George Steele, American professional wrestler, Died at 79

  Sports

William James “Jim” Myers was born on April 16, 1937, in Detroit and died on February 17, 2017.

He was better known by his ring name George “The Animal” Steele.

He was an American professional wrestler, school teacher, author, and actor.

His career lasted from 1967 until 1988, though he made occasional wrestling appearances into the 1990s and 2000s.

He portrayed Swedish wrestler and actor Tor Johnson in Tim Burton’s film Ed Wood.

He was raised in Madison Heights, Michigan.

When he had received his bachelor of science degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, Myers became a teacher, amateur wrestling coach, and football coach at Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan.

And eventually after that he become a member of the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame.

He had dyslexia and was also diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 1988, an inflammatory bowel disease which currently has no cure but can be brought into remission.

During 1998, the doctors told Myers that his Crohn’s Disease had gone into remission and that he no longer suffered from any of the disease’s symptoms.

To stop the symptoms from returning, Myers had his colon removed, in 2002

He was a devout Christian.

George attended the First Baptist Church Merritt Island and resided in Cocoa Beach, Florida with his wife Pat, whom he married before he entered Michigan State in 1956.

He made his professional acting debut as Swedish wrestler-turned-actor Tor Johnson in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood in 1994.

He has also appeared in the video game WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain as a legend character.

The couple had two sons, Dennis and Randy, and a daughter, Felicia.

He died while in care due to kidney failure.

George Steele passed away at 79 years old.