Captain Lou Albano Dies at 76

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 14th 2009 12:28PM

Captain Lou Albano, the legendary and colorful pro wrestling coach who made memorable cameos in several Cyndi Lauper videos, died Wednesday at his home in Mount Vernon, NY, according to several wrestling sites, including PWInsider.com and PWTorch.com. He was 76.

On Monday, his family told the Miami Herald that Albano had been placed under hospice care for an undisclosed condition. They made it clear it was not cancer, though Albano suffered a heart attack in May 2005.

Watch Captain Lou in Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun':

Albano, real name Louis Vincent Albano, began his career as a wrestler, but later found his groove as an antagonistic manager and coach to several WWF (since renamed WWE) tag team champions, including the Masked Executioners and the Wild Samoans. He retired in 1995 and a year later was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame.

But his biggest contribution to pop culture came with his partnership with Lauper. In the 1980s, Captain Lou Albano appeared in the singer's 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun,' 'She Bop' and 'Time After Time' videos.

This partnership helped kick off the Rock 'n Wrestling project that helped popularize the then-small time wrestling federation to national prominence.

His acting career also included roles in 'Miami Vice,' '227' and the 1987 wrestling movie, 'Body Slam.'

Captain Lou Albano -- A Video Retrospective

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Al Martino, Oct. 13: The singer whose music career spanned 50 years and produced hits like 'Volare' and 'Spanish Eyes' is likely overshadowed by his role as Johnny Fontane in 'The Godfather.'

GAB Archive / Redferns / Getty Images

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Stephen Gately, Oct. 10: Boyzone band member Stephen Gately was found dead while on vacation in Spain. There are no signs of any violence or foul play in his death, which is being called a tragic passing due to natural causes.

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Adam Goldstein, known to most as DJ AM, was found dead on August 28. TMZ reported that police found Goldstein dead in his bed in New York City, and that drugs may have played a part in his death.

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Mary Travers, Sept. 16: One third of folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary lost her battle with leukemia at 72. Her voice helped carry hits like 'Puff the Magic Dragon' and 'If I Had a Hammer.'

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Rashied Ali, Aug. 12: The free-jazz drummer, who was known for playing with John Coltrane during the last years of Coltrane's life, died at 74.

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Mike Seeger, Aug. 10: Folk singer and auto-harp player Mike Seeger is the half-brother of Pete Seeger and a founding member of the folk group the New Lost City Ramblers. Seeger lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. He was 75.

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Billy Lee Riley, Aug. 2: Rockabilly innovator, songwriter and one-time Sun Records recording artist Billy Lee Riley died Sunday of colon cancer that had spread to the bone. Riley, 75, had been convalescing at a hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

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Gordon Waller, July 19: As half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon, the dapper crooner landed hit after hit during the 1960s British Invasion, including the Paul McCartney-penned songs 'A World Without Love' and 'Nobody I Know.' Waller died at 64 of cardiovascular disease.

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Tags: captain lou albano, CaptainLouAlbano, cyndi lauper, CyndiLauper

Comments

(20)

Wednesday 14 October

By Frank

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

R.I.P. Captain Lou.

By dgcampo

I am currently bowing my head in a moment of silence for Captain Lou. When I think of him I think back to the time when he was in WWWF and was a magnificent showman. His tag team with Cyndi Lauper was ingenious and helped to propel professional wrestling to its perch of prominence. God bless Captain Lou and my condolences to his family. I am sure he will be missed.

By dt

Being a local resident of Westchester County NY, I used to see Captain Lou around town every once and a while, and even got to meet him briefly at the local shopping mall and optain his autograph. He was really nice and will be missed.

By Steve

Wow, That's Sad he was a great guy. I met him a few times myself also being a Westchester Resident. He will be missed by many! My condolences to his Family! R.I.P. Capt. Lou

By jt

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

god bless captain lou one of the best and most liked of his kind

By themeeker

In 1975 I met Captain Lou and Classy Freddie Blassie in front of the Municipal Auditorium next to my high school as I was walking home from school. They said hello and invited us to come see the show that night as their guests just because we got excited to see them. They were both so nice to me and my friend that I could not believe the characters they played on TV anymore. These were men who enjoyed entertaining, and I hope Captain Lou rests in peace. He was one of the good guys.

By Mike

Let's not forget Captain Lou was also the manager of the great NRBQ who also lost one of their founders earlier this week the incredibly talented guitarist Steve "Fergie" Ferguson. Both gentlemen will be sorely missed.

By shakesome

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Glad somebody mentioned NRBQ. I actually didn't know he was their manager, but I always loved their song about him.

By Serg T

One of, if not the best manager and wrestling personalities of the 80's era of rock and wrestling.
He will be missed by all who grew up during the time Captain Lou was on top. RIP

By danterandal19

Also, this might just be a thing for us nerds growing up in the early 90s but Captain Lou also played "Mario" in the "Super Mario Bros. Super Show"- you know, based on that little-known, obscure video game?

Rest in peace, good sir.

By lakerman

So refresinng to see so many warm comments about this one of a kind performer. He played out so many roles with WWWF. As the "Captain" Lou could make you dislike him one minute; and love him the next. Out of character, all that knew him.....loved him. Peace be with his family and all colse to him. He will be missed.

By mbluetyphoon

God Bless you Captain Lou!

By El Jefe

Let's not forget that he was Mario on "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show"!!! He is remembered by a lot of kids just for that!

You'll be missed, Mario... :)

By Big Daddy

God Bless & Rest in Peace, Thanks for the memories..

By Mike Sharpe

Captain oh my Captain. The greatest of the greats. Often imitated but never duplicated. The Captain has long been my hero. The Captain now rejoins the greatest group of minds ever assembled: The Captain, Classt Freddie Blassey and of course The GRand Wizard! May they all rest in Peace. Win if you can lose if you must but always cheat!

By lcleejr

where most remember him best as captain lou albano, many of us remember him as frankie the fixer in the movie, "wise guys." RIP big guy.

By Ed Murphy

RIP CAPTAIN. WHERE HAVE YOU GONE GEORGE THE ANIMAL STEELE.

Thursday 15 October

By Danny

As a native of Carmel, NY I always remember seeing him around town. He was a great guy and will be missed.

By bsymom17201

RIP Lou....Classic WWF Rules and lives on!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Glenn

I think it was Gorrilla who called him, "The greatest advertisement for birth control!"

Good bye Lou. We miss you.

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