Eugene Arthur Okerlund[2] (December 19, 1942 – January 2, 2019) was an American professional wrestling interviewer, announcer and television host.

[9] At SummerSlam 1989, during an interview with Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude, a sign in the background suddenly fell down, causing an outburst by Okerlund.

As fans in attendance started to boo, a rock and roll rendition of "Turkey in the Straw" began to play and Okerlund and the Gooker danced in the ring.

[6] After Fall Brawl '96: War Games, Okerlund's contract expired and decided to take a leave of absence from television, although it was rumored that he was going back to the WWF or left in protest over Hulk Hogan's heel turn and joining the NWO.

His first assignment back with the WWF was the Gimmick Battle Royal during WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, 2001, along with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

[14] On November 12, 1985, Okerlund, along with Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan, Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith, Corporal Kirchner, Dynamite Kid and Big John Studd, appeared on The A-Team.

That same year, Okerlund even interviewed Liberace (one of the highest paid entertainers at the time) at his penthouse at Trump Tower.

[4] He appeared as himself, along with Jesse Ventura in the 1989 action movie No Holds Barred, as well as in the comedy films Repossessed in 1990, as the commentators for the exorcism, and Ready to Rumble in 2000.

Okerlund lent his voice to the 2000 snowboarding game SSX as the announcer for the in-game level "Merqury City Meltdown".

[10] Okerlund appeared as a "Celebrity Prognosticator" on ESPN Radio's The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on November 27, 2013.

[4] While in high school in Sisseton, South Dakota, he formed a band, "Gene Carroll & The Shades," recording a single in 1959, "Red Devil / Do You Remember" (M&L 1001).

[16] In contrast to his nickname "Mean Gene", Okerlund throughout the years was considered the friendliest person in the game by many wrestlers and promotion staff.

[17][18] It was revealed by his son, Todd Okerlund, that he had received three kidney transplants and had suffered a fall which caused his health to deteriorate in the weeks leading up to his death.

[18] Later that day, condolences were sent by some fellow WWE superstars and wrestling alumni on various social media sites, including: Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Iron Sheik, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, among many others.