Robert Swenson
Robert Alexander "Jeep" Swenson Jr. (January 5, 1957 – August 18, 1997) was an American professional wrestler, stuntman and actor.
| 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 |
| Retired | 1996 |
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
Wrestling
Swenson wrestled for World Class Championship Wrestling in 1987 and 1988 as Jeep Swenson for manager Gary Hart. He debuted on March 7, 1987, defeating Perry Jackson in a 2 minute challenge match. (WWE Network) 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.
From 1993 to 1994, he wrestled for Global Wrestling Federation in Texas.
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.
Boxing
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.
Acting
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.[2]
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 (archive footage} | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-1995 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Jumbo Stark / Sammy | 2 Episodes |
References
- Fin Martin and Antohy Evans (August 2003). "Know their Roles". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing Ltd. pp. 26–31. 109.
- "Jeep Swenson dies of heart failure". SLAM! Sports. Canoe.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
External links
- Robert Swenson at Find a Grave
- Jeep Swenson at IMDb
- Robert Swenson's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
- Boxing record for Robert Swenson from BoxRec