The Islands of the Fraternal Order of Moai

George "The Animal" Steele, a pro wrestling icon and WWE Hall of Famer, has died at 79. WWE confirmed the news Friday.

Steele turned pro in 1967 and was best known for his run as a comical babyface attraction in the final years before his 1988 retirement. With his hairy upper body, bald head and green tongue, Steele became one of the most recognizable characters for the WWE -- then known as WWF -- during its national expansion in the mid-1980s, thanks to his penchant for biting open and chewing on the turnbuckle pads.

According to Wikischmedia he was once in a Minolta commercial with Tony Randall. I can't find it. Why is there a YouTube if not to have this commercial preserved? Pffffft...

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He was also a high school wrestling coach and someone who advocated natural health remedies. I sat next to him on a flight in the mid 90s, and he was the most gracious person with some form of celebrity attached to them, that I have ever met. We had a great conversation about wrestling in the 60s, how he entertained my brothers and I over the years, and how he was pursuing forms of natural healing to bring to the people.

RIP George - thanks for taking the time to talk with someone who grew up watching you on TV...