Roddy Piper
Known for: Acting
Roderick George Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, comedian and actor. In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, because of his Scottish heritage he was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. Piper earned the nicknames "Rowdy" and "Hot Rod" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to The Daily Telegraph, he is "considered by many to be the greatest 'heel' (or villain) wrestler ever". One of wrestling's most recognizable stars, Piper headlined multiple PPV events, including the WWF and WCW's respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. He accumulated 34 championships and hosted the popular WWF/E interview segment "Piper's Pit", which facilitated numerous feuds. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ric Flair, who dubbed him "the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling". Outside of wrestling, Piper acted in dozens of films and TV shows, most notably taking the lead role of John Nada in the 1988 cult classic They Live and a recurring role as a deranged professional wrestler called Da' Maniac on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He is also widely known for his role in Hell Comes to Frogtown as the character Sam Hell.
Filmography
Series
Raw
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1993
Series
Raw
Roddy Piper
1993
Series
Raw
Rowdy Roddy Piper
1993
Series
Raw
1993
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Series
The Outer Limits
Marlon
1995
Series
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Da' Maniac
2005
Series
Cold Case
Sweet' Sil Tavern (2010)
2003
Series
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
Series
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
1999
Series
WWF Wrestling Challenge
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Series
WWF Superstars
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Series
Highlander: The Series
Anthony Galen
1992
Series
Walker, Texas Ranger
Cody 'The Crusader' Conway
1993
Series
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
Series
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper
1985
Series
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
Series
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Commentary)
1985
Series
TNA iMPACT!
2004
Series
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Roddy Piper
1989
Series
The Man Show
Self
1999
Series
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Roddy Piper
1975
Series
Storage Wars
Himself
2010
Series
WWE Rivals
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2022
Series
WWE Old School
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1973
Series
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Roddy Piper
1981
Series
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1981
Series
WCW Monday Nitro
1995
Series
Biography: WWE Legends
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2021
Series
Breaking In
Mr. Weller
2011
Series
Wrestlemania Rewind
Roddy Piper
2014
Film
They Live
John Nada
1988
Series
Tuesday Night Titans
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1984
Series
Tuesday Night Titans
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Archive footage)
1984
Series
WWE Rivalries
2014
Series
Mr. McMahon
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Archive Footage)
2024
Series
WWE Table For 3
Roddy Piper
2015
Series
WWE Hall of Fame
Self
2005
Inside MMA
Self - Guest
2007
Film
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Bolphunga (voice)
2011
Series
MADtv
Self
1995
Series
The Highwayman
Preacher
1987
Series
WCW Thunder
1998
Film
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Himself
2013
The Mullets
2003
Film
Hulkamania Forever
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
Film
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Sam Hell
1988
Series
WWE Legends' House
Himself
2014
Series
Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
1998
Film
Ultimate Fights from the Movies
Nada (They Live) (archive footage)
2002
Film
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
2016
Celebrity Wrestling
2005
Film
Andre the Giant
Self (archive footage)
2018
Film
The One and Only
Leatherneck Joe Brady (uncredited)
1978
Film
The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol.1
Himself
2011
Film
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Self
2005
Film
WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story
Himself
2014
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
2014
Film
Inside the Steel Cage
Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Himself
2014
Film
It's Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story
Himself
2015
Film
WWE Judgment Day 2003
Roddy Piper
2003
Film
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
Rowdy Roddy Piper (archive footage)
1998
Film
WWE Royal Rumble 2008
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2008
Film
WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009
Roddy Piper (archive footage)
2012
Film
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
2006
Film
WWE Survivor Series 1991
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Roddy Piper
1985
Film
WrestleMania II
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WWE WrestleMania X
Roddy Piper (Referee)
1994
Film
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2010
Film
The Firefly Funhouse Match
Himself (archive footage)
2020
Film
Marked Man
Frank Gibson
1996
Film
WWE WrestleMania XXV
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2009
Film
Shut Up and Shoot!
Yokum The Bartender
2006
Film
WWE Royal Rumble 1992
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Roddy Piper
1990
Film
A Family Underground
Self
2009
Film
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
Roddy Piper
2006
Film
WWE Survivor Series 1989
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1989
Film
Super Sweet 16: The Movie
Mitch Connors
2007
Film
Pizza Man
Self
2011
Film
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
Self
1985
Film
WWE WrestleMania III
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1987
Film
WWE WrestleMania VIII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
TNA Final Resolution 2005
Roddy Piper (Special Guest Referee)
2005
Film
WWE Cyber Sunday 2008
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
2008
Film
NWA The Final Conflict
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1983
Film
WWE King of the Ring 1994
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1994
Film
Don't Look Back
Eddie Starks
2014
Film
WWE World Tour 1992
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (WWE President)
1996
Film
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
Film
Bret "Hit Man" Hart
Roddy Piper
1994
Film
Villains of the Squared Circle
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
I Am Santa Claus
Himself
2014
Film
The Very Best of Monday Nitro: Volume 2
Self
2013
Film
WWE Wrestlemania XIX
Rowdy Roddy Piper
2003
Film
TNA: The 50 Greatest Moments
Self
2006
Film
Superfan: The Story of Vladimir
Self (Archival Footage)
2023
Film
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
WWE SuperTape: Volume 2
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
Our Nation's Pride: The Best of Canadian Superstars
Rowdy Roddy Piper
2016
Film
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Himself
1994
Film
The Bad Pack
Dash Simms
1997
Film
WWE World Tour 1991
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Himself
2009
Film
The Best of the WWF: volume 11
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1987
Film
WCW Bash at the Beach 1997
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
WCW Uncensored 1997
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
Immortal Combat
John Keller
1994
Film
WCW The Great American Bash 1997
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
Best of the WWF Volume 1
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
Film
Best of the WWF Volume 3
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
Film
WCW Spring Stampede 1998
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
Film
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
Roddy Piper
1985
Film
WWE WrestleMania VII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Ringside)
1991
Film
Tough and Deadly
Elmo Freech
1995
Film
WCW Halloween Havoc 1997
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
The Masked Saint
Nicky Stone
2016
Film
The History Of WrestleMania
1994
Film
WCW Fall Brawl 1998
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
Film
WCW Halloween Havoc 1996
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
1996
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Himself
2014
Film
3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WCW Bash at the Beach 1999
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
Film
WrestleMania
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
The Brains Behind the Brawn
Roddy Piper
1989
Film
German Fan Favorites
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1994
Film
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1987
Film
The Portal
Homeless George
2010
Film
WWE Backlash 2003
Roddy Piper
2003
Film
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1987
Film
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
Himself
2012
Film
The Best of the WWF: volume 7
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Film
Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies
Rowdy Roddy Piper
2014
Film
The Price of Fame
Self
2017
Film
Jungleground
Lt. Jacob 'Jake' Cornell
1995
Film
Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake
Roddy Piper
1988
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
Self
1985
Film
Buy & Cell
Cowboy
1989
Film
Body Slam
Quick Rick Roberts
1986
Film
WWE WrestleMania XI
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
1995
Film
WWE WrestleMania VI
'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
1990
Film
WCW The Great American Bash 1998
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
Film
Three Wise Guys
Pastor Roberts
2005
Film
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
WWE War to Settle the Score
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
Film
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Roddy Piper
1987
Film
Hard Time
Randy
1998
Film
WWE WrestleMania XII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1996
Film
No Contest
Ice
1995
Film
Back in Action
Frank Rossi
1994
Film
WWE Wrestling's Hottest Matches
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
The Shepherd
Miles
1998
Film
WWE SummerSlam 1992
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Appearance)
1992
Film
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WCW The Great American Bash 1999
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
Film
PWG Sells Out: Volume 3
Himself
2013
Film
PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning
Himself
2011
Film
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (archive footage)
1985
Film
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2018
Film
WWE RAW 1000
2012
Film
The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage
Maurice Steiger
1990
Film
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
Himself
2008
Film
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Self
2006
Film
First Encounter
Lieutenant Edward Ganz
1997
Series
Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual
Self
2013
Film
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2017
Film
Life In The Fast Lane
2007
Film
Most Unusual Matches
Roddy Piper
1985
JCW Legends and Icons
Roddy Piper
2011
Film
The Chair
Murphy
2016
Film
The Lost Episodes of the XWF
2005
Film
WWE WrestleMania V
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Host)
1989
Film
Blind Eye
Fred Mears
2007
Film
The Misery Brothers
Himself
1995
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: July '84
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1984
Film
The Bet
Mr. Jablonski
2016
Film
The Making of 'They Live'
Self
1988
Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
1986
Film
Dead Tides
Mick Leddy
1997
Film
Terminal Rush
Bartel
1996
Film
WWE Hall of Fame 2005
Himself
2005
Film
Honor
LT Tyrell
2006
Film
The Wrestling Classic
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1985
Film
Alien Opponent
Father Mulluzzo
2011
Film
WCW SuperBrawl 2000
Roddy Piper (Referee)
2000
Film
Adventures of a Pizza Guy
Marek Slavomir
2015
Film
Sci-fighters
Det. Cameron Grayson
1996
Film
WCW Starrcade 1999
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Referee)
1999
Film
Clear Lake
Wayne
2012
Film
WCW SuperBrawl IX
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
Film
Last to Surrender
Nick Ford
1999
NWA The Race to Starrcade
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1983
Film
WCW Slamboree 1998
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1998
Film
WWE Funniest Moments
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
WWE: Wrestlemania Recall
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2005
PNW 60th Anniversary Wrestling Extravaganza
1985
Film
NWA Starrcade 1983
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1983
Film
WWE Greatest Hits
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1991
Film
Biography: Wrestlemania I
Self (archival footage)
2022
Cyndi Lauper: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Ghosts of Goldfield
Jackson Smith
2007
Film
Fancypants
Smiley
2011
Film
Domestic Import
Bronco Bill
2006
Film
The Damn! Show : Vol. 3
Self
Film
WWE WrestleFest '90
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
Film
Other Plans
Dean Evans
2014
Film
WCW SuperBrawl VII
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
WCW Slamboree 1999
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1999
Film
Street Team Massacre
Roddy
2007
Film
Sin-Jin Smyth
Trent Polly
2006
Film
WCW Starrcade 1996
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1996
Film
WWE Grudge Match
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1986
Film
WWE Crunch Classic
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1992
Film
WWF Summer Flashback!
1997
Film
Legion : The Final Exorcism
Lucas McMurter
2006
Legends Never Die
Himself
2006
Film
Hulkamania 3
Roddy Piper
1988
Film
Portal to Hell!!!
Jack
2015
Film
WCW Slamboree 1997
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1997
Film
Jack of Hearts
Detective Deeks
2000
Film
The Green Fairy
Oscar Wilde
2015
Film
The Old Boys
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
2015
Film
Tagteam
Rick McDonald
1991
Film
Wrestling Superheroes
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
1990
Film
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Roddy Piper and Terry Funk
2010
Film
The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens
William Thurgood
2008
Film
Timeline The History of WWE – 1984 – As Told By Roddy Piper
Himself
2011
Film
Bloodstained Memoirs
Himself
2009
Film
Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes
William Thurgood
2010
Film
Lights Out
Detective Callahan
2015
Film
The Reconciler
Russ
2015
Film
A Gothic Tale
Narrator
2008
Fighting Fit with Rowdy Roddy Piper
Self
1992
Film
The Damn! Show
Self
2006