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Ernie Roth
manager
- June 7, 1929 · New York City
- October 12, 1983 · Fort Lauderdale
- 57 years
- heart attack
About Ernie Roth
Ernie Roth, 57, American professional wrestling manager, heart attack
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Full Biography
|Irwin Jacob "Ernie" Roth (August 30, 1926 – October 12, 1983), known by the ring names The Grand Wizard of Wrestling and Abdullah Farouk, was an American professional wrestling manager. Not a regular wrestler himself due to his small stature, he was noted for his flamboyant outfits, including sequined jackets, wraparound sunglasses, and brightly colored turbans decorated with jewels and feathers. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.
Professional wrestling career
Early career
Ernie Roth got his start in the entertainment business as a disc jockey. He was discovered by Jim Barnett who helped Roth get into the wrestling industry. He became involved in professional wrestling as a manager in the late 1950s in Detroit-based territories. Roth first worked under the names "Mr. Clean" and "J. Wellington Radcliffe."
Abdullah Farouk (1958–1974)
Roth portrayed "Abdullah Farouk", the heel (villainous) manager of The Sheik. He frequently appeared on the Toronto and Detroit wrestling circuit, where local announcer Lord Athol Layton would usually refer to him as "The weasel, Abdullah Farouk".
Sporting a fez, Farouk took great pains in trying to control his madman protégé. But he also carved a niche for himself as a deceitful, underhanded character who insulted US fans whenever he had a chance. Farouk was a pioneer of "manager interference", as he physically would attempt to alter a match's outcome in the Sheik's favor. This sort of interference was rare at the time.
The Grand Wizard (1971–1983)
Roth began a stint with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the 1970s, where he became known as The Grand Wizard. Roth, who was Jewish, reportedly took the name "The Grand Wizard" as a snub to the white supremacy organization the Ku Klux Klan, whose leaders were called Grand Wizard. He also replaced his fez with a turban.
Almost immediately after arrival in 1971, the Wizard managed Blackjack Mulligan and "Beautiful Bobby" Harmon. He later led Mr. Fuji and Prof. Toru Tanaka to two reigns with the WWWF World Tag Team Championship. A year later, the Wizard led Stan Stasiak to victory over Pedro Morales for the WWF Championship in Philadelphia on December 1, 1973. The Wizard guided a second protégé, Superstar Billy Graham, to the very same championship on April 30, 1977, when Graham overcame Bruno Sammartino in Baltimore. On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund dethroned Graham at Madison Square Garden. The Wizard made it his duty to gain revenge on Backlund, sending charges such as Don Muraco, Ken Patera and Greg Valentine after him.
The Wizard managed the first WWF Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson, and later Patera (who defeated Patterson for the title in April 1980 after the Wizard and Patterson parted ways) and Muraco to the same championship. Other protégés of the Wizard included "Beautiful Bobby" Harmon, Killer Kowalski, "Crazy" Luke Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, Ox Baker, "Cowboy" Bob Orton and The Masked Superstar, or Masked Demon from parts unknown.
Other media
Roth on many occasions (when out of character and greasepaint mustache) co-hosted the syndicated Big Time Wrestling show with fellow announcer Bob Finnegan until 1969 when the hosting duties went to Lord Athol Layton.
Personal life
Roth was revealed posthumously to be homosexual, although some claim they were aware of his sexual orientation during his lifetime. He was the godfather of protégé Don Muraco's daughter. His parents were Evrum (Edward) Roth and Rizel (Rose) Stern. According to the autobiography of former WWE referee and wrestler Dangerous Danny Davis, Roth was also in charge of helping get the ring to all shows. The position was eventually taken over by Davis himself after Roth's death.
Death
On October 12, 1983, Roth died of a heart attack at his Fort Lauderdale, Florida home at the age of 57. In 1995, Roth was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1995 by his friend and protégé Sgt. Slaughter.
Legacy
Later WWF manager The Wizard claimed to be in communion with Roth's spirit.
Awards and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Editors' Award (1983)
- Manager of the Year (1973, 1977)
- Ring Chronicle Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Inductee
- World Wrestling Federation
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
16 Verified Trivia Questions About Ernie Roth
Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Ernie Roth's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.
1.On what date was Ernie Roth born?
- A.December 1, 1973
- B.October 12, 1983
- C.August 30, 1926Correct
- D.April 30, 1977
Ernie Roth was born on August 30, 1926.
Source: Biography introduction
2.What was Ernie Roth's profession before entering the wrestling industry?
- A.Referee
- B.Professional wrestler
- C.Professional singer
- D.Disc jockeyCorrect
Ernie Roth got his start in the entertainment business as a disc jockey before becoming a wrestling manager.
Source: Early career section
3.Who helped Ernie Roth get into the wrestling industry?
- A.Jim BarnettCorrect
- B.Dangerous Danny Davis
- C.Sgt. Slaughter
- D.Lord Athol Layton
Jim Barnett was the individual who discovered Ernie Roth and helped him get into the wrestling industry.
Source: Early career section
4.What was one of the early ring names used by Ernie Roth?
- A.The Sheik
- B.The Grand Wizard
- C.Beautiful Bobby
- D.Mr. CleanCorrect
Ernie Roth first worked under the names Mr. Clean and J. Wellington Radcliffe.
Source: Early career section
5.Which wrestler did Ernie Roth manage under the name Abdullah Farouk?
- A.Pat Patterson
- B.The SheikCorrect
- C.Bob Backlund
- D.Stan Stasiak
As Abdullah Farouk, Ernie Roth portrayed the heel manager of The Sheik.
Source: Abdullah Farouk section
6.Why did Ernie Roth reportedly choose the name The Grand Wizard?
- A.As a tribute to the Ku Klux Klan
- B.Because it sounded mysterious
- C.As a snub to the Ku Klux KlanCorrect
- D.To honor his religious background
Ernie Roth, who was Jewish, took the name as a snub to the Ku Klux Klan, whose leaders used the title Grand Wizard.
Source: The Grand Wizard section
7.What type of headgear did Ernie Roth wear while portraying Abdullah Farouk?
- A.Crown
- B.Turban
- C.FezCorrect
- D.Sequined cap
While performing as the character Abdullah Farouk, Ernie Roth wore a fez.
Source: Abdullah Farouk section
8.In what city did Stan Stasiak win the WWF Championship under the guidance of Ernie Roth?
- A.New York
- B.Baltimore
- C.PhiladelphiaCorrect
- D.Detroit
The Wizard led Stan Stasiak to victory over Pedro Morales for the WWF Championship in Philadelphia on December 1, 1973.
Source: The Grand Wizard section
9.Who did Ernie Roth's protégé Superstar Billy Graham defeat for the WWF Championship?
- A.Don Muraco
- B.Pedro Morales
- C.Ken Patera
- D.Bruno SammartinoCorrect
Superstar Billy Graham overcame Bruno Sammartino to win the championship on April 30, 1977.
Source: The Grand Wizard section
10.Who inducted Ernie Roth into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995?
- A.Don Muraco
- B.Sgt. SlaughterCorrect
- C.Bob Backlund
- D.Jim Barnett
Ernie Roth was inducted into the Hall of Fame by his friend and protégé Sgt. Slaughter.
Source: Death section
11.Which television show did Ernie Roth co-host until 1969?
- A.World Wide Wrestling
- B.The Wrestling Hour
- C.Detroit Wrestling
- D.Big Time WrestlingCorrect
Ernie Roth co-hosted the syndicated Big Time Wrestling show with Bob Finnegan.
Source: Other media section
12.What was the name of Ernie Roth's mother?
- A.Rose Roth
- B.Rizel Roth
- C.Rizel SternCorrect
- D.Rosemary Stern
Ernie Roth's parents were identified as Evrum (Edward) Roth and Rizel (Rose) Stern.
Source: Personal life section
13.Who took over the responsibility of helping get the wrestling ring to shows after Ernie Roth died?
- A.Dangerous Danny DavisCorrect
- B.Bob Finnegan
- C.Lord Athol Layton
- D.Don Muraco
Dangerous Danny Davis took over the task of transporting the ring after Ernie Roth passed away.
Source: Personal life section
14.Where did Ernie Roth pass away?
- A.Baltimore, Maryland
- B.Detroit, Michigan
- C.Fort Lauderdale, FloridaCorrect
- D.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ernie Roth died of a heart attack at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Source: Death section
15.What award did Ernie Roth receive from Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1983?
- A.Editors' AwardCorrect
- B.Manager of the Year
- C.Hall of Fame Induction
- D.Lifetime Achievement
Pro Wrestling Illustrated presented Ernie Roth with the Editors' Award in 1983.
Source: Awards and accomplishments section
16.Ernie Roth was the godfather to the daughter of which wrestler?
- A.Mr. Fuji
- B.Stan Stasiak
- C.Ox Baker
- D.Don MuracoCorrect
Ernie Roth served as the godfather to the daughter of his protégé Don Muraco.
Source: Personal life section
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Roth
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 31, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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