RIP Captain Lou Albano, Age 76

(July 29, 1933 - October 14, 2009)

Captain Lou Albano, a true legend within the ranks of WWF & WWE has passed away at age 76 today. The famous WWF/WWE manager Captain Lou (real name: Louis Vincent Albano) was sent home from a hospital earlier in the week and placed under hospice care at his residence. His cause of death has yet to be reported.

WWE issued the following news statement on their website:

World Wrestling Entertainment was saddened to learn of the passing of one of the company’s most popular and charismatic legends, “Captain Lou Albano.” WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Albano family.

“Captain Lou” was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. He performed for WWE from 1983 to 1996. Albano began his storied career with Vincent J. McMahon in the 1960’s as one half of “The Sicilians” tag team with his partner, Tony Altimore. He will be greatly missed by the WWE and his fans.

Albano was inducted into WWE Hall of Fame in 1996, but was a pop culture icon as well. He acted in a number of Miami Vice TV episodes and other films, and also played the Mario character in a live action/animated series of the video game Super Mario Brothers. Most famously, he played Cyndi Lauper's father in the music video "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Albano & Lauper were instrumental in WWE's Rock 'n Wrestling connection that put WWF into the mainstream with promotion of Wrestlemania. He was well known for his wild goatee with rubber bands on it, and for managing a great number of singles wrestlers including Don "The Rock" Muraco, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Hulk Hogan, Pat Patterson, Ken Patera, and Fabulous Moolah. As for tag teams he served as a manager for many legendary duos including the Wild Samoans, The British Bulldogs, The Headshrinkers and The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham).

Captain Lou also has an autobiography which was just released last year, under his famous catchphrase title "Often Imitated, Never Duplicated". He also co-authored The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro Wrestling along with Bert Randolph Sugar.

Deepest condolences go out to all friends, family and fans of the late, great Captain Lou Albano for his contributions to WWF/WWE & pop culture.

Here's Captain Lou Albano cutting a promo for WWF, and also Albano in action in the ring against Gorilla Monsoon.