Abe Coleman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abe Coleman | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Abe Coleman Hebrew Hercules Jewish Tarzan |
| Billed height | 5 ft 3 in |
| Billed weight | 200 lb |
| Born | September 20, 1905 Żychlin, Poland |
| Died | March 28, 2007 Queens, New York |
| Billed from | Los Angeles, California |
| Debut | 1928 |
| Retired | 1958 |
Abe Coleman, born Abbe Kelmer, (September 20, 1905 - March 28, 2007) was a Polish-American professional wrestler who was, at the time of his death, believed to be the oldest member of his profession in the world. His wife, June Miller, who he married in 1939, died in 1987. Coleman says he landed in Miller's lap after being thrown from the ring in Madison Square Garden.
Coleman was born in Żychlin, Poland, and moved to the United States in 1923, by way of Winnipeg, Canada. Coleman had 15 older brothers and sisters, many of whom perished in the Holocaust[citation needed]. His father sold coal in Poland.
Coleman's first match took place in 1928 in Brooklyn at Ridgewood Grove, when local promoter Rudy Miller offered Coleman $25 to wrestle after seeing him work out in a Brooklyn gym.
Coleman's notability comes from claims that he invented the dropkick. He claimed the move was inspired by kangaroos he saw on a tour of Australia in 1930.
Coleman's nicknames included Hebrew Hercules and Jewish Tarzan. A Jewish man, he wrestled at a time when there were few Jewish athletes, and he endured fair amounts of anti-semitism.
After wrestling in over 2,000 matches, Coleman retired from wrestling in 1958, after which he served as a wrestling judge, and inspected license plates for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Outside of wrestling, Coleman's interests included poker and horse racing.
Coleman died on March 28, 2007 in a nursing home in Queens, New York of Kidney failure. Prior to this he was believed to have been the world's oldest living wrestler.
[edit] Finishing and signature moves
- Dropkick
- Flying tackle
- Airplane spin
[edit] External links
- Wrestling Observer news article on Abe Coleman's death at age 101
- Small bio from friendsofmicronesia.com
- Archived Gordon Solie newsletter featuring article on Abe Coleman's 90th birthday
- Queens Chronicle article on Abe Coleman's 99th birthday
- Queens Chronicle article on Abe Coleman's 100th birthday
[edit] References
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/03/28/3860797.html
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Coleman, Abe |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Kelmer, Abe (birth) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Polish-American professional wrestler |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 20, 1905 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Żychlin, Poland |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 28, 2007 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Queens, New York |
