MANILA, Philippines – Professional wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper died in his sleep on Thursday, July 30. He was 61.

He died in his home in Hollywood, California from cardiac arrest, reported TMZ.com. His death was discovered Friday.

Born Roderick George Toombs, the kilt-wearing World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) legend was active in the 1980s and 1990s. Portraying a “heel” or a bad guy, Piper battled the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, and Bret Hart. However, he has never won the WWE Championship.

The WWE extended its deepest condolences to the Toombs’ family.

“Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial, and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world,” said WWE chairman Vince McMahon in a statement on WWE.com on Friday, July 31.

Billed from Scotland due to his Scottish heritage, the Canadian was best known for hosting Piper’s Pit, a talk show segment where he interviews wrestling superstars.

Thanks to Piper’s incendiary style of interviewing, the Piper’s Pit played host to some of pro wrestling’s most memorable moments, such as Piper hitting “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka with a coconut, Andre the Giant turning his back on Hulk Hogan, and Piper spraying actor Morton Downey Jr with a fire extinguisher.

The segment first aired in 1984. After his retirement, he made occasional returns on WWE TV to host Piper’s Pit. His last one was in December 2014, when he interviewed Rusev and Ryback, who were feuding at the time.

Piper, also known as the “Hot Rod”, was an Intercontinental champion and a World Tag Team champion in the WWE. He also became a 3-time US champion and a two-time Television champion in rival promotions National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. – Rappler.com