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Alan Rogowski
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born September 22, 1942Died February 26, 2024 (81 years)
Alan Robert Rogowski, better known by the ring name Ole Anderson (/ˈoʊlɪ/), was an American professional wrestler, booker, and promoter.
Following a stint in the U.S. Army, Rogowski made his professional wrestling debut in his native Minnesota in 1967, wrestling for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as Al "the Rock" Rogowski or simply Rock Rogowski. The following year, he debuted in the Carolinas-based Jim Crockett Promotions, where he adopted the ring name Ole Anderson and began teaming with his "brother" Gene Anderson as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. Following a further stint with the AWA and appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida, in 1972 Anderson settled into wrestling primarily for Jim Crockett Promotions and Georgia Championship Wrestling. By the mid-1980s, Anderson was a part-owner of, and the booker for, Georgia Championship Wrestling. After Georgia Championship Wrestling was acquired by Vince McMahon in 1984 in what was known as "Black Saturday", Anderson broke away to form his own promotion, Championship Wrestling from Georgia, which was itself acquired by Jim Crockett Promotions the following year. Anderson spent the rest of his career with Jim Crockett Promotions and its successor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), forming a new iteration of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Arn Anderson, co-founding influential stable The Four Horsemen, twice serving as booker for WCW, and running the WCW Power Plant. He retired from the ring in 1990, and from the professional wrestling industry in 1994.
Known amongst his contemporaries for his gruff, cantankerous demeanor and toughness, Anderson is a key figure in the history of professional wrestling in Georgia and the Carolinas. He held over 40 championships over the course of his career, including eight reigns as National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Tag Team Champion (Mid-Atlantic version). He was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2010.
Following a stint in the U.S. Army, Rogowski made his professional wrestling debut in his native Minnesota in 1967, wrestling for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as Al "the Rock" Rogowski or simply Rock Rogowski. The following year, he debuted in the Carolinas-based Jim Crockett Promotions, where he adopted the ring name Ole Anderson and began teaming with his "brother" Gene Anderson as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. Following a further stint with the AWA and appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida, in 1972 Anderson settled into wrestling primarily for Jim Crockett Promotions and Georgia Championship Wrestling. By the mid-1980s, Anderson was a part-owner of, and the booker for, Georgia Championship Wrestling. After Georgia Championship Wrestling was acquired by Vince McMahon in 1984 in what was known as "Black Saturday", Anderson broke away to form his own promotion, Championship Wrestling from Georgia, which was itself acquired by Jim Crockett Promotions the following year. Anderson spent the rest of his career with Jim Crockett Promotions and its successor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), forming a new iteration of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Arn Anderson, co-founding influential stable The Four Horsemen, twice serving as booker for WCW, and running the WCW Power Plant. He retired from the ring in 1990, and from the professional wrestling industry in 1994.
Known amongst his contemporaries for his gruff, cantankerous demeanor and toughness, Anderson is a key figure in the history of professional wrestling in Georgia and the Carolinas. He held over 40 championships over the course of his career, including eight reigns as National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Tag Team Champion (Mid-Atlantic version). He was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2010.
Known For
Alan Rogowski Filmography
| 2010 | WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time · as Self |
| 2009 | WWE: The Rise and Fall of WCW · as Self |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Starrcade: The Essential Collection · as Self |
| 2007 | The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling · as Self - Four Horsemen |
| 2007 | The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling · as Self |
| 2007 | Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen · as Self |
| 2006 | |
| 2006 | The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA · as Self |
| 2005 | |
| 2003 | The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection · as Self |
| 2003 | |
| 1994 | WCW Slamboree 1994 · as Self |
| 1993 | WCW Beach Blast · as Self |
| 1992 | WCW the Great American Bash · as Self |
| 1990 | WCW/NWA Capital Combat · as Self |
| 1989 | Starrcade · as Self |
| 1986 | Starrcade · as Self |
| 1975 | WCW WorldWide (TV Series) · as Self - The Four Horsemen |
| 2020 | The Best of WWE: Best of Halloween Havoc · as Ole Anderson |
| 2009 | WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams · as Ole Anderson |
| 2008 | Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection · as Ole Anderson |
| 2005 | WWE Legends: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s · as Ole Anderson (archive Footage) |
| 1993 | WCW Slamboree 1993 · as Ole Anderson (appearance) |
| 1992 | WCW Beach Blast · as Ole Anderson |
| 1990 | WCW/NWA the Great American Bash · as Ole Anderson |
| 1990 | WCW/NWA WrestleWar 1990: Wild Thing · as Ole Anderson |
| 1989 | Halloween Havoc · as Ole Anderson |
| 1986 | NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro · as Ole Anderson |
| 1986 | NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte · as Ole Anderson |
| 1985 | Starrcade '85: The Gathering · as Ole Anderson |
| 1985 | World Championship Wrestling (TV Series) · as Ole Anderson |
| 1985 | WCW Saturday Night (TV Series) · as Ole Anderson |
| 1984 | Starrcade · as Ole Anderson |
| 1983 | WCW Arena Shows (TV Series) · as Ole Anderson |
| 1973 | Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (TV Series) · as Ole Anderson |
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| 1975 | WCW WorldWide (TV Series) |
| 1975 | WCW WorldWide (TV Series) |