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Former WWE wrestler Kevin Sullivan, known as The Prince of Darkness and “The Overseer,” has died at the age of 74.
He was particularly known for his confrontations with Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes and for leading his own Dark Army. His death was announced in a statement from WWE, which described him as “a unique and influential figure in the history of sports-entertainment”.
“Sullivan has found success both in the ring and behind the scenes with his penchant for far-reaching ideas that push creative boundaries,” the statement added.
The cause of his death has not been announced yet.
In May, Sullivan experienced what his daughter described as: Gofundme “Devastating accident” while in Florida signing memorabilia.
“He underwent emergency surgery that saved his leg and his life but faced serious complications, including sepsis and encephalitis,” Nicole Sullivan wrote.
on X/TwitterFormer wrestler Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, wrote: “Kevin Sullivan had one of the most unique minds in the history of our industry, pushing creative boundaries and developing some of the most intriguing characters to step into the ring. He had an unwavering passion for what we do. My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.”
Kevin Francis Sullivan was born on October 26, 1949 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began his career as an amateur wrestler in Boston before graduating to the professional circuit in Montreal in the early 1970s.
He was known early in his career as Johnny West and The Boston Butlers, before drawing inspiration from heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to become the Prince of Darkness in the early 1980s. He also drew on occult and cult imagery, exploiting the Satanic Panic of the era.
Sullivan’s crew, the Army of Darkness, would dress up as cult members and enter the ring to the tune of Deep Purple or Jeff Beck songs.
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Sullivan, who used to play a “heel” role, was known for his rivalries with the likes of Rhodes and Barry Windham.
In the 1990s, he became a fixture in World Championship Wrestling, where he feuded with Hogan and Randy Savage.
He retired from wrestling in 1997, but continued to work in the industry as an agent.
In 2007, his ex-wife Nancy was murdered by her wrestler husband Chris Benoit. Benoit also killed their 7-year-old son before committing suicide.
Sullivan is survived by his wife, Linda Sullivan, his children Nicole, Bianca, Shannon and Ben, and his brothers John and Charles.
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