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George “The Animal” Steele was the ring name of William James Myers, a Detroit-born wrestler whose snarling, turnbuckle-biting persona concealed a very different life: he earned a master’s degree, taught high school and coached wrestling. Here are 10 documented details about the man, his character and his career.
1. “The Animal” was a teacher and coach
Before and during his wrestling career, Myers worked as a high-school teacher and wrestling coach in the Detroit area. WWE says he earned a master’s degree at Central Michigan University. The contrast between the classroom educator and the nearly silent, wild-eyed wrestler was real; colorful stories about how he hid his wrestling identity from students are not established by the cited accounts.
2. George Steele was a ring name
Fans knew him as George “The Animal” Steele, but his name was William James Myers. WWE identifies Detroit as his hometown, and the Television Academy lists his birth there on April 16, 1937.
3. He began appearing in WWE in 1967
WWE places Steele’s first appearances in 1967, with an early rivalry against Bruno Sammartino. He built a long-running character around an intimidating presence and unusual physical details rather than polished speeches.
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4. The green tongue and turnbuckle biting were part of the act
WWE’s descriptions of Steele’s wrestling persona highlight his green tongue, hairy torso and habit of biting the turnbuckle padding. Those details made the character instantly recognizable, but they belonged to his performance presentation—not a claim about his private life.
5. His signature move was the Flying Hammerlock
WWE names the Flying Hammerlock as Steele’s signature hold. The move became a memorable part of his intimidating in-ring identity; dramatic descriptions of its effects should be understood as wrestling storytelling, not medical reporting.
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6. He spent years as a villain before turning fan favorite
WWE dates Steele’s shift from villain to crowd favorite to 1985. In the storyline, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff abandoned him, and Captain Lou Albano took him back under his guidance. The change gave audiences a reason to support a character they had long been encouraged to fear.
7. Miss Elizabeth was part of a wrestling storyline
Steele’s interest in Miss Elizabeth helped drive a feud with Randy Savage and contributed to his growing popularity. It was a scripted wrestling storyline, not evidence of a real-life romance.
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8. He interfered in the Savage–Steamboat match at WrestleMania III
At WrestleMania III in 1987, Steele intervened during Randy Savage’s Intercontinental Championship match against Ricky Steamboat. WWE says Steele pushed Savage off the ropes as Savage tried to use the ring bell; Steamboat then pinned Savage to win the title. The moment connected Steele’s storyline with one of the event’s best-known matches.
9. He played Tor Johnson in Ed Wood
Steele’s screen work included portraying actor Tor Johnson in Tim Burton’s 1994 film Ed Wood, a role recorded by the Television Academy. It was a turn away from the wrestling persona that had made him famous.
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10. He entered WWE’s Hall of Fame and published an autobiography
WWE records Steele’s induction into its Hall of Fame in 1995. ABC News identifies his autobiography, Animal, as a 2013 publication and reports that the book discussed his Crohn’s disease and colon removal. Steele died on February 16, 2017, at age 79, according to WWE’s obituary.
Sources: WWE’s George Steele profile; WWE’s obituary; ABC News on Steele’s autobiography; Television Academy biography; WWE’s historical feature on Steele.
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- Fan Favorites! WWE action figures bring Superstars to life in 6-inch scale.
- TrueFX Technology! Each figure is detailed with a life-like face for added collectability.
- Dynamic Posing! Fans can recreate signature moves with 14 points of articulation.
- Play and Display! Reenact favorite WWE Main Event matches or create new rivalries and moves.
- Super Collectible! WWE fans can find their favorite Superstar figures (each sold separately, subject to availability).
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