WWE star Big Van Vader dies of heart failure
Big Van Vader, a star for World Wrestling Entertainment, has died of congestive heart failure.
His son announced the death Wednesday on Twitter.
“It is with a heavy heart (I) inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night ... at approximately 7:25 p.m.,” the post on Vader’s twitter feed said.
Another tweet from his son said White was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia about a month ago.
“He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress,” the post said. “Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time.”
White was a former professional football player, drafted by the Rams in 1978.
He retired in the 1980s due to an injury. In addition to wrestling with the WWE, he had a recurring role on “Boy Meets World,” an ABC sitcom.
White knew of his heart problems, announcing on Twitter in 2016 that sports had worn him out and he expected to live about two years.
“Told by 2 heart Drs at this time that my heart is wore (sic) out from football & wrestling,” he wrote in November 2016. “I have 2 yrs to live, congestive heart failure reality.”
Wrestler John Layfield said on Twitter that he wrestled Vader in Vader’s last Pay Per View match.
“He wanted me to kick out of his finish,” Layfield wrote. “He told me ‘today you get the old Vader, I want it to mean something when you win.’ RIP big man, and thanks!”