WWE wrestling icon Terry Funk has died at age 79, his manager Timothy Beal confirmed to CBS News Wednesday. His cause of death was not immediately released, but Beal said that Funk "was in bad health for some time" and was "in a nursing home."
Funk's death was also confirmed in a statement by the WWE.
For Funk, wrestling was a family affair. Growing up in in Amarillo, Texas, his father, Dory Funk, Sr., was a professional wrestler, and he started out as a tag-team wrestler with his brother Dory Funk, Jr., according to his WWE biography.
Funk broke out as a wrestling star in the 1980s when he appeared in a tag team with his brother at WrestleMania 2. He then competed singularly throughout the U.S. and in Japan over the course of his 50-year career, the WWE said.
On Wednesday friends and fans from the wrestling community commented on his passing.
"He was the greatest wrestler I ever saw," retired WWE Mick Foley wrote on social media.
Known as a brawler, CBS Sports reported that Funk's career got a second chance when he joined Eastern Championship Wrestling, later Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Professional wrestler Ric Flair said on social media that Funk was "a great wrestler, entertainer, unbelievably fearless, and a great friend."
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with his brother in 2009. His final wrestling match was in 2017.
Funk was also known for his breakout roles in Hollywood films. He appeared in "Roadhouse" with Patrick Swayze, "Paradise Alley" and "Over the Top."
Cara Tabachnick is a news editor for CBSNews.com. Contact her at [email protected]
2024-12-25 14:521124 view
2024-12-25 14:40132 view
2024-12-25 14:172103 view
2024-12-25 14:142942 view
2024-12-25 13:562224 view
2024-12-25 13:171569 view
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is the leading nominee at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. The super
Baker Mayfield was injured in the first quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Indiana
Honda is recalling a few hundred thousand of its 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V models after vehicles wer