Robert Swenson
| Robert Swenson | |
|---|---|
 Swenson with his wife and daughter in 1996. | |
| Birth name | Robert Alexander Swenson Jr. |
| Born |
January 5, 1957 San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Died |
August 18, 1997 (aged 40) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
Jeep Swenson Jeep the Mercenary The Final Solution The Ultimate Solution |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Billed weight | 405 lb (184 kg; 28.9 st) |
| Billed from | San Antonio, Texas |
| Debut | 1987 |
Robert Alexander Swenson Jr. (January 5, 1957 – August 18, 1997) was an American professional wrestler, stuntman and actor.
Personal life
Swenson was born in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Patricia Maxine (née Wells) and Robert Alexander Swenson Sr. He was married to Erin Hillsman. The couple had a daughter named Kayleigh.
Career
Swenson wrestled for World Class Championship Wrestling in 1987 and 1988 for manager Gary Hart. His main feud was with Bruiser Brody, who was wrestling as the masked "Red River Jack". According to Swenson, he had the largest biceps in the world at that time. He was billed as being from South Africa, although he was clearly an American.
Swenson returned to wrestling for a match at World Championship Wrestling's Uncensored pay-per-view on March 24, 1996. He performed as a member of the "Alliance to End Hulkamania". He was originally named The Final Solution, but following complaints from Jewish organizations to the Turner corporate offices, his character was renamed The Ultimate Solution. WCW claimed they were unaware that The Final Solution was the name Adolf Hitler gave to his plan to destroy the Jews. The Alliance consisted of the Dungeon of Doom, the Four Horsemen, The Ultimate Solution and Z-Gangsta, all working to end Hulk Hogan's career.
Swenson boxed as an amateur middleweight and later had a short career as a professional boxer. He won his first two bouts by knockouts, but his third fight was stopped in round one after he was knocked down twice by Frankie Garcia in his pro debut.
The 6' 4", 405 lb. Swenson appeared as pit fighter "Lugwrench" Perkins in the 1989 Hulk Hogan film No Holds Barred. He also played James Caan's bodyguard Bledsoe in the Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler film Bulletproof, before playing possibly his best known character Bane in the 1997 film Batman & Robin.[1]
Death
On August 18, 1997, Swenson died of heart failure at the UCLA Medical Center. He was 40 years old. Hulk Hogan, Davey Boy Smith, and James Caan gave eulogies at his funeral.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Big Brawl | Thug | Uncredited |
| 1989 | No Holds Barred | Lugwrench Perkins | |
| 1996 | Bulletproof | Bledsoe | |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Bane | |
| 1997 | The Bad Pack | Missouri Mule | Final film role |
| 2005 | Beyond Batman: Frozen Freaks and Femme Fatales - The Makeup of 'Batman & Robin' | Himself | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-1995 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Jumbo Stark / Sammy | 2 Episodes |
| 1996 | WCW Uncensored | The Ultimate Solution | TV Special |
| 1996 | WCW Monday Nitro | The Final Solution | Episode #1.28 |
See also
References
- ↑ Fin Martin and Antohy Evans (August 2003). "Know their Roles". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing Ltd. pp. 26–31. 109.
External links
- Robert Swenson at Find a Grave
- Jeep Swenson on IMDb
- Robert Swenson's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
- Professional boxing record for Robert Swenson from BoxRec