“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass…and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
WWF (that’s right, not WWE) superstar “Rowdy” Roddy Piper passed away last week at the age of 61. It was a brutal blow for my generation.
While he was best known for his work inside the ring, us horror fans will always remember him as John Nada in John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi horror film They Live.
He starred as a drifter who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to “wake up” to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth.
While the chilling social commentary is still relevant today, the reason They Live is widely remembered by film buffs is the epic fight scene that’s gone on to be spoofed shot-for-shot in “South Park” Season 05 Episode 03, ‘Cripple Fight.’
In the sequence, Piper beats the crap out of Keith David’s character in an attempt to get him to put the glasses on (aka “wake up”).
.@R_Roddy_Piper was my friend and I will sorely miss him. I'm just in shock. pic.twitter.com/nImyPnMwKj
— KeithDavid (@ImKeithDavid) July 31, 2015
John Carpenter went on to say farewell, as well.
“I’m devastated by the passing of my friend Roddy Piper,” Carpenter tweeted out to his followers. “Great wrestler, underrated actor, dear friend. Rest in peace, Rod.
“What to say? Rest in Peace, Roddy. I’ll miss you, my friend.”
I'm devastated by the passing of my friend Roddy Piper. Great wrestler, underrated actor, dear friend. Rest in peace, Rod.
— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) July 31, 2015
Anyways, below we share the incredible battle that was a such an impactful moment in my life, as well as many of my friends. They Live will continue to be an important film that is smart, yet flexes its muscles. If only films today has as much heart as this gem…