Back in the 1980s, I became, perhaps quite unlikely, a big fan of professional wrestling, loving its theatricality, vibrant gimmickry, sociological implications, and often brilliant personalities.  All the wrestlers could wrestle, some of them were also great talkers, others were hilarious, and a very few would have been stars in any medium.  My favorite, Rowdy Roddy Piper, was all those things (and still is), plus, the man could act.

Many pro wrestlers have made the not-always-intuitive transition from the ring to the big and small screen, some of the most notably successful the late Andre the Giant with his terrific turn in The Princess Bride, the wonderful and sweet performance of George “The Animal” Steele as Tor Johnson in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, tough-guy-turned-politician – and my second favorite wrestler — Jesse “The Body” Ventura in Predator (alongside another gubernatorial success story), Hulk Hogan in any number of lightweight features and TV shows, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson showing real star power in a string of recent features such as The Rundown, Walking Tall, and Doom. 

Before the late 20th century re-ascendance of pro wrestling into the realm of legitimate and nearly respectable pop culture, pro wrestlers weren’t usually taken seriously, though many had plied their unique art for years and entertained generations.  It took rock music, mega-hype and some odd conjunction of the planets to bring forth the new crop of superstars who were ready to take on the entire show business world.  These guys were no stumblebums on their last legs, turning to wrestling as their last stand – recall how reluctant Anthony Quinn as Mountain Rivera in Requiem for a Heavyweight was to try wrestling – but charismatic performers with plenty of potential.

Roddy Piper, who’s been a professional wrestler since his teens, became one of the World Wrestling Federation’s (and other organizations) biggest stars, worshipped for his in-the-ring moves as well as his unequaled genius as a talker, showcased on his wild and riotous interview segments called “Piper’s Pit” that were must-sees during wrestling broadcasts.  Hands down the best-loved bad guy in wrestling, in the late ‘80s Roddy made his move into acting, and after a few initial credits he hit the jackpot in 1988 and made not just a movie but a true classic, director John Carpenter’s They Live.  Even if Piper hadn’t made another film or TV show – and he’s made many – he more than proved his acting chops and earned his kudos in this still relevant – heck, more relevant than ever – story of a drifter who stumbles onto the shocking truth behind the relentless and corrupt consumer culture surrounding him.  Director Carpenter reportedly based some of Roddy’s character’s background on the wrestler’s own hard life and independent streak, but it’s no roman a clef, but rather an exciting science fiction adventure which makes a withering and dead-on commentary about modern American life.  Piper’s steady presence is the heart of the movie, and he’s just great in it.

Memorable moments in They Live include the marathon fight scene, over five minutes of knock-down brawling between Piper and co-star Keith David, all because David refuses to put on the magic glasses that Roddy’s found, the ones that show the true faces behind those stylish yuppies walking the streets.  And of course his now-legendary line “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I’m all out of bubblegum,” said to have been improvised by Piper. 

I’m writing about this movie and Roddy Piper because tomorrow, Aprill 17th, is his birthday, and he’s had quite a year.  Late in 2006 he was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and has been undergoing treatment, thankfully successfully.  For all the entertainment he’s brought to his fans, and for making at least one truly immortal movie appearance, we wish Roddy Piper the happiest of birthdays!   May I suggest that you visit his official website and wish him happy birthday in the forum over there?  I know I’m going to!

While there are a lot of references to They Live all over the net, I highly recommend checking out the fabulous tribute site at the Infinite Coolness website, complete with tons of framegrabs and other things to delight the fan. 

P.S.:  I had the pleasure of meeting Roddy Piper several years ago – when I was a real working person – while he was making a guest appearance on one of our networks’ movie showcases.  He was as awesome as I had always imagined!  And brilliant, of course!