Stewart Edward Hart, CM (May 3, 1915 – October 16, 2003) was a Canadian football player, amateur wrestler, sailor, professional wrestler, wrestling booker, promoter, coach, philanthropist and trainer. Hart was known for his large wrestling family as many of his children and grandchildren would become famous wrestlers and for training many well known wrestlers.
| Stu Hart CM | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Stewart Edward Hart |
| Born | May 3, 1915[1] Saskatoon,[2] Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | October 16, 2003 (aged 88) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Louise Smith
(m. 1947; died 2001) |
| Children | 12, including Smith Hart Bruce Hart Keith Hart Wayne Hart Dean Hart Bret Hart Ross Hart Diana Hart Owen Hart |
| Family | Hart Donald Stewart, grandfather Harry Smith, father-in-law |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Stu Hart |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[5] |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg)[5] |
| Billed from | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Trained by | Jack Taylor[lower-alpha 1] Toots Mondt[lower-alpha 2] |
| Debut | 1943[8] |
| Retired | 1986[9] |
Hart has been called the one of the most important and influencial person in wrestling history.
Hart was born to a poor family in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.[10][11] He was in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during World War II. He began wrestling while serving in the RCN. In 1947, he married Helen Louise Smith.
In 1947, Hart began his professional wrestling career in New York. He would begin his career with Stampede Wrestling in 1967 until 1984.
Hart was best known for founding and handling Stampede Wrestling. He taught many wrestlers through his "The Dungeon" and created a pro-wrestling dynasty. He was the father of Bret and Owen Hart as well as the grandfather of Natalya and David Hart Smith.
Many people see Hart as the most important and respected wrestlers of all time.[12]
Hart was a trainer as well who trained Chris Jericho, Edge, Christian, Mark Henry, Chris Benoit, Abdullah the Butcher, Smith Hart, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Jesse Ventura, Davey Boy Smith, David Hart Smith, Dynamite Kid, Gorilla Monsoon, Jim Neidhart, Junkyard Dog, Ken Shamrock, Lance Storm, Mark Henry, Natalya, Nikolai Volkoff, Roddy Piper and Tyson Kidd.
Hart retired in the 1990s after suffering a severe leg injury. Until his retirement, he would be a commentator or trainer in his final years.
Hart had twelve children. They were: Smith Hart, Bruce Hart, Keith Hart, Wayne Hart, Dean Hart, Bret Hart, Ross Hart, Diana Hart and Owen Hart.
Wrestler Jim Neidhart was his son-in-law and Natalya was his granddaughter. Roddy Piper claimed to have been a cousin to Hart, and Hart's children thought of Piper of a close friend to the family.[13]
In 2003, Hart suffered from multiple cases of pneumonia until suffering a stroke on October 15, 2003. He died the next day in Calgary, Alberta, aged 88.[14] His remains were cremated.[15]
In 2001, Hart was awarded the Order of Canada for his charity work and in 2010, was added into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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