John William Minton, also known as Big John Studd, was a renowned American professional wrestler and actor. With numerous wrestling championships under his belt, he showcased his exceptional skills at the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1970s and 1980s. Studd’s towering presence and dominance in the ring made him a force to be reckoned with, and his victories were the talk of the town in the mid-80s. His legendary rivalries with wrestling icons like Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan solidified his status within the WWF community. Known for his intimidating demeanor, Studd’s opponents often feared facing him, as he would bring a stretcher to the ring, anticipating their inevitable defeat. In addition to his wrestling career, Studd also dabbled in acting, appearing in movies and television shows such as ‘Hunter’ (1987) and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1988). Sadly, he passed away in 1995 due to Hodgkin’s disease and liver cancer.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: John William Minton
- Died At Age: 47
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Donna Conklin (m. 1978; his death 1995)
- Born Country: United States
- Actors
- WWE Wrestlers
- Height: 6’10” (208 cm), 6’10” Males
- Died on: March 20, 1995
- Place of death: Burke, Virginia, United States
- Notable Alumni: Stampede Wrestling
- Cause of Death: Lymphoma
- U.S. State: Pennsylvania
- More Facts
- Education: Stampede Wrestling
Childhood & Early Life
Big John Studd, born John William Minton on February 19, 1948, in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA, was raised by his mother, Helen Hayden.
Early Career
At the age of 18, John started his training under the guidance of Killer Kowalski, a Hall of Famer. He made his wrestling debut in 1972 at Los Angeles’ independent circuit, using the stage name ‘The Mighty Milton’. He continued wrestling at various events until he got an opportunity to showcase his skills at ‘World Wide Wrestling Federation’ (WWWF).
Career
John made his WWWF debut with Killer Kowalski as his tag team partner and became an instant crowd-puller. He won the Tag Team Championship with Kowalski and was also known as ‘the masked executioner’ when he sported a mask during his appearances. He faced wrestlers like Gorilla Monsoon and Chief Jay Strongbow during his time with WWWF.
After leaving WWWF in 1973, John made his debut in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1974 and won the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship with Ken Patera. He later returned to WWWF and won the Tag Team Championship with his partner, becoming known as ‘The Executioners’. However, they were eventually beaten while defending their title.
In 1982, John returned to WWWF, now known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and his rivalry with Andre the Giant became popular among viewers. He announced a $15000 Body Slam Challenge and had a feud with the Heenan family. He won the Royal Rumble in 1989, which was one of the most significant matches of his WWF career.
Other Endeavors
Apart from wrestling, John made his acting debut in 1984 and appeared in several movies and TV shows. He also won various championships throughout his career and was posthumously inducted into the WCW and WWE Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
John married Donna Conklin in 1978, and they had three children together. He passed away on March 20, 1995, at the age of 47, after battling Hodgkin’s disease and liver cancer.