WWE Champion 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dies At 61

Legendary wrestling champion "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at 61, World Wrestling Entertainment has confirmed.

The WWE Hall of Famer passed away in his Hollywood, Calif. home after suffering a heart attack in his sleep Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday, TMZ reported.

Piper, who also went by the name "Hot Rod" which was often seen blazoned across his shirt, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2006 but last fall said that he was cancer free.

In his monumental career, he was named Intercontinental Champion, World Tag Team Champion, WCW U.S. Champion and inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 in Los Angles.

He also acted in a number of Hollywood films and TV shows, his most successful film having been the 1988 sci-fi cult classic, "They Live," directed by John Carpenter.

Piper’s own Cinderella man story began at the age of 15 when he took on Larry “The Axe” Hennig but spectacularly lost in just 10 seconds.

The determined fighter rose up from that defeat to battle it out in rings in Winnipeg, Canada to Los Angeles before earning a place within the National Wrestling Alliance, the world's oldest wrestling organization, in the 1970s.

Among those also expressing their grievances over his loss was one of Piper's most famous competitors, Hulk Hogan.

"Totally lost for words, RIP, Roddy one, and God bless your family, I love you my brother, only love HH," he tweeted.

WWE CEO Vince McMahon also released a statement on his passing, calling him "one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE beloved by millions of fans around the world. I extend my deepest condolences to his family."

NWA President Bruce Tharpe similarly said his organization is "shocked" to hear of his death.

"He took part in so many historic and memorable NWA moments on television and PPV -- from his legendary "Dog Collar Match" against Greg Valentine to co-hosting Georgia Championship Wrestling with Gordon Solie to headlining for the first time in Mike LeBell's NWA territory in LA. We express our condolences to his family and may he Rest in Peace." he stated.

Fellow WWE Hall of Famers The Iron Sheik and Kevin Nash also tweeted out their condolences.

“Roddy Piper. I love you forever. God bless you Bubba," The Iron Sheik, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the same day as Piper, tweeted.

"RIP to Roddy Piper. Prayers to his family and loved ones," Kevin Nash also wrote.

Academy Award-winning film maker John Carpenter also expressed his heartbreak, tweeting: “I'm devastated by the passing of my friend Roddy Piper. Great wrestler, underrated actor, dear friend. Rest in peace, Rod.”

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. also tweeted: "The guy was a real entertainer. While he was often the villain, he had a gift to make you laugh and always enjoy the show. #RIPRoddy."

Piper's sudden death comes only one month after fellow former pro wrestler “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel died at the age of 53 at his home in Virginia.

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