Tab Thacker

Talmadge Layne "Tab" Thacker (March 10, 1962 – December 28, 2007) was an American wrestler and actor.

Tab Thacker

Personal information
Full name	Talmadge Layne Thacker
Born	March 10, 1962 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	December 28, 2007(2007-12-28) (aged 45) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	North Carolina State University
Occupation(s)	Actor, Wrestler
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	450 lb (204 kg)
Medal record Collegiate Wrestling Representing the NC State Wolfpack NCAA Division I Championships 1984 East Rutherford Heavyweight ACC Championships 1981 Durham Heavyweight 1982 Chapel Hill Heavyweight 1983 College Park Heavyweight 1984 Clemson Heavyweight

Early life

Thacker was on the football, basketball, track, and wrestling teams while at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina. He started wrestling his freshman year, and placed fourth and third at the North Carolina state championships in 1979 and 1980.^[1][2] Thacker would then go on to win the 1980 Junior Greco-Roman wrestling national championship, before enrolling at NC State.^[3]

College

As a wrestler at NC State, Thacker was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and won a national title his senior year. His three All-American trips to the podium consisted of finishing 8th as a sophomore in 1982, 6th as a junior in 1983, and winning the national championship as a senior in 1984. He was also a four-time Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion for the Wolfpack. Thacker finished his college career 92-11-1, ranking second in NC State history with an .889 winning percentage and 54 pins. He majored in criminal justice while at NC State.

Professional career

He began his film career after Clint Eastwood noticed him in Time magazine and noted the 6-foot-4 and 450-pound (1.93 m, 204 kg) Thacker's size. Thacker went on to appear in several films including City Heat, Wildcats, two of the Police Academy films, and Identity Crisis.

After leaving Hollywood, Thacker returned to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he opened a remodeling business and operated several nightclubs. He later became a bail bondsman.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1984	City Heat	Tuck
1986	Wildcats	Phillip Finch
1987	Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol	Thomas 'House' Conklin
1988	Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
1989	Identity Crisis	I.Q.	(final film role)

Death

A North Carolina native, Thacker died in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 27, 2007, at the age of 45 after years of failing health. He developed diabetes and had a foot amputated some years before he died. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.