RIP "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

[Crippler]

Wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Piper -- born Roderick George Toombs -- died from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood on Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday.

Piper was a wrestling icon -- one of the biggest stars in the WWE back in the '80s, and even wrestled in "Wrestlemania I" back in 1985 ... squaring off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Roddy's rep tells us, "I am devastated at this news. Rod was a good friend as well as a client and one of the most generous, sincere and authentic people I have ever known. This is a true loss to us all."

Piper had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free. A family source tells us he was "cancer free" at the time of his death.

A family member tells us, "Our family is saddened by the sudden passing of our father and beloved husband, Roderick Toombs aka Rowdy Roddy Piper."

Roddy was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame back in 2005 and was one of the top 50 villains in the history of the WWE.

Piper had a long relationship with WWE -- last wrestling back in 2008 ... but appeared on various WWE shows up until 2014.

Roddy is survived by his wife Kitty and their 4 kids -- including 3 daughters and son Colton who's pursuing a career in professional wrestling.

The death is especially shocking considering we just spoke to him on Friday and asked his opinion about the Hulk Hogan scandal.

http://www.tmz.com/2015/07/31/roddy-piper-dead-dies-wwe-wrestler-cancer/

WOW! 2015 is not going well at all :henry1:

 

[PHX]

I saw him trending on twitter and thought he had said something crazy on this Hogan shit or something then come to find out he passed was heart breaking. Really can't believe he is gone. R.I.P

 

[Jay]

2015 has to be one of the saddest years in wrestling. here's to the Rowdy one.

 

[Deezy]

This is the worst thing about getting older, every part of your childhood goes away. Piper if anything, was a survivor. Homeless, grew up on a reservation and saved by the sport we all love, been stabbed, shot and overcame cancer. Lots can be said, mostly positive and some negative but the fact remains that he was a maverick and overachiever.

 

[The Cork]

Only really Hogan left from the 80's big stars. Jake Roberts too but he could probably survive the apocalypse.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

And another falls...

RIP, Piper.

 

[chefboyardee]

the guy was a legend.