George “The Animal” Steele, a WWE Hall of Fame wrestler and one of the most recognizable faces in sports entertainment in 1980s, died at age 79 of kidney failure, according to multiple reports.
He was induced into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.
Hulk Hogan tweeted condolences:
George”the Animal”Steel,RIP my brother,only love,only grateful. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) February 17, 2017
Steele, who was a high school teacher and wrestling coach in the Detroit area, started moonlighting as a professional wrestler to make extra money.
He gained fame in the pro wrestling boom of the 1980s because of a feud with Randy “Macho Man” Savage. He had an acting career, with the role of Tor in the Tim Burton film “Ed Wood,” and his name was mentioned in the “Bizarro Jerry” episode of “Seinfeld”.
Steele, whose real name was William James Meyers, earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State and a master’s degree from Central Michigan and was inducted into the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame.
Here’s a video tribute:
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