Pro Wrestling’s Gorgeous George Dies at 84 in Florida After Illness

orgeous George” Arena, who got rich and famous as a primping, platinum-maned villain in the early days of televised wrestling, has died after a lengthy illness.

Arena, who died Thursday at age 84, retired from the ring in 1970 and moved to nearby Delray Beach in 1971. Wrestling fans of the 1940s and ‘50s loved to hate Gorgeous George. He wore robes of silk, satin and ermine into the ring and pranced about on high heels, admiring his shoulder-length, beauty-parlor hair in vanity mirrors as his valet sprayed him and the ring with cologne.

“It was a whole cosmetic routine we did,” said Arena’s son, Gilbert, who served as the valet.

Arena was born in Chicago, grew up in Racine, Wis., and spent much of his wrestling career based in Milwaukee.

Services will be private.