Andy Kaufman Death

By Mike Rickard on December 7, 2017   /   1980s, 1984, Cancer, Dead Before 50   /   1 Comment
andy kaufman death

Andy Kaufman Death – Lung Cancer 1949-1984 (Age 35) Although Andy Kaufman was often billed as a comedian, his place in history isn’t so simple. Part actor, part performance artist, and yes, part comedian – Andy was a multifaceted entertainer. Today, we dive into Kaufman’s run as a professional wrestler. That’s right, the self-proclaimed “Intergender Champion”. Kaufman truly left behind a legacy just as strange as he would have hoped for… A Born Entertainer Andy Kaufman was born on January 17, 1949 in Queens, New York. Growing up in upper-middle class Great Neck Long Island, young Andy entertained his friends and family from the time he was an infant, dancing in his crib to music and eventually entertaining people at birthday parties. A tumultuous childhood saw Andy experiment with drugs and father an out-of-wedlock child (who was turned up for adoption but later connected with Kaufman’s family in 1992). However, he

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The Missing Link Death

By Ryan on October 25, 2016   /   2000s, 2007, Cancer   /   2 Comments
the missing link

The Missing Link Death – Lung Cancer 1939-2007 (age 68) From parts unknown, The Missing Link! Link, born Byron Robertson, spent the early 80s with the NWA, and by the mid 80s had shifted over to a small role in the WWF where he was managed by Bobby Heenan. His run with the WWF would prove short, never breaking out of the lower card. The Missing Link makes his WWF debut in 1985 Robertson would see the most successful period of his career when he joined Frtiz Von Erich‘s Texas-based promotion, WCCW. He first entered the company in November of ’85, managed by Percy Pringle (who would go on to become Paul Bearer with the WWF). He was later managed by Skandor Akbar. The Missing Link Death It was well known that Robertson struggled with substance abuse throughout his entire wrestling career. In 2006, Robertson published an autobiography, Bang Your Head: The Real

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Fritz Von Erich Death

By Ryan on October 23, 2016   /   1990s, 1997, Cancer   /   7 Comments
fritz von erich

Fritz Von Erich Death – Brain and Lung Cancer 1929-1997 (age 68) Jack Adkisson, best known under his ring name of Fritz Von Erich, was a pioneer in the Texas territory of professional wrestling. Fritz was trained by the late Stu Hart in the 1950s. Throughout the 80s, Fritz was president of WCCW – a promotion in which his wrestling sons were the faces of the company. Crowds would pack the Dallas Sportatorium to see the Von Erichs square off against the rival Freebirds. Wrestling’s Cursed Family In one of the most talked about series of events in wrestling history, Fritz Von Erich would end up seeing five of his six sons buried. Fritz’ first son, Jack, died in 1959 from an accidental electrocution. Jack was only 7 years old. In 1984, David Von Erich, the star of WCCW died under speculated circumstances during a trip to Japan. He was 25. Three years

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