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."
Oh no! All the old school greats are going. RIP, Roddy.
I remember him looking like this ^ tho when I was really little. I haven't followed wrestling since I was a kid and would watch with my Grandma (she STANS ). Roddy was how I learned about kilts was -- I remember seeing him and being confused about why he was wrestling in a "skirt" and my Gram corrected me and explained. I was fascinated and got the encyclopedia and read more. I had to be around 5/6 I think.
Damn! R.I.P.
I haven't followed wrestling since I was a kid and would watch with my Grandma (she STANS 
). Roddy was how I learned about kilts was -- I remember seeing him and being confused about why he was wrestling in a "skirt" and my Gram corrected me and explained. I was fascinated and got the encyclopedia and read more. I had to be around 5/6 I think.