Biography for
Terry Funk More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

30 June 1944, Hammond, Indiana, USA

Birth Name

Terrence Funk

Nickname

The Hardcore Icon

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Mini Biography

Funk has strong wrestling bloodlines. His dad Dory Funk, was a well known grappler from the 1940s to the 1970s, and his brother Dory Jr., wrestled from 1963 until the early 90s, and won the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) world heavyweight championship in 1969. Funk himself became NWA champion and thus the Funk's have the distinction of being the only brothers to win the NWA championship. Funk made his film debut as (what else?) a wrestler in Sylvester Stallone's (a noted wrestling fan) movie "Paradise Alley." Funk then did double-duty as a pro wrestler and actor/stunt man (he was prominate in Patrick Swayze's movie "Roadhouse." Not technically a great wrestler, Funk was more known for his brawling tactics, and had some great feuds during his career with "Handsome" Harley Race, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and others. After maintaining a low profile in wrestling, Funk resurfaced in the 90s in the new Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) series and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), this time in his new persona as "Chainsaw Charlie."

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson

Spouse

Vicki Ann Weaver	(14 August 1991 - present)
Vicki Ann Weaver	(14 August 1965 - 15 April 1975) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Known for retiring from wrestling, only to return.

Trademark Moves: The Spinning Toe-Hold & The Chicken Punch

Trivia

4/16/00: At age 56, captured the WCW Hardcore Championship in a match against Norman Smiley at Spring Stampede.

Son of professional wrestler Dory Funk Sr.. Brother of professional wrestler Dory Funk Jr. The Funk Brothers are the only brothers to win the NWA Heavyweight Championship.

Held the NWA World Heavyweight title from Dec. 10, 1975 to Feb. 6, 1977 as recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance.

He is wrestling's Living Legend and after wrestling professionally in the WWF and other leagues, now wrestles in ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling).

1983: First announced his retirement.

One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000)

5/21/95: Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame.

Retired in 1997, losing his final match to Bret "The Hitman" Hart, only to come out of retirement a few months later.

Cousin of Billy Bob Thornton.

Notable Title Wins Include: NWA World Heavyweight title; NWA Western States title (6); NWA Western States Tag Team titles (2); NWA Amarillo International Tag Team titles; NWA Florida Television title; NWA Florida Tag Team titles; NWA Americas title; NWA Missouri title; NWA Championship Wrestling Florida title; NWA Amarillo Brass Knuckles title; NWA Amarillo Tag Team titles (2); NWA North American Tag Team titles; NWA/WCW United States title; NWA National Television title; NWA Los Angeles Tag Team titles; WWC Tag Team titles; SCW Tag Team titles; SCW Southwest Tag Team titles; SCW Southwest title; USWA Unified title; ECW Heavyweight title (2); ECW Television title; NWA Florida Southern title; WWF Tag Team titles with Cactus Jack; WCW Hardcore title; 3PW Heavyweight title.

Former Commissioner of WCW.

Competed in The WWE as Chainsaw Charlie.

Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.

He has gone under various names throughout his illustrious 40 years: Terrible Terry Funk, Tuxedo Terry Funk, Doctor Knows It All and Chainsaw Charlie.

Grew up in Amarillo, TX, where his father Dory Funk Sr. settled around 1947.

First Professional wrestler to be on a weekly Television series.

Auditioned for a role in Platoon (1986).

Personal Quotes

[on why he refused to press charges against fans who tried to injure or kill him] I mean, do I want to put someone in jail because I convinced him or her that I needed to die? That's how I look at it and that may be sick, but it's also beautiful.

[on the riots that would start after his matches ended] The riots were a form of flattery. The greatest thing for a bad guy wrestler is to do your job so well that someone wants to kill you. What could be more wonderful?

[on how he made a name for himself in Japan] How many times did they see Antonio Inoki stretching some dude on the front page compared to how many times they saw some idiot--me--bleeding a gusher with barbed wire wrapped around his throat?

Where Are They Now

(June 2007) Lives on the Double Cross Ranch in Canyon, Texas with his wife Vicki. Although retired he does accept the occasional booking.

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