Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

265

Gender

Male

Birthday

1945-10-12

Day of Death

2015-06-11 (70 years old)

Place of Birth

Austin, Texas, USA

Also Known As

The American Dream

The Midnight Rider

Virgil Runnels

The American Dream 'Dusty Rhodes'

Dusty Rhodes

Virgil Runnels

Biography

Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".

Known For

WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's

WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's

American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes

American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes

The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling

The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling

WWE WrestleMania VI

WWE WrestleMania VI

WWE Survivor Series 2006

WWE Survivor Series 2006

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering

NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering

TNA Turning Point 2004

TNA Turning Point 2004

NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers

NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers

WWE Battleground 2013

WWE Battleground 2013

WWE Survivor Series 1990

WWE Survivor Series 1990

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

WCW Souled Out 1998

WCW Souled Out 1998

WCW Uncensored 1998

WCW Uncensored 1998

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

Biography: Rey Mysterio

Biography: Rey Mysterio

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

A Future WWE: The FCW Story

A Future WWE: The FCW Story

WCW WrestleWar 1991

WCW WrestleWar 1991

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

Nature Boy

Nature Boy

Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure

Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure

WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness

WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness

Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain

Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain

ROH: Ring of Hardcore

ROH: Ring of Hardcore

TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2

TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2

ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3

ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3

The Rise & Fall of WCW

The Rise & Fall of WCW

Sting: Into the Light

Sting: Into the Light

WWE Hall of Fame 2007

WWE Hall of Fame 2007

NWA Superstars on The SuperStation

NWA Superstars on The SuperStation

NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation

NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation

Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time

Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time

The True Story of WrestleMania

The True Story of WrestleMania

NWA Clash of the Champions

NWA Clash of the Champions

WWE Survivor Series 1989

WWE Survivor Series 1989

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

nWo: The Revolution

nWo: The Revolution

WWE: The Attitude Era

WWE: The Attitude Era

Acting

3PW Legends Collide

2003

3PW Legends Collide

as

I Like To Hurt People

1985

I Like To Hurt People

as

Self

AWA/NWA Night of Champions II

1985

AWA/NWA Night of Champions II

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's

2005

WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's

as

Dusty Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream

2015

Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream

as

Battle of the WWE Superstars

1990

Battle of the WWE Superstars

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWF Hottest Matches

1990

WWF Hottest Matches

as

Dusty Rhodes

Gold Raiders

1982

Gold Raiders

as

NEW Renegades Rampage

2004

NEW Renegades Rampage

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Royal Rumble 1990

1990

WWE Royal Rumble 1990

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Royal Rumble 1991

1991

WWE Royal Rumble 1991

as

Dusty Rhodes

American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes

2023

American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes

as

Self (Archival Footage)

NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge

1984

NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge

as

Dusty Rhodes

Biography: Dusty Rhodes

2023

Biography: Dusty Rhodes

as

Self

The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling

1998

The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling

as

Dusty Rhodes

TNA Against All Odds 2005

2005

TNA Against All Odds 2005

as

Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)

TNA Lockdown 2005

2005

TNA Lockdown 2005

as

Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)

TNA Destination X 2005

2005

TNA Destination X 2005

as

Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)

TNA Victory Road 2004

2004

TNA Victory Road 2004

as

Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)

WWE WrestleMania VI

1990

WWE WrestleMania VI

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Survivor Series 2006

2006

WWE Survivor Series 2006

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE SummerSlam 1990

1990

WWE SummerSlam 1990

as

"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

2013

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering

1985

NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

NWA The Great American Bash 1985

1985

NWA The Great American Bash 1985

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land

1986

NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land

as

Dusty Rhodes

TNA Turning Point 2004

2004

TNA Turning Point 2004

as

Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)

TNA Final Resolution 2005

2005

TNA Final Resolution 2005

as

Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)

NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers

1986

NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!

1987

NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games

1987

NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede

1988

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom

1988

NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt

1988

NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Halloween Havoc '91

1991

WCW Halloween Havoc '91

as

Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)

WCW/New Japan Supershow II

1992

WCW/New Japan Supershow II

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Cyber Sunday 2006

2006

WWE Cyber Sunday 2006

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE The Great American Bash 2007

2007

WWE The Great American Bash 2007

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Fall Brawl 1994

1994

WCW Fall Brawl 1994

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Battleground 2013

2013

WWE Battleground 2013

as

Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)

WCW Greed

2001

WCW Greed

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Survivor Series 1990

1990

WWE Survivor Series 1990

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Souled Out 1998

1998

WCW Souled Out 1998

as

Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)

WCW SuperBrawl VIII

1998

WCW SuperBrawl VIII

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Uncensored 1998

1998

WCW Uncensored 1998

as

Dusty Rhodes

ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000

2000

ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000

as

Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)

1985

Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984

as

Dusty Rhodes

ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000

2000

ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000

as

Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)

FIP Return Of The Dream

2003

FIP Return Of The Dream

as

Dusty Rhodes

Fan Favorites

1989

Fan Favorites

as

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

2006

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1

2014

WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1

as

Dusty Rhodes

Biography: Rey Mysterio

2022

Biography: Rey Mysterio

as

Self (archive footage) - Dusty Rhodes

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

2010

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

2013

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

as

Dusty Rhodes

A Future WWE: The FCW Story

2020

A Future WWE: The FCW Story

as

Himself

WCW WrestleWar 1991

1991

WCW WrestleWar 1991

as

Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)

WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun

1991

WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun

as

Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)

Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1

2007

Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1

as

Dusty Rhodes

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

2012

The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

2014

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

as

Dusty Rhodes

Nature Boy

2017

Nature Boy

as

Himself (archive footage)

Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure

2016

Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure

as

Self (archive footage)

WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness

2016

WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness

as

Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)

Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

2009

Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection

as

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90

1990

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90

as

Dusty Rhodes

Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon

2016

Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon

as

Dusty Rhodes (voice)

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

2017

WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995

as

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

2018

Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man

as

Life In The Fast Lane

2007

Life In The Fast Lane

as

TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy

2005

TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy

as

Dusty Rhodes

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story

2006

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

2009

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

as

Dusty Rhodes

Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain

2009

Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain

as

Dusty Rhodes

ROH: Ring of Hardcore

ROH: Ring of Hardcore

as

Dusty Rhodes

TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2

2016

TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2

as

Dusty Rhodes

ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3

2015

ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection

2012

WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection

2004

WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection

as

Dusty Rhodes

Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection

2008

Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection

as

Dusty Rhodes

Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen

2007

Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen

as

Dusty Rhodes

The Rise & Fall of WCW

2009

The Rise & Fall of WCW

as

Dusty Rhodes

Sting: Into the Light

2015

Sting: Into the Light

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE Hall of Fame 2007

2007

WWE Hall of Fame 2007

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Superstars on The SuperStation

1986

NWA Superstars on The SuperStation

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation

1987

NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation

as

Dusty Rhodes

ECW Living Dangerously 2000

2000

ECW Living Dangerously 2000

as

Dusty Rhodes

Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time

2011

Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time

as

Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)

The Wrestler

1974

The Wrestler

as

Dusty Rhodes

HUSTLE-3

2004

HUSTLE-3

as

Dusty Rhodes

The True Story of WrestleMania

2011

The True Story of WrestleMania

as

Self (archive footage)

MLW King of Kings

2002

MLW King of Kings

as

Dusty Rhodes

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

2020

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

as

Self (archive footage)

The Super Bowl of Wrestling

1978

The Super Bowl of Wrestling

as

Dusty Rhodes

The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1988

The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

as

The Midnight Rider

NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem

1988

NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Clash of the Champions

1988

NWA Clash of the Champions

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings

1988

NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88

1988

NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88

as

Dusty Rhodes

PWF Homecoming

1989

PWF Homecoming

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

WWE SummerSlam 1989

1989

WWE SummerSlam 1989

as

Himself

WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89

1989

WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89

as

Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)

WWE Survivor Series 1989

1989

WWE Survivor Series 1989

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show

1982

NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Boogie Jam

1984

NWA Boogie Jam

as

Dusty Rhodes

MSW WrestleFest

1985

MSW WrestleFest

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI

1990

WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI

as

"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes

NWA Night of Champions

1984

NWA Night of Champions

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa

1980

NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa

as

Dusty Rhodes

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1986

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Lords of The Ring

1984

NWA Lords of The Ring

as

Dusty Rhodes

NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro

1986

NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte

1986

NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte

as

Dusty Rhodes

ROH: The Epic Encounter

2003

ROH: The Epic Encounter

as

Dusty Rhodes

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1987

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

Paradise Park

1996

Paradise Park

as

Deputy Johnny Morton

WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII

1994

WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII

as

Dusty Rhodes

nWo: The Revolution

2012

nWo: The Revolution

as

WCW All Nighter 1995

1995

WCW All Nighter 1995

as

WWE: The Attitude Era

2012

WWE: The Attitude Era

as

Dusty

WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff

2013

WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff

as

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

WCW Clash of the Champions XXV

1993

WCW Clash of the Champions XXV

as

Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)

ECW on TNN

ECW on TNN

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro

as

TNA iMPACT!

TNA iMPACT!

as

Raw

Raw

as

Dusty Rhodes

ECW Hardcore TV

ECW Hardcore TV

as

Major League Wrestling: Underground TV

Major League Wrestling: Underground TV

as

The JBL and Cole Show

The JBL and Cole Show

as

Dusty Rhodes

WWF Wrestling Challenge

WWF Wrestling Challenge

as

Dusty Rhodes

WCW Thunder

WCW Thunder

as

Dusty Rhodes

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

as

Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray

WWE Rivalries

WWE Rivalries

as

Self

TNA iMPACT!

TNA iMPACT!

as

Dusty Rhodes.

TNA iMPACT!

TNA iMPACT!

as

Dusty Rhodes

Biography: WWE Legends

Biography: WWE Legends

as

Saturday Night's Main Event

Saturday Night's Main Event

as

Production

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

2013

WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches

as

WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014

2014

WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014

as

TNA iMPACT!

TNA iMPACT!

as

Crew

Directing

NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge

1984

NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge

as

PWF Homecoming

1989

PWF Homecoming

as