Hall-of-Fame Professional Wrestler. An eccentric character in his sport whose uncouth appearance belied the cultured gentleman that he was in real life, he was known for his green tongue as well as his trademark 'eating' of the ring turnbuckle. Born William James Myers, he was a star athlete in school, attended Central Michigan University, and transferred to Michigan State where he was a standout lineman, though his dreams of a football career were derailed by knee problems. Myers earned a master's degree from Central Michigan and became a respected high school teacher and coach in Madison Heights, Michigan. In 1967, while still teaching, he was recruited by legendary wrestler Bruno Sammartino and became a typecast villain, his resemblance to Tor Johnson so obvious that the first George Steele toys were actually leftover Tor Johnson toys. He took his ring name from a coaching friend in Michigan and had a long run in Vince McMahaon's WWF, turning his tongue green with Clorets and staging a number of feuds including a memorable one with Macho Man Randy Savage as he vied for the affections of Savage's valet (and wife) Miss Elizabeth. Steele fought at WrestleMania III and was ringside for WrestleMania IV but in 1988 was forced to retire by Crohn's Disease. He was to portray Johnson in the 1994 film "Ed Wood" and made a few brief returns to the ring, participating in WWF's 1998 'Attitude' promotion, fighting in the TNA, and appearing on a 2000 episode of WCW's Monday Night "Nitro". Retiring to South Florida, he died in a hospice facility of chronic renal disease. A 1995 inductee into the WWF Hall-of-Fame, the football stadium at Madison High School carries his name.
Hall-of-Fame Professional Wrestler. An eccentric character in his sport whose uncouth appearance belied the cultured gentleman that he was in real life, he was known for his green tongue as well as his trademark 'eating' of the ring turnbuckle. Born William James Myers, he was a star athlete in school, attended Central Michigan University, and transferred to Michigan State where he was a standout lineman, though his dreams of a football career were derailed by knee problems. Myers earned a master's degree from Central Michigan and became a respected high school teacher and coach in Madison Heights, Michigan. In 1967, while still teaching, he was recruited by legendary wrestler Bruno Sammartino and became a typecast villain, his resemblance to Tor Johnson so obvious that the first George Steele toys were actually leftover Tor Johnson toys. He took his ring name from a coaching friend in Michigan and had a long run in Vince McMahaon's WWF, turning his tongue green with Clorets and staging a number of feuds including a memorable one with Macho Man Randy Savage as he vied for the affections of Savage's valet (and wife) Miss Elizabeth. Steele fought at WrestleMania III and was ringside for WrestleMania IV but in 1988 was forced to retire by Crohn's Disease. He was to portray Johnson in the 1994 film "Ed Wood" and made a few brief returns to the ring, participating in WWF's 1998 'Attitude' promotion, fighting in the TNA, and appearing on a 2000 episode of WCW's Monday Night "Nitro". Retiring to South Florida, he died in a hospice facility of chronic renal disease. A 1995 inductee into the WWF Hall-of-Fame, the football stadium at Madison High School carries his name.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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