Adrian Adonis was born on September 15, 1953 in New York City, New York, USA as Keith Franke. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania III (1987), WWF Championship Wrestling (1972) and WWF Superstars (1986). He died on July 4, 1988 in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Canada.
September 15, 1954, Buffalo, New York, United States
Died
July 4, 1988, Lewisporte, Canada
Place Of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Height
5' 6" (1.68 m)
Profession
Actor
Star Sign
Virgo
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Trademark
1
Dressed in drag
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Finishing move: "Goodnight, Irene" sleeper hold
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Fact
1
Attended high school in Kenmore, New York
2
Finished off his WWF wrestling career without his signature blonde hair after Ed Leslie (aka "Brutus Beefcake") shaved most of it off after he lost to Roddy Piper during WrestleMania III (1987).
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Notable title wins include: NWA Americas Tag Team titles with Black Gordman; NWA Americas title; NWA Americas Tag Team titles with Roddy Piper; PNW Tag Team titles with Ron Starr; AWA World Tag Team titles with Jesse Ventura; SCW Southwest Heavyweight title; SCW Undisputed World title; WWF World Tag Team titles with Dick Murdoch.
Because he pretty much ate himself out of "main event" status, no major wrestling organization wanted him. Desperate, he went to the WWF to find work, and was willing to do just about anything. About the same time, Vince McMahon was looking for someone to be a "gay" wrestler. Adonis took him up on that offer, and that pretty much finished off his wrestling career. For the record, he was not gay.
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On July 4, 1988, he, Pat Kelly and Dave McKigney were killed in a car accident in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Canada, on the way to a wrestling promotion.
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Professional wrestler
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Best of the WWF Volume 10
1987
Video
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 11
1987
Video
Adorable Adrian Adonis
George the Animal Steele
1987
Video
Adrian Adonis
Hulkamania 2
1987
Video
Adrian Adonis
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
1987
Video
Adrian Adonis
WWF Superstars
1986
TV Series
'Adorable' Adrian Adonis
WrestleMania 2
1986
TV Movie
'Adorable' Adrian Adonis
WWF Championship Wrestling
1984-1986
TV Series
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 8
1986
Video
Adorable Adrian Adonis
Tag Team Champions
1986
Video
Adrian Adonis
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
1986
Video
Adrian Adonis
The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth
1986
Video
Adrian Adonis
WWF's Explosive TNT Show
1986
Video
Adrian Adonis
WWF's Inside the Steel Cage
1986
Video
Adrian Adonis
The War to Settle the Score
1985
TV Movie
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 1
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 2
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 3
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
Best of the WWF Volume 4
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
1985
Video
Adrian Adonis
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!
1985
Video
Andrian Adonis
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
WrestleMania III
1987
TV Movie
Himself
WWF Challenge
1986-1987
TV Series
Himself
Saturday Night's Main Event
1986-1987
TV Series
Himself
WWF Superstars
1986
TV Series
Himself
WWF Championship Wrestling
1984-1986
TV Series
Himself
WWF: The Big Event
1986
Video
Himself
WWF Prime-Time Wrestling
1985-1986
TV Series
Himself
WWF All-Star Wrestling
1986
TV Series
Himself
Wrestling's Country Boys
1985
Video
Himself
WWF: The Wrestling Classic
1985
TV Special
Himself
World Wrestling Federation
1984
TV Series
Himself
World Championship Wrestling
1984
TV Series
Himself
Tuesday Night Titans
1984
TV Series
Himself
Wrestling at the Chase
1984
TV Series
Himself
AWA All-Star Wrestling
1960
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman
2014
Video
Himself
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
Video
Himself
The WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009
Video
Himself
The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
2006
Video
Himself
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be