky Stone
2016
TV
Mr. McMahon
as “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Archive Footage)
2024
Movie
WWE WrestleMania XXV
as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2009
TV
Breaking In
as Mr. Weller
2011