The death of Virgil Runnels, which was his real name, was announced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). <br /> <br />His long and glittering career, which began in the late 1960s, earned him a place in the WWE Hall of Fame. <br /> <br />"Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit," said WWE. <br />The statement went on to describe him as a "creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE" long after his retirement from the ring. <br /> <br />Tributes poured in for the Texan-born fighter, who won several world titles and became famous during the height of wrestling's popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. <br /> <br />"Saddened to hear the passing of Dusty Rhodes. Legend, teacher, mentor, friend ... Love you Dream," said professional wrestler Paul Levesque, also known as Triple H. <br /> <br />"My mentor," tweeted Ric Flair. "Much love to your family and more respect than can ever be measured. Love you Dream." <br />A WWE spokesman declined to give a cause of death or any details on where he died. <br /> <br />Early career- <br />Rhodes started his career as a rule-breaking heel, tagging with fellow Texan Dick Murdoch to form the tag team The Texas Outlaws in the American Wrestling Association. <br /> <br />Death- <br />On June 10, 2015, emergency personnel responded to Rhodes' home in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday morning after getting a call reporting he had taken a fall. Rhodes was then transported to a nearby hospital where he eventually died. Rhodes is survived by his four children, including Cody Runnels and Dustin Runnels, along with his wife.
