Johnny Valiant is struck by car, killed crossing the street
“Luscious” Johnny Valiant, the wrestling “brother” of Memphis legend “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, has died after being struck by a car, according to multiple sources.
Valiant, whose real name was Thomas M. Sullivan, was crossing a street in suburban Pittsburgh when he was struck about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to triblive.com. He was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Reports say that Sullivan was not in a crosswalk when the crash occurred, and foul play is not suspected.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) also reported the death. In a tweet, WWE said Valiant, using his wrestling name, was 71.
Valiant was part of a trio of wrestling “brothers,” joined by Jimmy and “Gentleman” Jerry Valiant. In the mid-1970s, Jimmy and Johnny teamed. Jerry eventually joined with Johnny as a tag team after Jimmy left in 1978.
Jimmy, whose real name was James Harold Fanning, was the best known of the Valiant brothers to Memphis wrestling fans.
He was a frequent “heel,” or bad guy, who feuded with Jerry Lawler among others.
“Handsome” Jimmy eventually morphed into the “Boogie Woogie Man.”
After parting ways with Jimmy, Johnny and Jerry won tag team titles with manager Lou Albano before the Valiants parted ways in 1980.