Roderick Toombs, better known as professional wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper, died suddenly on Thursday of sudden cardiac arrest. According to TMZ, Toombs died in his sleep and was discovered in his bed on Friday morning. 
Along with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, Toombs was instrumental in popularizing the WWE and Wrestlemania in the 1980s. He was inducted into the wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. Toombs had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free. A family source tells TMZ he was "cancer free" at the time of his death.

"I am devastated at this news," Toombs's rep says in a statement. "Rod was a good friend as well as a client and one of the most generous, sincere and authentic people I have ever known. This is a true loss to us all."

A family member adds, "Our family is saddened by the sudden passing of our father and beloved husband, Roderick Toombs aka Rowdy Roddy Piper." 

Our condolences to the Toombs family and all his fans.

(Photo: John Shearer/WireImage for BWR Public Relations)