Imagine a man who spends his weekends tearing apart foam turnbuckles with his teeth and rubbing the stuffing into his hairy chest. He doesn't talk. He grunts. His tongue is a vibrant, sickly shade of lime green.
To the average wrestling fan in the 1980s, George the Animal Steele was a terrifying, lovable Neanderthal. But honestly, the real story is much weirder.
Behind that bald head and the wild eyes was William James Myers. He wasn't just some guy they found in a zoo. He was a man with a Master’s degree. A respected high school teacher. A varsity football coach.
Talk about a double life.
The Secret Life of Jim Myers
Jim Myers was a local legend in Madison Heights, Michigan, long before he ever bit a turnbuckle. He was a solid athlete at Michigan State until knee injuries derailed his football dreams. So, he did what many smart people do: he went into education.
He taught geography. He coached wrestling. He led the football team.
But teachers don't exactly make millions. To pull in some extra cash for his family, Myers started wrestling under a mask as "The Student." He had to hide his face so the school board wouldn't fire him for moonlightling in a "blood sport."
It worked for a while. Eventually, though, the mask came off, and a legend was born.
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The name "George Steele" wasn't even his idea. He actually took it from another coach he knew. Talk about a "stolen" identity that paid off. He started out as a technical wrestler—a "scientific" heel who used a devastating flying hammerlock. But the fans wanted more. They wanted a freak.
Becoming the Animal
The transition to "The Animal" wasn't some grand corporate strategy. It was sorta accidental.
During a match in Pittsburgh, a fan threw a pillow into the ring. Myers, stayin' in character as a frustrated villain, tore it apart. Feathers went everywhere. The crowd went absolutely nuclear.
He realized then that destruction sold tickets.
The turnbuckle eating became his signature move. People still ask how he didn't choke on that foam. The secret? He didn't actually swallow it, but he sure made it look like he was having a five-course meal.
And that green tongue?
It wasn't a medical condition. He’d just crush a Clorets breath mint or a piece of green candy right before heading through the curtain. It was a small detail, but it made him look like he’d been eating radioactive waste.
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The Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth
Most fans remember George the Animal Steele for his 1980s run in the WWF (now WWE). This is where he became a "face"—a good guy.
He became obsessed with Miss Elizabeth, the elegant manager of "Macho Man" Randy Savage. It was a classic Beauty and the Beast story. Steele would follow her around like a lost puppy, staring at her with those wide, confused eyes.
Savage, being the jealous heel, absolutely hated it.
This led to one of the greatest matches in wrestling history: Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at WrestleMania III. While Steamboat and Savage were putting on a technical masterpiece, Steele was at ringside, playing the crucial role of the x-factor. He helped Steamboat win, giving the "Animal" a moment of pure redemption.
A Legacy Beyond the Ring
Steele retired in 1988, mostly due to a grueling battle with Crohn’s disease. It’s a nasty condition, and back then, it wasn't as well-understood as it is now. He eventually had his colon removed, but he never lost his spirit.
He even found a second career in Hollywood.
In 1994, Tim Burton cast him in Ed Wood. Steele played Tor Johnson, a real-life Swedish wrestler who had also moved into B-movies. He didn't need much makeup. He looked exactly like Tor.
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Working alongside Johnny Depp and Bill Murray, Myers proved that the "Animal" had some serious acting chops. In fact, Bill Murray actually inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.
That’s a level of "cool" most wrestlers never touch.
Why We Still Talk About Him
George the Animal Steele represents an era of wrestling that was pure, unadulterated theater. He didn't have a six-pack. He wasn't doing 450-degree splashes. He was just a guy who understood how to make an audience feel something.
He was a master of psychology.
He knew that a single grunt could mean more than a ten-minute monologue. He taught us that you can be a terrifying monster on Saturday night and a dedicated teacher on Monday morning.
If you're looking to appreciate his work today, here is how you should dive back in:
- Watch the Savage/Steamboat match from WrestleMania III. Don't just watch the moves; watch George's face at ringside.
- Track down a copy of his book, Animal. It’s a brutally honest look at the old "territory" days of wrestling.
- Watch Ed Wood. It’s one of the best biopics ever made, and Steele is a scene-stealer.
He passed away in 2017 at the age of 79. But honestly, as long as there's a wrestling ring with turnbuckles to be chewed, the spirit of the Animal is still around. He wasn't just a character; he was a reminder that the most interesting people are often the ones living two lives at once.
Basically, he was the ultimate "don't judge a book by its cover" guy. Even if that cover was covered in back hair and green spit.