Richard Van Slater was born on May 19, 1951, and died on October 18, 2018.
He was better known by his ring name “Dirty” Dick Slater.
He was an American professional wrestler.
Slater wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
He started wrestling with Mike Graham at Robinson High School, in Tampa, Florida.
Slater studied at the University of Tampa with Paul Orndorff.
Dick Slater started wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida and Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Dick worked as a booker in Knoxville, Tennessee after Ron Fuller sold his promotion to Jim Barnett.
Slater wrestled in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (later World Championship Wrestling), where he appeared on the first Starrcade.
Also, Slater worked in Mid-South Wrestling Association, where he was managed by Dark Journey.
Slater took trips to the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico.
For a short period, he participated in the World Wrestling Federation as a babyface under a “Rebel” gimmick but soon returned to WCW.
During that periods he received his back injury which ended his career.
He was convicted for the stabbing of his former girlfriend Theresa Halbert in June 2004.
Slater was sentenced to one year of house arrest and two years of probation.
Slater blamed the incident on influence from painkillers.
Richard Van Slater passed away at 67 years old.