Big John Studd, whose real name was John William Minton, died on March 20, 1995, at age 47. Public sources say he died from liver cancer and Hodgkin’s disease, and his wrestling legacy is remembered through his WWF/WWE run, especially his feud with Andre the Giant.

What happened to him

  • He was one of the big “monster heel” stars of 1980s wrestling.
  • Later in life, he had serious health problems linked in public accounts to cancer and prior steroid/GH use.
  • He passed away in Pennsylvania and is buried at Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery.

Why fans still remember him

  • He helped make major WWF stories feel larger than life, especially the Andre the Giant rivalry.
  • He also won the 1989 Royal Rumble, which keeps his name in wrestling history.

Quick scoop

He didn’t “disappear” so much as die young after a battle with illness, leaving behind a memorable wrestling legacy.

TL;DR

Big John Studd died in 1995 at 47 from liver cancer and Hodgkin’s disease, and he’s still remembered as one of wrestling’s classic giants.