Robert Swenson

Robert Alexander "Jeep" Swenson Jr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (January 5, 1957 - August 18, 1997) was an American professional wrestler, stuntman and actor.

Career

Wrestling

Swenson wrestled for World Class Championship Wrestling in 1987 and 1988 as Jeep Swenson for manager Gary Hart.<ref name=":0" /> He debuted on March 7, 1987, defeating Perry Jackson in a 2-minute challenge match. His main feud was with Bruiser Brody, who was wrestling as the masked "Red River Jack".<ref name=":0" /> Brody defeated him at the Parade of Champions 1987 event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Swenson, he had the largest biceps in the world at that time (they were recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" /> From 1993 to 1994, he wrestled for Global Wrestling Federation in Texas, where he feuded with Ahmed Johnson.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Swenson returned to wrestling for a match at World Championship Wrestling's Uncensored pay-per-view on March 24, 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He performed as a member of the "Alliance to End Hulkamania".<ref name=":0" /> He was named The Final Solution, but following complaints from Jewish organizations to the Turner corporate offices, his character was renamed The Ultimate Solution.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> WCW claimed they were unaware that The Final Solution was the name Adolf Hitler gave to his plan to destroy the Jews.<ref name=":2" /> The Alliance consisted of the Dungeon of Doom, the Four Horsemen, The Ultimate Solution and Z-Gangsta, working to end Hulk Hogan's career.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Boxing

Swenson boxed as an amateur middleweight and later had a short career as a professional boxer.<ref name=":3" /> He won his first two bouts by knockouts, but his third fight was stopped in round one after Frankie Garcia knocked him down twice in his pro debut.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Acting

File:Jeep and Parents 1997.jpg

Swenson (middle, with full Bane makeup) with his parents in 1997

Swenson's first role was as an uncredited thug in an early Jackie Chan movie The Big Brawl.<ref name=":0" /> Swenson also appeared as pit fighter "Lugwrench" Perkins in the 1989 Hulk Hogan film No Holds Barred. He played the masked version of Dorian in the 1994 film The Mask. He also played James Caan's bodyguard Bledsoe in the Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler film Bulletproof, before playing possibly his best known character Bane in the critically panned 1997 film Batman & Robin.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="PowerSlam109">Template:Cite magazine</ref> His actual blood vessels were outlined in ink for “Batman” by the makeup experts at Warner Bros.<ref name=":1" /> He was also featured in many magazines and television commercials.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Swenson was born in San Antonio, Texas, the son and only child of Patricia Maxine (née Wells) (1920-2006) and Robert Alexander Swenson Sr (1920-1997).<ref name=":1" /> His nickname, "Jeep", was derived from his dad (a World War II soldier known as "Tank"), whose logic was that every tank needed a Jeep.<ref name=":0" /> He was married to Erin Hillsman; the couple had a daughter named Kayleigh,<ref name=":0" /> who is a model and music composer and goes by the name Viking Barbie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

On August 18, 1997, Swenson died of a heart attack at the UCLA Medical Center at the age of 40.<ref name=":0" /> Hulk Hogan, Davey Boy Smith, and James Caan gave eulogies at his funeral.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> He was an avid user of steroids and started to use them in his early 20s. Because of this, he reportedly could not shower properly, put on a shirt, or easily walk upstairs.<ref name=":5" /> His death also shocked George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Uma Thurman, his co-stars in the Batman & Robin film.<ref name=":5" /> After the funeral, Swenson was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in an undisclosed location.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	The Big Brawl	Thug	Uncredited
1989	No Holds Barred	Lugwrench Perkins
1994	The Mask	masked Dorian	Uncredited
1996	Bulletproof	Bledsoe
1997	Batman & Robin	Bane
1997	The Bad Pack	Missouri Mule
2005	Beyond Batman: Frozen Freaks and Femme Fatales - The Makeup of 'Batman & Robin'	Himself (archive footage)	Documentary

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993–1995	Walker, Texas Ranger	Jumbo Stark / Sammy	2 Episodes<ref name=":1" />

See also

• List of premature professional wrestling deaths

External links

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