Virgil Runnels
Known for: Acting
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".
Filmography
Series
Raw
Dusty Rhodes
1993
Series
Raw
1993
Series
WWE NXT
2010
Series
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
1999
Series
Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
1981
Series
Mid-South Wrestling
'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes
1981
Series
ECW Hardcore TV
1993
Series
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Series
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
1985
Series
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes
1985
Series
NWA World Championship Wrestling
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1985
Series
NWA World Championship Wrestling
Midnight Rider
1985
Series
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
1975
Series
TNA iMPACT!
2004
Series
TNA iMPACT!
Dusty Rhodes.
2004
Series
TNA iMPACT!
Dusty Rhodes
2004
Series
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
1981
Series
Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Series
Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
1988
Series
WWE Old School
Dusty Rhodes
1973
Series
WWE Rivals
Dusty Rhodes
2022
Series
Burke's Law
Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray
1994
Series
Wrestlemania Rewind
Dusty Rhodes
2014
Series
Biography: WWE Legends
2021
Series
WCW Monday Nitro
1995
Series
WCW Monday Nitro
Dusty Rhodes
1995
Series
ECW on TNN
Dusty Rhodes
1999
Series
WWE Hall of Fame
Self
2005
Series
WWE Rivalries
Self
2014
Series
WCW Thunder
Dusty Rhodes
1998
The JBL and Cole Show
Dusty Rhodes
2012
Major League Wrestling: Underground TV
2003
Film
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
Dusty Rhodes (voice)
2016
Film
WCW SuperBrawl 1
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
1991
Film
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Series
WCW Arena Shows
Dusty Rhodes
1983
Film
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3
Dusty Rhodes
2015
Film
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1987
Film
TNA Final Resolution 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2005
Film
American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes
Self (Archival Footage)
2023
Film
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Dusty Rhodes
2006
Film
ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
Dusty Rhodes
2000
Film
WWE Hottest Matches
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
2012
Film
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
2010
Film
WWE WrestleMania VI
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Self
2005
Film
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
Dusty Rhodes
2012
Film
WWE Survivor Series 2006
Dusty Rhodes
2006
Film
The Rise & Fall of WCW
Dusty Rhodes
2009
Film
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
WWE Battleground 2013
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
2013
Film
NWA Starrcade 1986
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Film
WWE The Great American Bash 2007
Dusty Rhodes
2007
Film
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes
2009
Film
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Himself
1989
Film
Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal
Self
2024
Film
NWA Starrcade 1985
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1985
Film
NWA Starrcade 1984
Dusty Rhodes
1984
Film
The Wrestler
Dusty Rhodes
1974
Film
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
2013
Film
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
Dusty Rhodes
2013
Film
NWA Starrcade 1987
Dusty Rhodes
1987
Film
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
2016
WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence
Dusty Rhodes
1995
Film
WCW All Nighter 1995
1995
Film
TNA Turning Point 2004
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2004
Film
NWA Starrcade 1988
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
ROH: Ring of Hardcore
Dusty Rhodes
2012
Film
Gold Raiders
1982
Film
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story
Dusty Rhodes
2006
Film
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
Dusty Rhodes
1998
Film
Nature Boy
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
WWE: The Attitude Era
Dusty
2012
Film
WCW Souled Out 1998
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
1998
Film
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
Dusty Rhodes
2014
Film
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Dusty Rhodes
1989
Film
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Dusty Rhodes
1991
Film
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Dusty Rhodes
1994
Film
NWA Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
Dusty Rhodes
2006
Film
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
Dusty Rhodes
1985
Film
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
1993
Film
WCW WrestleWar 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
1991
Film
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
Dusty Rhodes
2009
Film
WWE SummerSlam 1990
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
1990
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
NWA Night of Champions
Dusty Rhodes
1984
Film
WCW Uncensored 1998
Dusty Rhodes
1998
Film
TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2
Dusty Rhodes
2016
Film
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
1991
Film
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Dusty Rhodes
2014
Film
Sting: Into the Light
Dusty Rhodes
2015
Film
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Dusty Rhodes
2007
Film
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Film
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Dusty Rhodes
1994
Film
TNA Victory Road 2004
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
2004
Film
MLW King of Kings
Dusty Rhodes
2002
Film
NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games
Dusty Rhodes
1987
Film
NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Film
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
Dusty Rhodes
2007
Film
WCW Greed
Dusty Rhodes
2001
Film
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2018
NWA Superstars on The SuperStation
Dusty Rhodes
1986
Film
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
Film
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1986
Film
TNA Destination X 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2005
Film
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
Dusty Rhodes
2008
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
1989
Film
NWA Boogie Jam
Dusty Rhodes
1984
Film
The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
1998
Film
TNA Lockdown 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2005
Film
I Like To Hurt People
Self
1985
Film
nWo: The Revolution
2012
Film
NWA The Great American Bash 1988
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
ECW Living Dangerously 2000
Dusty Rhodes
2000
Film
NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone
1987
Film
Fan Favorites
1989
Film
Paradise Park
Deputy Johnny Morton
1992
Film
Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
2015
Film
Mid-South WrestleFest '85
Dusty Rhodes
1985
NEW Renegades Rampage
Dusty Rhodes
2004
Film
Battle of the WWE Superstars
Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
Dusty Rhodes
1980
Film
A Future WWE: The FCW Story
Himself
2020
Film
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
Dusty Rhodes
2006
Film
TNA Against All Odds 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2005
NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation
Dusty Rhodes
1987
Film
NWA Lords of The Ring
Dusty Rhodes
1984
Film
ROH: The Epic Encounter
Dusty Rhodes
2003
Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984
Dusty Rhodes
1985
PWF Homecoming
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1989
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
The Midnight Rider
1988
NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show
Dusty Rhodes
1982
3PW Legends Collide
2003
Film
ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
2000
Film
NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
Dusty Rhodes
2004
AWA/NWA Night of Champions II
Dusty Rhodes
1985
Film
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2017
Film
Life In The Fast Lane
2007
Film
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
Dusty Rhodes
1988
Film
TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy
Dusty Rhodes
2005
Film
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
Dusty Rhodes
1992
WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
2013
Film
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
Dusty Rhodes
2007
FIP Return Of The Dream
Dusty Rhodes
2003
HUSTLE-3
Dusty Rhodes
2004
Film
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
1990
Film
The Super Bowl of Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
1978