Former WCW Heavyweight Champion Leon “Big Van Vader” White has passed away at the age of 63, according to a tweet posted by his son, Jesse.
According to WrestlingInc, White has been battling heart issues for the past couple years and in November of 2016, White revealed on Twitter that he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to his football and wrestling careers. He said that he had visited two separate heart doctors who both told him he had less than two years to live.
Jesse said that his father was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia last month and while he said his father fought hard and was making progress, “on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time.”
Accompanied with a picture of the 63-year-old, Jesse’s: “It is with a heavy heart to inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night (6/18/18) at approximately 7:25pm.”
It is with a heavy heart to inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night (6/18/18) at approximately 7:25pm. pic.twitter.com/dP4CNaMuXa
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 20, 2018
Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress. Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time. pic.twitter.com/hJYjumvxjH
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 20, 2018
White, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest super heavyweight wrestlers ever, also played center for the Rams in a Super Bowl after being selected in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft.
Can’t forget the Boy Meets World episode with Vader in it.