Doink the Clown Dead at 55

Matt Osborne, the original Doink the Clown, was found dead in his girlfriend’s apartment in Texas. There seems to be a tragic long list of professional wrestling deaths in the past 10 years.  The sad thing about it is that over 100 wrestlers have died before reaching the age of 50.  The wrestling culture is one of physical punishment that both takes a mental and bodily toll that cuts short many careers.

List of famous dead wrestlers.

• Bobby Duncum, Jr (34)–January 24, 2000–Drug overdose.
• Gordon Solie (71)July 27, 2000–Died from cancer.
• Toru Tanaka (70)–August 22, 2000–Died from a heart attack.
• Yokozuna (34)–October 22, 2000–Died from a heart attack.
• Johnny Valentine (72)–April 24, 2001–Natural Causes.
• Tex McKenzie –May 31, 2001–Died of an aortic aneurysm.
• Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy (40)–July 16, 2001–Blood clot in the heart.
• Rhonda Singh (40) –August 2, 2001–Drug Overdose which caused a Heart Attack
• Blaise Alexander (WCW race car driver) (25) –October 4, 2001–Complications from a head injury received in a car race.
• “Gentleman” Chris Adams (46)–October 7, 2001–Shot to death.
• Helen Hart–November 4, 2001–Complications from a seizure.
• Russ Haas (27)–December 15, 2001–Heart Attack.
• Wahoo McDaniels (63)–April 18, 2002–Died from complications from renal failure and diabetes.
• Lou Thesz (86)–April 28, 2002–Died from natural causes after heart surgery earlier in the year.
• Randy Anderson (42)–May 5, 2002–Cancer
• Big Dick Dudley (36)–May 16, 2002–Kidney failure
• “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith (39) –May 18, 2002–Died from a heart attack.
• Rocco Rock of Public Enemy (49)–September 21, 2002–Heart Attack.
• “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (44)–February 10, 2003–acute cocaine intoxication.
• Miss Elizabeth (42)–May 1, 2003–Died from a combination of alcohol and painkillers.
• “Classy” Freddie Blassie ((85)–June 2, 2003–Unknown
• Stu Hart (88)–October 16, 2003–Natural Causes
• Hawk [Michael Hegstrand] (46)– October 19, 2003–Heart Attack
• Crash Holly (32)–November 6, 2003–Drug overdose
• Larry “Moondog Spot” Booker (51)–November 29, 2003–Collapsed in the ring
• Malice/The Wall [Jerry Tuite] (37)–December 6, 2003–acute heart attack
• Jack Tunney (69)–January 24, 2004–Heart attack
• Hercules “Hernandez” (46)–March 6, 2004–Died in his sleep.
• James Dudley (93)– June 1, 2004–Died of natural causes.
• Ray “Big Bossman” Traylor (41)–September 22, 2004–Heart failure.
• Chris Candido (33)–April 28, 2005–Blood clot and complications due to surgery.
• Lord Alfred Hayes (76)–July 21, 2005–Complications from a series of strokes.
• Moondog King [Ed “Sailor” White (56)]–August 26, 2005–Complications from car accident
• Eddie Guerrero (37)–November 13, 2005–Enlarged heart due to years of drug use.
• Johnny Grunge of Public Enemy (39)–February 16, 2006–Complications from sleep apnea.
• John Tenta [Earthquake]  (42)–June 7, 2006–bladder cancer.
• Bam Bam Bigelow [Scott Bigelow] (45)–January 19, 2007–Drugs.
• Mike Awesome (42)–February 17, 2007–Apparent Suicide. 
• Bad News Brown (63)–March 6, 2007–Heart Attack
• “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd (68)–March 10, 2007–Cancer
• “Sensational” Sherri (Martel) (49)–June 15, 2007–Accidental overdose.
• Nancy “Women” (Sullivan) Benoit (43)–June 25, 2007–Strangulation. Died at home with Chris Benoit and their son Daniel (Suffocation).
• Chris Benoit (40)–June 25, 2007–Suicide by hanging
• Brian “Crush” Adams (43)–August 13, 2007–Overdose of prescription medications.
• The Missing Link (Dewey Robertson) (68)–August 16, 2007–Died from cancer
• Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison) (84)–November 3, 2007–Complications due to surgery.
• Gary Hart (66) March 16, 2008– Heart Attack
• Walter “Killer” Kowalski (81) August 30, 2008–Complications from heart attack
• S.D. Jones (63) October 26, 2008– Stroke
• Andrew “Test” Martin (33) March 13, 2009–accidental overdose of Oxycodone.
• “Playboy” Buddy Rose (56) April 28, 2009–natural causes
• Capt Lou Albano (76) October 14, 2009–natural causes
• Umaga (36) December 4, 2009–Heart Attack
• Dr. Death Steve Williams (49) December 29, 2009–throat cancer.
• Ludvig Borga (47) January 10, 2010–suicide.
• Chris “Kanyon” Klucsaritis (40) April 3, 2010–apparent suicide
• Lance Cade (29) August 13, 2010–Apparent Heart Failure.
• General Skandor Akbar (75)–unknown
• Luna Vachon (48) August 27, 2010–Drug overdose..
• Bastian Booger (53) September 12, 2010–Heart Attack.
• Giant Gonzales (44) September 22, 2010–Kidney Failure
• Randy “Macho Man” Savage (58) May 20, 2011–Car accident caused by a heart attack.
• Doug Furnas (50) March 2, 2012–heart disease.
• Brad Armstrong (51) November 1, 2012–Medical distress
• Paul Bearer (58) March 5, 2013–Unknown

(source list)