Former WWE, WCW, andWCCW star Black Bart, real nameRichard Harris,has passed away at 76 after a battle with cancer.
Bart's wife Linda disclosed the details of his passing on social media. "You might know him as Black Bart but to me he was my husband Ricky. He left us this morning. He was pronounced at 5:26 this morning. He is Resting In Peace," she said in the post.
Harris had revealed in early 2023 that he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and that the cancer had spread to his liver. The formerNWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion had then stated that he would fight the disease with all his strength and that he would begin chemotherapy soon. In an update on his social media this past week, it was revealed that Harris was in hospice care, a few months after details emerged that he was no longer undergoing chemotherapy.
WWE Hall of Famer JBL paid a touching tribute to his mentor, who tutored him when he was wrestling in Texas.
"Black Bart took me under his wing and taught me how to be a professional wrestler. We were tag champs in Texas-but we were also just buddies. We sat together in the dressing room while Bart spit in his trashcan and constantly joked about everything. Bart meant the world to me. I love you big brother. RIP," he said.
Bart's in-ring career spanned over three decades, wrestling inMid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling,Championship Wrestling from Florida,World Class Championship Wrestling, and brief runs inWWE and WCW.
Wrestling Inc. extends our condolences to Richard Harris's friends and family.
