Trivia

His nickname "Mean Gene" was created by WWF broadcast colleague Jesse Ventura.

Was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1st, 2006, by Hulk Hogan.

His son Todd played on the 1988 US Olympic Hockey Team and played for the New York Islanders briefly.

Was the best man at the wedding of Khosrow Vaziri (aka "The Iron Sheik").

Once wrestled a tag team match with Hulk Hogan.

Sang the national anthem at the very first WrestleMania I (1985).

In 1993 he jumped to World Championship Wrestling after nine years in the WWF.

Inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2006.

Spokesperson for a fast-food franchise using his name and likeness, Mean Gene's Burgers (also, Mean Gene's Pizza and Mean Gene's Beef Jerky).

In 2000 he started an on-air feud with WCW announcer Mark Madden, culminating in a match on WCW Monday Nitro (1995).

He and Bobby Heenan made an appearance as guest commentators for the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania X-Seven (2001).

Often called "Scheme Gene" for his various promotions during and after his WWF/WCW crossover.

In 2018 he was reportedly frail and in failing health. In December he suffered a very serious fall in his home that resulted in injuries that included broken ribs. This is believed to have contributed to his passing just after New Year 2019.