WWE star 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper dead at 61

Wrestling star "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61.

Piper died after suffering a heart attack in his sleep on Thursday night, according to Variety. He was found on Friday morning in his Hollywood home.

The wrestler, born Roderick George Toombs, was one of the biggest WWE stars in the 1980s. He headlined the first WrestleMania in March 1985 against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Hogan shared his condolences on Twitter tonight.

"Rowdy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world," WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon told ESPN. "I extend my deepest condolences to his family."

In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. A year later, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. A family source told TMZ that he was cancer free at the time of his death.

Piper is survived by his wife Kitty and their four children.

Image via Sol Jones/INFphoto.com