Virgil Runnels

Actor · 1945–2015 · Austin, Texas, USA

Biography

Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".

Acted in 121

2020s

2010s

2018
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
Movie
2017
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
Movie
2016
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
Dusty Rhodes (voice)
64
TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
2015
Sting: Into the Light
Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
Movie · Documentary
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3
Dusty Rhodes
2014
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Dusty Rhodes
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
Dusty Rhodes
Wrestlemania Rewind
Dusty Rhodes · 1 episode
2013
WWE Battleground 2013
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
Dusty Rhodes
2012
WWE: The Attitude Era
Dusty
nWo: The Revolution
Movie
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
Dusty Rhodes
ROH: Ring of Hardcore
Dusty Rhodes
2010
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
WWE NXT
TV · 20 Seasons · Action · Adventure
73

2000s

2009
The Rise & Fall of WCW
Dusty Rhodes
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
Movie
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes
2008
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
Dusty Rhodes
2007
Life In The Fast Lane
Movie
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Dusty Rhodes
WWE The Great American Bash 2007
Dusty Rhodes
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
Dusty Rhodes
2006
WWE Survivor Series 2006
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
Dusty Rhodes
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story
Dusty Rhodes
2005
TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Lockdown 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Destination X 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Against All Odds 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Final Resolution 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2004
TNA Turning Point 2004
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Victory Road 2004
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
TNA iMPACT!
Dusty Rhodes., Dusty Rhodes · 3 episodes
66
WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
Dusty Rhodes
2003
ROH: The Epic Encounter
Dusty Rhodes
2002
MLW King of Kings
Dusty Rhodes
2001
WCW Greed
Dusty Rhodes
2000
ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
Dusty Rhodes
ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
ECW Living Dangerously 2000
Dusty Rhodes

1990s

1999
ECW on TNN
Dusty Rhodes · 59 episodes
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
TV · 28 Seasons · Reality TV
73
1998
The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Uncensored 1998
Dusty Rhodes
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Souled Out 1998
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
WCW Thunder
Dusty Rhodes · 3 episodes
1995
WCW Monday Nitro
Dusty Rhodes · 262 episodes
80
WCW All Nighter 1995
Movie
1994
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Dusty Rhodes
Burke's Law
Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray · 1 episode
1993
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
ECW Hardcore TV
TV · 8 Seasons · Action · Adventure
80
Raw
Dusty Rhodes · 8 episodes
74
1992
Paradise Park
Deputy Johnny Morton
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
Dusty Rhodes
1991
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
WCW SuperBrawl 1
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WCW WrestleWar 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Dusty Rhodes
1990
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Hottest Matches
Dusty Rhodes
WWE SummerSlam 1990
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
Battle of the WWE Superstars
Dusty Rhodes
WWE WrestleMania VI
Dusty Rhodes
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Dusty Rhodes

1980s

1989
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Dusty Rhodes
Fan Favorites
Movie
1988
NWA Starrcade 1988
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1988
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes, Dusty Rhodes (Ringside) · 5 episodes
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Dusty Rhodes
1987
NWA Starrcade 1987
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone
Movie
NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games
Dusty Rhodes
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
1986
NWA Starrcade 1986
Dusty Rhodes
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Dusty Rhodes · 24 episodes
WWF Superstars
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes · 23 episodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
Dusty Rhodes
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Dusty Rhodes
1985
NWA Starrcade 1985
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA World Championship Wrestling
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Midnight Rider · 90 episodes
Mid-South WrestleFest '85
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes · 3 episodes
72
1984
NWA Starrcade 1984
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Lords of The Ring
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Night of Champions
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Boogie Jam
Dusty Rhodes
1983
WCW Arena Shows
Dusty Rhodes · 3 episodes
1982
Gold Raiders
Movie
1981
Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes, 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes · 6 episodes
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes · 30 episodes
1980
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
Dusty Rhodes