The Fascinating Life and Tragic Death of Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan

 

Kevin Sullivan, Pro Wrestling’s ‘Prince of Darkness,’ Dies at 75
Modeling himself after the heavy metal bands of the 1970s and ’80s, he played the role of an occult-inspired villain and tangled with the likes of Hulk Hogan.

Kevin Sullivan, a professional wrestler who rose to fame as a twisted villain who locked heads with some of the biggest names in the business, including Hulk Hogan, died on Friday in Concord, Mass. He was 75.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Nicole Sullivan, who said he had complications stemming from a blood clot in his leg.

Known early in his career as “the Boston Battler,” Sullivan was inspired by heavy metal acts popular in the 1970s and ’80s like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to become the “Prince of Darkness,” a demonic rival of some of the stars of that era, including Dusty Rhodes, the Road Warriors and Hogan.

Among the crews he led in the ring were the Army of Darkness; the Varsity Club, a group of college bullies in letterman jackets; and Dungeon of Doom. Also known as “the Taskmaster,” he painted black X’s and lightning bolts on his forehead, wore leather body armor and chains, and stuck out his tongue like Gene Simmons of Kiss.

“During their heyday, Sullivan’s cult came to the ring with either Jeff Beck’s ‘Gets Us All in the End’ or Deep Purple’s ‘Nobody’s Home’ blaring behind them and a series of black-cloaked and corpse-painted minions who usually brought with them boa constrictors of varying colors and sizes,” according to a 2015 editorial on the website Metal Injection. “Add in a half-naked Fallen Angel” — a role played in the 1980s by his wife, Nancy — “then you’ve got a good idea of just how much of a spectacle Sullivan’s Army of Darkness was.”

Kevin Francis Sullivan was born on Oct. 26, 1948, in Cambridge, Mass., to Charles and Mary Sullivan. His father was a police officer, and his mother was a teacher. He started wrestling at an early age, inspired by Killer Kowalski, one of professional wrestling’s biggest stars and most hated villains.

Over six decades in the ring, he wrestled across the United States and Canada.

“The money is better than in anything else I could do,” Sullivan told The New York Times in 1989. “I’ll tell you what I like the most about it. I get to live in a beach house in Daytona Beach, Florida, that’s completely paid for. Now, that’s nice.”

He developed his signature occult-inspired look at a time of so-called satanic panic about the influence of heavy metal music and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons on young people.