Mike Mazurki

Born in Austria-Hungary in 1907, Mike Mazurki never fully did lose his accent when he learned English, which helped rather than hindered him int he long run.

He excelled perhaps more as an actor than a wrestler, finding parts in a host of television shows as well as films. His movie roles included Bullwhip Griffin, Challenge To be Free, Night & The City (a murky wrestling film set in London) , Cheyenne Autumn, Donavan's Reef, Damnation Alley and Some Like It Hot. .

In the wrestling world, Mazurki excelled as well, though he was over with the people due to his height more than a super-muscular  frame.

As a wrestler Mazurki traveled the USA, but California remained a home base for him and a focal point for grappling for most of his career.

Mazurki did make varied trips into Arizona and had some main events at the Phoenix Madison Square Garden.

Mazurki died in 1990, but was indirectly involved with wrestling in the last years of his life as he and a group of retirees formed The Cauliflower Alley Club that exists to this date. The group went from a small weekly luncheon to an international organization of boxers and wrestlers, with a multitude of activities.

He rests at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.