Paul LeDuc obit

Paul LeDuc Passes Away At 89

Paul LeDuc, one half of the LeDuc brothers and a former wrestler and promoter, has passed away at the age of 29.

 

He was not on the list.

Paul LeDuc, one half of the LeDuc brothers and a former wrestler and promoter, has passed away at the age of 89.

LeDuc would have a successful tag team career that began in 1957, alongside Jos LeDuc who was his wrestling brother, but a close friend in real life, capturing tag team championships in Grand Prix Wrestling, NWA Florida and more. LeDuc would feature in a wrestling wedding in Montreal in 1971 as well as owning his own promotion, The FLQ, which was founded in 2000 and remains open to this day.

On August 30th, it would be announced that Paul LeDuc had passed away at the age of 89 that morning, and is survived by his sons, Carl and Yan, as well as his daughter, Kim.

Sad news in the wrestling world.

Former wrestler and promoter Paul Leduc, one half of the famous Leduc Brothers, passed away this morning at the age of 89.

During his career, Leduc captured tag team championships in Grand Prix Wrestling, NWA Florida and NWA International. He also famously married in the ring in Montreal in 1971 and competed against the Vachon Brothers in front of the largest crowd ever recorded for a wrestling event in Quebec City.

In 2000, he founded his own promotion, the FLQ, which remained active for more than two decades.

My deepest sympathies go out to his sons, Carl and Yan, his daughter, Kim, and all his loved ones.

LeDuc’s last recorded match would take place in 2008, and was most prominent during his tag team run with Jos LeDuc from 1968 to 1974.

‘Handsome’ John Anson obit

‘Handsome’ John Anson, aka Karl von Schotz, passes away at 77

 

He was not on the list.

Former professional wrestler “Handsome” John Anson, who also worked under the name Karl von Schotz, has passed away.

F4W/WON was informed on Saturday that Anson passed away in Sosua, Dominican Republic, where he had lived for the past 25 years.

Anson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 7, 1949. He made his professional wrestling debut in Stampede Wrestling at the age of 17 in a match against Ivan Koloff. He won the North American Championship (the promotion’s top belt) twice in 1976, finally dropping it to Archie “Mongolian Stomper” Gouldie on July 2 that year.

During an interview with Slam Wrestling’s Greg Oliver in 1998, Anson spoke about how Bret Hart used to carry his lunch bag while he wrestled in the promotion.

“Stampede was unique,” Anson explained, also referring to Stu Hart as “an excellent promoter”.

“And Bret Hart used to carry my lunch bag,” he continued.

Anson would win tag team titles in various promotions along with Karl von Hess, including Big Time Wrestling’s version of the NWA World Tag Team titles in Detroit and the NWA North American Tag Team titles for NWA Hollywood. In Vancouver, he held the NWA Tag Team titles with Don Leo Jonathan.

He retired from wrestling at the age of 35. He briefly promoted events in the 1980s alongside The Sheik and Jack Kane, and owned a marina and resort near Vancouver.

 

Dory Funk Jr obit

A great one is gone

Legendary wrestler Dory Funk Jr. passes away in Ocala.

 

He was not on the list.

Talk about a punch to the gut—that’s how I felt when Marti Funk called me today to let me know the legendary Dory Funk Jr. had passed away.

Dory, of course, is world famous. But the native Texan has lived in Ocala so long that we claim him as one of our own.

Earlier this year, the “Ocala Gazette” wrote about Dory getting ready to celebrate his 85th birthday on Feb. 3 and learned from the couple how they met and more. According to Marti, he passed away under hospice care, today, Aug. 4. The two were “sweethearts” for 46 years and were married for 40.

For years, they ran the Funking Conservatory in Ocala, where he taught a long list of contemporary wrestling stars.

In April of 2025, Dory Funk Sr. became a legacy inductee into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame, joining his sons Dory Jr. and Terry. During that February interview with the “Gazette” at his home in Ocala, Dory donned his father’s diamond WWE hall of fame ring and talked with pride about his early days of learning life lessons from his dad on their ranch in Texas. Dory’s own hall of fame ring, along with his gold National Wrestling Alliance Champion of the World Wrestling Heavyweight belt, are on display in Japan, where he has wrestled many times and is considered an icon.

The history of the Funk family includes Dory Sr. helping shape the future of pro wrestling and being a mentor to some of the most famous names in the business, as was Dory Jr., who also was known for his in-ring achievements and for being a promotional innovator.

Dory Jr. was born Feb. 3, 1941. His career in professional wrestling began in 1963, following his college football career with West Texas State University.

His accomplishments include induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and holding the CWA World Heavyweight Championship, WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, for which he was the second-longest reigning champion of all time.

His brother Terry also had a stellar career. Terry passed away in 2023.

In 1973, Dory Jr. made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling and then had a lengthy career with that organization. On Aug. 24, 2024, for his final professional match, Dory teamed up with old friend Osamu Nishimura. A wrestlingheadlines.com description of the event notes that it was a Double Hell Current Explosion Death Match at the FMW-E Terry Funk Memorial and Atsushi Onita 50th anniversary at the Fujitsu Kawasaki Stadium.

When asked about some of the highlights of his storied career, Dory Jr. told the “Gazette” back in January, in his best Texas drawl, “Well winning the world championships, of course. And my first match.”

When asked what advice he would have for young wrestlers just getting started, he at first said in a soft lift, “Never quit.” Then, a bit louder, “Never quit!” And then, very loudly and forcefully, “NEVER QUIT!”

In 2022, Dory wrote “The Last of a Great Breed: True Stories from a Career in Pro Wrestling.” The cover photo, which features a snarling Dory, in a black cowboy hat, holding a bullwhip and with fire seemingly coming from his fist, was created by Dave Schlenker, a noted longtime Ocala writer, editor and photographer.

The two had formed a friendship over years of Dory being featured in the pages of the “Ocala Star-Banner,” where Schlenker worked for a long time. Schlenker went head-to-head with Dory on Nov. 24, 2012, at the Funking Conservatory, in a match/fundraiser for the Marion County Literacy Council. He noted in a column published Nov. 8, 2012, that he had been encouraged to “smack-talk” Dory to amp up the stakes.

When asked in January what he had to say about Dory, Schlenker texted: “I have always loved the dichotomy that is Dory Funk Jr. This is a guy who used to toss 300-pound to 400-pound dudes out of the ring after nearly crushing them with the spinning toe hold. There’s also barbed wire and blood in there somewhere. But he’s the sweetest, gentlest human. Just a bear of a grandfather. He’s an icon, both in Ocala and in professional wrestling.”

On Aug. 4, via text, Schlenker wrote:“A true loss, not just for wrestling but for Ocala. Huge heart. A gentle giant who could crush you like a gnat. I loved to make Dory laugh, and he laughed often. He loved this town, its people and, of course, its pets. I will sincerely miss him. This is a tough one for me.”

According to Marti, the family will have a private ceremony to honor Dory’s life. In November, on Thanksgiving Day, there will be a public memorial service to honor Dory, Terry and some noted Japanese associates. The “Gazette” will publicize details closer to the event.

“He was such a good guy,” Marti said softly, then more strongly, “such a good guy!”

Paul Bykow obit

Former ECW Wrestler Paul Bykow (The Equalizer) Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

Former ECW wrestler Paul Bykow, also known as The Equalizer, has passed away.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported on his passing recently, although they didn’t have any details about it just yet.

Independent wrestler Tony Chini posted the following about Paul on social media:

“Paul. I just saw you one week ago. Seeing this news really hurts today. Pauly was a one of a kind individual. He had amazing stories and he loved to share them. I’m so happy Noah got to formally introduce us. Last month I got to have a great conversation with you where I told you how much it meant to have gotten to grow up watching you and then become your friend and even share the ring with you. He always wanted to help, he would always tell me about how @housekatcalledfran slapped him so hard in their match and he was so happy about it lol R.I.P. to The Equalizer. You will be so missed. I wish we got to watch those tapes together. Spend more time with people.

Also a few years back I helped Pauly take some of his matches he had on CD’s and put them on a YouTube channel. Watch a match or a promo for him today. 🙏”

Paul was part of the original ECW, where he wrestled under the ring name of The Equilizer.

Fightful sends condolences to the family and friends of Paul.

Siva Afi obit

Siva Afi Passes Away

 He was not on the list.

Siva Afi’s family relayed the news.

It was confirmed by the family of former wrestler Siva Afi that Afi has passed away. The news was relayed by Book Pro Wrestlers, who wrote the following about Afi:

“We are saddened to learn that Siva Afi has passed away, as confirmed by his family.

From his memorable WWF run to his work as Burt Reynolds’ bodyguard and stuntman, Siva lived a remarkable life. More importantly, he earned the respect of those who shared a locker room with him—so many of the wrestlers we’ve spoken with over the years remembered him as a genuinely kind and well-liked man.

Rest in peace, Siva Afi. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. ❤️🙏”

Afi, real name Papali’itele Max Amata Taogaga, began his in-ring career in the 1970s. In 1985, he wrestled nearly 30 matches for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

He would then make his way to WWF, where he wrestled from 1986 to 1988. The last match of Afi’s career was in 1997.

Fightful would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Siva Afi.

Joe Doering obit

Joe Doering Passes Away At The Age Of 44

 He was not on the list.

Joe Doering has sadly passed away at the age of 44.

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling first announced the news, publishing the following statement:

“At 9:13 a.m. today, June 26, our brother Joe Doering passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.

“Though his time on this earth lasted only 44 years, Joe packed a thousand years’ worth of living into every one of them.

“Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Lindsay, his family, and leaves behind countless friends and devoted fans around the world who will forever remember his strength, courage, and spirit.

“Rest in peace, Joe. You will never be forgotten.”

On August 30, 2022, it was announced Joe Doering would be stepping away from wrestling as his brain cancer had returned and he would need to undergo surgery. In December 2025, it was revealed that he was battling a third brain tumor. Doering has spent nearly ten years fighting brain cancer.

Doering made his debut in 2004 and competed for TNA Wrestling, AJPW, NJPW, and various independent promotions.

Fightful sends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Doering.

Pete Doherty obit

Early WWE Star Pete Doherty Reportedly Dies At Age 85

 He was not on the list.

The Cauliflower Alley Club announced on Wednesday, as reported by Mike Johnson of PWInsider, that "The Duke of Dorchester" Pete Doherty died at the age of 85. The Dorchester, Massachusetts native appeared in the WWF in the 70s and 80s, mostly as an enhancement talent. The CAC statement, which was posted to X (formerly Twitter) alongside a remembrance graphic, read that Doherty's friend, Danny Davis, made them aware of his passing.

"The CAC is saddened to hear the unforgettable Pete Doherty has passed away at the age of 85, known to fans everywhere as the Duke of Dorchester," the statement continued. "A true character in professional wrestling who brought charisma along with a larger-than-life personality to every arena he stepped into."

Despite mostly being used as a "jobber," "The Duke" would score upset victories, including 28 wins over Fred Marzino. He would wrestle and feud with the likes of Junkyard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Lanny Poffo, and more. Doherty competed in the 1991 King of the Ring tournament, replacing Kerry Von Erich, but was eliminated in just 33 seconds by Brett Hart in the first round.

He also worked in the broadcast booth, announcing WWF events in the late 80s. Doherty worked mostly as a heel commentator in Boston, alongside Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Lord Alfred Hayes, and more.

Doherty retired from professional wrestling in 1998, but would make occasional appearances, including a WWF's final event at the Boston Garden. In 2010, he was inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Jerry Grey obit

Golden Boy Jerry Grey, veteran of WCW and WWE, passes away at 62

 

He was not on the list.

Jerry Grey – a veteran wrestler who competed in WCW, WWE (then WWF), and many other promotions – has died at age 62.

Grey, who was frequently billed as “Golden Boy,” had been battling colon cancer for several years, but an official cause of death for the wrestler has not been publicly announced. News of his passing was first shared by the Cauliflower Alley Club in a message posted on X (Twitter) on Monday (May 25) evening.

“Today, I lost more than a friend… I lost a brother. Please join the Cauliflower Alley Club and I as we remember a dear friend, Jerry Grey, whos passed away at the age of 62. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends, rest easy old friend,” the X post read.

The busiest period of Grey’s career came in the 1980s, which saw him work in the WWF, WCW, USWA, WCCW, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Grey later enjoyed another run for a few years in the 2000s, and he also promoted independent events over the years.

During his in-ring career, Grey developed a reputation as a solid worker, and he won a few different regional titles for NWA.

Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Metlzer wrote of Grey in an X post: “Sorry to hear about the death of Jerry Grey, a Florida based wrestler and promoter. He was 62 and and had battled cancer more than a decade ago.“

As noted, Grey documented his cancer diagnosis and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his medical bills. In June 2022, Grey wrote in an update on the campaign’s page that his cancer had reached stage 4. The GoFundMe raised more than $36,000.

We at Cageside Seats send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Jerry Grey.

Barry W. Blaustein obit

Beyond the Mat Filmmaker and Comedy Writer Barry Blaustein Passes Away

 He was not on the list.

Comedy writer and filmmaker Barry Blaustein, best known among wrestling circles as the director of the renowned documentary Beyond the Mat, has passed away. He was 72 years old.

Blaustein died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was told last month that he was in stage four of the disease. He had also been dealing with Parkinson’s Disease, which he was diagnosed with in mid-2016. Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, where Blaustein was a longtime professor, announced the news of his passing, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Dodge College Dean Stephen Galloway said in a statement to THR, “It was one of the great pleasures of my life to know Barry.” Galloway continued, “He faced his declining health with a level of stoicism I’ve never seen and kept his warmth and humor throughout. Even when he could no longer drive, he kept on teaching. It’s a sign of how beloved he was that a group of faculty created a shuttle service to take him back and forth to Chapman. He’s irreplaceable. We’ll miss him enormously.”

Blaustein wrote, directed, and produced the 1999 wrestling-themed documentary, Beyond the Mat, released in 1999. The filmmaker called it “the favorite thing he had ever done.” It was among the 12 finalists for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature that year.

He also helmed the 2005 comedy, The Ringer, starring Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, and Katherine Heigl, and the dysfunctional family dramedy Peep World in 2010. The feature starred Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, and Ben Schwartz.

Blaustein grew up on Long Island, New York, and later became a writer for Saturday Night Live right before its sixth season, when Eddie Murphy was new to the show as well. Blaustein and David Sheffield became writing partners and were promoted to head writers and then to supervising producers before leaving the show in 1983.

Having clicked with Murphy, Blaustein and Sheffield became the comedian’s longtime writing partners, as they started writing exclusively for him, creating some of Murphy’s most memorable work, including his 1988 hit movie, Coming to America. Sheffield and Blaustein are also both credited as co-writers for the 1996 remake of The Nutty Professor and its 2000 sequel, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

Sheffield and Blaustein also reunited with Murphy one last time to collaborate on the sequel, Coming 2 America, which was released in 2021. On SNL, they devised some of Murphy’s most memorable skits, including riffs on Gumby, Buckwheat of Little Rascals, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Some of their other memorable SNL skits for Murphy also included Murphy as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, and the pitchman Velvet Jones.

Barry Blaustein Took Years To Get Beyond the Mat Made

Blaustein reportedly spent two years getting funding and approval for Beyond the Mat. He then spent another year traveling around the country following WWE wrestlers, including WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, the late Terry Funk, and Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Vince McMahon was notably unhappy with the documentary feature, and at one point, threatened to sue the movie from ever being seen.

Blaustein is survived by his wife Debraa, whom he married in 2021; his children, Corey and Kasey; and his granddaughter, Daisy.

On behalf of 411, we send our condolences to the friends and family of Barry Blaustein.

 

Writer

James Earl Jones, Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Paul Bates, Shari Headley, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Clint Smith, Akiley Love, Bella Murphy, Jermaine Fowler, Teyana Taylor, Rotimi, Nomzamo Mbatha, and KiKi Layne in Coming 2 America (2021)

Coming 2 America

5.3

story byscreenplay by

2021

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

writerwritten byadditional sketches by (as Barry Blaustein, as Barry Blaustein, as Barry Blaustein) ...

1980–2019

56 episodes

 

Adam Heatherly, David Longest, Bob Meyer, Josh Martin, Ruth Rhett Bennett, and Alex Rose Wiesel in Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals (2009)

Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals

7.1

writer

2009

 

Gabrielle Union, Cedric The Entertainer, Mike Epps, and Regina Hall in The Honeymooners (2005)

The Honeymooners

3.5

written by

2005

 

Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

4.5

storyscreenplay

2000

 

Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Terry Funk, and Dwayne Johnson in Beyond the Mat (1999)

Beyond the Mat

7.6

narrative written by

1999

 

Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996)

The Nutty Professor

5.7

screenplay

1996

 

Eddie Murphy in Boomerang (1992)

Boomerang

5.7

screenplay by

1992

 

CBS Summer Playhouse (1987)

CBS Summer Playhouse

6.6

TV Series

screenplay

1989

1 episode

 

What's Alan Watching? (1989)

What's Alan Watching?

6.2

TV Special

Writer

1989

 

Eddie Murphy in Coming to America (1988)

Coming to America

7.1

screenplay

1988

 

Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)

Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach

4.6

characters (uncredited)

1988

 

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

5.0

characters (uncredited)

1987

 

Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)

Police Academy 3: Back in Training

5.4

characters (uncredited)

1986

 

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

5.8

written by (as Barry Blaustein)

1985

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.0

TV Series

writerWriter

1979–1981

21 episodes

 

Script and Continuity Department

Michael C. Hall, Kate Mara, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, and Ben Schwartz in Peep World (2010)

Peep World

5.6

script revisions (uncredited)

2010

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

script supervisorscript coordinator

1981–1984

42 episodes

 

Producer

Adam Heatherly, David Longest, Bob Meyer, Josh Martin, Ruth Rhett Bennett, and Alex Rose Wiesel in Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals (2009)

Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals

7.1

producer

2009

 

Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Terry Funk, and Dwayne Johnson in Beyond the Mat (1999)

Beyond the Mat

7.6

producer

1999

 

Eddie Murphy in Boomerang (1992)

Boomerang

5.7

co-producer

1992

 

What's Alan Watching? (1989)

What's Alan Watching?

6.2

TV Special

co-producer

1989

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

supervising producer

1983–1984

21 episodes

 

Director

Michael C. Hall, Kate Mara, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, and Ben Schwartz in Peep World (2010)

Peep World

5.6

Director

2010

 

Adam Heatherly, David Longest, Bob Meyer, Josh Martin, Ruth Rhett Bennett, and Alex Rose Wiesel in Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals (2009)

Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals

7.1

Director

2009

 

Geoffrey Arend, Johnny Knoxville, Jed Rees, John Taylor, and Leonard Earl Howze in The Ringer (2005)

The Ringer

5.8

Director

2005

 

Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Terry Funk, and Dwayne Johnson in Beyond the Mat (1999)

Beyond the Mat

7.6

Director

1999

 

Actor

Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

4.5

Man in Bathroom

2000

 

Eddie Murphy in Coming to America (1988)

Coming to America

7.1

Man in Line (uncredited)

1988

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

Bar Patron (uncredited)

1981

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

James Earl Jones, Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Paul Bates, Shari Headley, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Clint Smith, Akiley Love, Bella Murphy, Jermaine Fowler, Teyana Taylor, Rotimi, Nomzamo Mbatha, and KiKi Layne in Coming 2 America (2021)

Coming 2 America

5.3

writer: "Fresh Peaches & Sugarcube Rap", "She's Your Queen"

2021

 

Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

4.5

writer: "He Has To" (Mariachis)

2000

 

Additional Crew

Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)

Beverly Hills Cop III

5.5

additional material (uncredited)

1994

 

Thanks

Opening Night (2025)

Opening Night

Short

very special thanks

2025

 

Kerry David, Francis K. Sullivan, Emer Kinsella, Felipe Vargas, and Jenna Boss in Open Secret (2025)

Open Secret

8.2

special thanks

2025

 

Ree Johnson in American Letters (2018)

American Letters

7.3

Short

special thanks

2018

 

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man (2018)

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man

7.1

special thanks

2018

 

Monty Comes Back (2016)

Monty Comes Back

6.6

special thanks

2016

 

I Am Santa Claus (2014)

I Am Santa Claus

6.5

special thanks

2014

 

Greetings from Florida! (2014)

Greetings from Florida!

8.4

Short

special thanks

2014

 

Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who (2007)

Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who

8.1

special thanks

2007

 

Rib Shack (2005)

Rib Shack

5.8

Short

special thanks

2005

 

Vamp (1986)

Vamp

5.9

very special thanks (as Barry Blaustein)

1986

 

Self

Eddie Murphy in Being Eddie (2025)

Being Eddie

6.9

Self - Writer (as Barry Blaustein)

2025

 

The A2theK Wrestling Show (2020)

The A2theK Wrestling Show

Podcast Series

Self

2022

1 episode

 

The Movies That Made Us (2019)

The Movies That Made Us

7.7

TV Series

Self - Writer

2021

1 episode

 

That's the Fxxking Trailer (2020)

That's the Fxxking Trailer

TV Series

Self

2021

3 episodes

 

The Gary & Kenny Show (2021)

The Gary & Kenny Show

TV Series

SelfSelf - Guest

2021

 

Prince-ipal Photography: The Coming Together of America

6.3

Video

Self

2007

 

The 3th Indie Producers Awards Gala

TV Special

Herself

2005

 

Dinner with the Legends 'Beyond the Mat'

7.0

Video

Self

2004

 

Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Terry Funk, and Dwayne Johnson in Beyond the Mat (1999)

Beyond the Mat

7.6

Self - Narrator

1999

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

Self - crewmember (uncredited)

1982

1 episode

 

Denys Overholser obit

Denys Overholser, Stealth Pioneer Whose Work Led to the F-117, Dies at 86

 He was not on the list.

Denys Overholser, the Lockheed Martin engineer whose insights on the mathematics of radar cross section led directly to the first operational stealth attack airplane and permanently reshaped combat aircraft design and tactics, died April 28 at the age of 86.

Overholser came up with the idea of the “Hopeless Diamond” faceted stealth aircraft, wrote the patent for the F-117 Night Hawk stealth attack aircraft, and also earned a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Much of his work at Lockheed and other defense industrial organizations remains classified.

Ben Rich, the aerospace engineer who headed Lockheed’s Skunk Works advanced projects unit from 1975-1991, recalled in an early 1990s interview that Overholser—“one of my young guys”—came to him with the idea for a new approach to stealth. Overholser had read a forgotten 1962 paper on radar wave scattering, or diffraction, by the Russian mathematician Pyotr Ufimtsev; a paper that the Russian military itself had ignored. The Air Force’s foreign technology unit had translated the paper in 1971.

In his memoir, “Skunk Works,” Rich said “the paper was so obtuse and impenetrable that only a nerd’s nerd would have waded through it.” In the interview, Rich said he asked Overholser, “is this what you do with your free time?” 

Until the 1970s, the effort to reduce radar cross section had been limited to radar-absorbing materials and internal structure, as used on the SR-71 reconnaissance airplane and the D-21 reconnaissance drone. 

Ufimtsev’s research showed that shaping could dramatically attenuate the radar return of an object, and the work also provided the basis for calculating the radar cross section—radar reflectivity—of objects. Reducing the RCS of an aircraft could allow it to get quite close to a target before being detected by radar, and potentially, the aircraft might not be detected at all.

Holding up a legal pad, Rich summarized some of Ufimtsev’s findings, saying “if I hold it straight up and down like this, it’s one RCS (value). But if I rotate it 45 degrees,” creating a diamond, or kite shape, and tilting it, “I cut RCS by more than half, because of the way radar travels along the edges.”

Looking for ways to get the Air Force interested in new, classified technologies, Rich put Overholser to work on developing ways “faceting” could be applied to aircraft, as well as methods to accurately measure RCS with the computer power then available. Overholser, at 36, was heading up seminal work on the combat aircraft of the future. It was also brave work because Rich said his predecessor, the legendary Kelly Johnson, was not a believer in the whole idea and said so at every opportunity. 

Overholser came up with a computer program he called “Echo 1” that could calculate RCS for a portion of an aircraft covered by a series of flat surfaces, or facets.  These could then be added to other calculations to obtain an overall RCS for the design. He then drafted the “Hopeless Diamond,” a faceted aircraft concept which Overholser said would have 1,000 times less radar reflectivity than Lockheed’s D-21. A full-size combat aircraft, he told Rich, could have the radar return “of an eagle’s eyeball.”

The work soon led to an Air Force program called XST, for “Experimental Survivable Testbed.” Lockheed and Northrop—which was pursuing stealth along a different path—were given secret contracts to design small, low-observable aircraft to prove out the concept. Northrop’s approach had been to assess RCS of compounds curves and edge shape, and worked better in a forward view, but Lockheed’s approach worked better overall at that point. Lockheed won and built two demonstrators called “Have Blue.” Although both crashed, neither accident was due to stealth, and Lockheed received an Air Force contract to build an operational prototype, which became the YF-117. That in turn led to the F-117, which was phenomenally successful in the 1991 Gulf War and in some later conflicts.

As supercomputers became more powerful, it became possible to calculate RCS for an entire aircraft at once. The basic principles Overholser ported over from the mathematical theory continue to serve as the basis for modern stealth.  

Overholser grew up in Texas and earned degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering from Oregon State University, later adding degrees in systems engineering and operations research. He worked on missile projects for Boeing and was one of the first engineers in that company to be chosen for training on computers. He moved to Skunk Works in 1964, hired because he was familiar with computers at a time when most aerospace math was still done on slide rules.  

Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics—of which Skunk Works is a division—issued a statement to employees on April 29 saying Overholser’s worked “unlocked stealth technology.”

Overholser went largely unsung and “in the world of classified programs, that was exactly the point,” Ulmer said. “He spent decades shaping history far from public view through work that demanded brilliance, discipline, and a rare depth of character.” His work on stealth “would reshape airpower forever,” Ulmer said., adding that Overholser’s work was “the Rosetta stone” of stealth.

Overholser received the first-ever award of the National Defense Industrial Association for “Combat Survivability,” and was decorated by the Secretaries of the Air Force and Defense for his contributions to military technology.

Ulmer said Overholser had the rare knack of being a teacher who could “demystify complex concepts and make others feel capable of solving problems they never thought they could.” In later years, Overholser was a consulting engineer for the Pentagon and MIT’s Lincoln Laboratories. 

“Our hearts are with his family, loved ones and all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Ulmer said. “We are profoundly grateful for his life, his service, and the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind.”

David Hamilton, who was director of the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office from 2003-2007, said “Denys freely gave countless hours of tutoring and mentoring to many other engineers far more junior. He helped ferment the follow-on generations who continue to pioneer new methods in aircraft survivability. It was his reaching out to help others that elevated him to true unique hero status within the class of engineers and program managers who had the task to bring wild ideas to reality and into operational capabilities for the nation. He was a class act who will be severely missed by the aviation combat survivability community.”

Overholser enjoyed another distinction, having been elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He wrestled in high school and college, but the honor stemmed mainly from his contributions to aerospace technology.  

Van Hammer obit

Former WCW Star Van Hammer Dead At 66

 

He was not on the list.

Former WCW star Van Hammer, real name Mark Hildreth, has passed away at the age of 66, according to an announcement shared by Marc Mero.

Mero revealed the news publicly and noted that the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, with an autopsy still pending. He reflected on their friendship and the memories they shared dating back to their earliest days trying to break into the wrestling business.

After sharing the news of Hildreth’s passing, Mero spoke about the kind of person Van Hammer was and how his determination stood out throughout his life.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer. At this time, we are still awaiting answers regarding the cause, pending an autopsy. Mark was a fighter in every sense of the word. Life threw its share of challenges his way, but he had a resilience about him… he always found a way to rise, to push forward, to keep going.”

Mero also recalled how their friendship began long before they became recognizable names in WCW, describing how Hildreth stepped up to help him take a major step in his career.

“We first met while he was vacationing in Venice, Florida, working out at a local gym. Not long after, I got the call from Dusty Rhodes to come to his office the next day. Mark didn’t hesitate, he drove me eight hours so I could sign my very first contract with World Championship Wrestling. That’s the kind of person he was loyal, selfless, and always there when it mattered most.”

Their bond continued as they trained together and pursued the same dream, eventually sharing milestones along the way as their careers took shape.

“We went through wrestling school together, chased the same dream, and before long, he earned his own contract. We even lived together in Atlanta, training, grinding, and building a life around the passion we both shared.”

Mero also remembered their time representing WCW outside the United States, including promotional appearances that became lasting memories.

“We were also chosen to help promote WCW for the United Kingdom Tour, doing countless personal appearances, television spots, and even promotional work alongside Gladys Knight. Those were unforgettable moments… times I’ll never forget.”

He closed his tribute by sending condolences to those closest to Hildreth and the fans who followed his career.

“My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and the fans who supported him throughout his journey. Rest easy, my friend. You will always be remembered.”

Van Hammer’s passing marks the loss of a recognizable figure from the WCW era, remembered both for his in-ring work and his contributions behind the scenes.

Van Hammer’s Wrestling Career And Legacy

Van Hammer began his wrestling career after being trained by Dean Malenko and Dan Spivey before debuting in World Championship Wrestling in 1991. He was introduced with a heavy metal rock-and-roll persona that helped him stand out during a crowded era of larger-than-life characters.

During his early WCW run, he became known for several memorable moments, including a Falls Count Anywhere match against Mick Foley on a live Clash of Champions special. He also won the 1992 Jesse Ventura Invitational arm-wrestling tournament, a storyline victory that gave him added visibility during his initial push.

After departing WCW for a period, Hildreth received a WWF tryout in 1993 but was not signed. He later returned to WCW during the Monday Nitro era, where he became part of Raven’s Flock — one of the promotion’s most recognizable factions of the late 1990s. He also joined the Misfits in Action stable under the name Major Stash, showing a willingness to adapt to different roles as the company evolved.

Outside WCW, Hildreth toured with Big Japan Wrestling in 2001 and continued wrestling on independent shows for several years. His final match took place in 2009, closing out nearly two decades in the ring.

Beyond his own career, Van Hammer played an important role in training future stars Jay and Mark Briscoe. That contribution remains one of the most lasting parts of his legacy, as the Briscoe Brothers went on to become one of the most respected tag teams in modern wrestling.

Van Hammer leaves behind a long history tied to WCW’s rise in the 1990s, along with friendships and memories shared with those who trained, traveled, and performed alongside him. His influence extended beyond his own matches, helping shape the careers of others who carried wrestling forward.

As tributes continue to pour in, many fans are reflecting on the WCW era and the personalities who helped define it. What is your favorite memory of Van Hammer from his time in WCW or later years in wrestling?