Ricki Starr
{{short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Ricki Starr
|image = Ricki Starr.png
|caption =
|birth_name = Bernard Herman
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|8|12}}
|birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2014|9|20|1931|7|6}}
|death_place = London, England
|resides =
|names = Ricki Starr
|weight = 207 lb
|billed =
|trainer =
|debut = 1952
|retired = 1977
}}
Bernard Herman (12 August 1931 – 20 September 2014){{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2615&bild=1&details=7&liga=261&jahr=1954&seite=5|title=Profile|publisher=Wrestlingdata|accessdate=27 April 2024}} was an American-British professional wrestler, boxer and ballet dancer who spent his career in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe under the ring name Ricki Starr.
Professional wrestling career
Starr started out his career as an amateur boxer, before switching to ballet and becoming so successful that he enjoyed a run on Broadway.{{cite web|url=http://www.oklafan.com/bios/view/2243/}} Made his professional wrestling debut in 1952 in Texas. His wrestling gimmick was a ballet dancer where he did acrobatic moves in the ring. Starr popularized the airplane spin as his finisher, a move which called upon his ballet background to execute perfectly.
From 1957 to 1962, Starr worked in New York City for Capitol Wrestling Corporation.
In 1962, he made his first trip to England.
Later in his career, he wrestled in Mexico, France, Germany and Austria.
Personal life and death
After retiring from wrestling in 1977, Starr resided in London until his death.
On September 20, 2014, Starr passed away at the age of 83.{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2014/10/01/with-ballet-slippers-a-starr-was-born/ |title=With ballet slippers, a Starr was born |access-date =2014-10-01 |date =1 October 2014 |work=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=Canoe.com}}
Championships and accomplishments
- Dallas Wrestling Club / Southwest Sports, Inc.
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ray Gunkel (2){{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=275–276}}{{cite web| url = http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-t.html | title = NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]| access-date = December 27, 2019 | work= wrestling-titles.com}}
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ciclón Negro{{cite book | first1=Royal | last1=Duncan | first2=Gary | last2=Will | title=Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | location=Pennsylvania |year=2000 | publisher=Archeus Communications | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | chapter=Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/nwa-ss/tx-nwa-t.html | title=National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas] | work=Wrestling-Titles | accessdate=February 21, 2017}}
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pepper Gomez
- NWA Western States Sports
- NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Lord Alfred Hayes (1)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{professional wrestling profiles}}
- [https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/ricki-starr/ Ricki Starr at OWW.com]
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0823031/ at IMDb]
- [http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/ricki-starr-20364.html at ProFightDB]
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=0wxLpfRhZqcC&q=ricki+starr+&pg=PT496 The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starr, Ricki}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:American male ballet dancers
Category:American gay sportsmen
Category:Professional wrestlers from St. Louis
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers
Category:English male professional wrestlers
Category:English male ballet dancers