If you close your eyes and listen, you can probably still hear it. That booming, gravelly "HOOOO!" echoing through a packed arena. You see the 2x4 held high, the thumb pointed up, and a sea of fans chanting "U-S-A" until the rafters shake. Hacksaw Jim Duggan isn't just a wrestler; he’s a living piece of Americana. But as the years roll by and the legends of the 80s boom period slowly fade from the spotlight, fans are asking the same question: How old is Hacksaw Jim Duggan anyway?
The man is a survivor in every sense of the word. He hasn't just survived the grueling "roads and ribs" lifestyle of the old-school wrestling territories; he’s stared down health scares that would have leveled a lesser man.
The Numbers: Hacksaw’s Current Age and Birthdate
Let’s get the vitals out of the way first. James Edward Duggan Jr. was born on January 14, 1954. If you’re doing the math for right now, in early 2026, that makes the WWE Hall of Famer 72 years old.
He just celebrated that 72nd birthday a few days ago, actually. It's wild to think about. When he won the first-ever Royal Rumble in 1988, he was a 34-year-old powerhouse in the prime of his life. Fast forward nearly four decades, and while the hair is a bit thinner and the gait might be a little slower, the spirit hasn't aged a day. Honestly, he still looks like he could take a 2x4 to a villain if the situation called for it.
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Why People Are Still Searching for Hacksaw’s Age
You’ve probably noticed that Duggan’s name pops up in the news fairly often for someone who hasn't been a full-time in-ring competitor in years. Usually, it’s because he’s outlived another health crisis.
Duggan is the ultimate underdog. Back in the late 90s, during his WCW run, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Most people thought that was the end of the road. Instead, he beat it and came back to the ring. Then, more recently, he’s been open about his battle with prostate cancer. In August 2022, a video went viral of him ringing the bell at a hospital to signal the end of his radiation treatment. It was one of those "get the tissues out" moments.
But the scares didn't stop there. In late 2023, he had an emergency surgery for a perirectal abscess that almost went septic. When you see headlines like "Wrestling Legend Rushed to Surgery," the first thing anyone does is Google their age to see how much gas is left in the tank.
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A Quick Timeline of Hacksaw’s Resilience:
- 1954: Born in Glens Falls, New York.
- 1979: Professional wrestling debut (after a stint trying out for the Atlanta Falcons).
- 1988: Wins the inaugural Royal Rumble.
- 1998: First battle with kidney cancer.
- 2011: Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
- 2021-2022: Diagnosed with and defeats aggressive prostate cancer.
- 2026: Celebrating his 72nd birthday and still hitting the fan convention circuit.
Life at 72: What Is Hacksaw Doing Now?
You might think a 72-year-old with his medical history would be sitting in a rocking chair in Florida (which, by the way, he does live in Florida—Titusville, to be exact). But Jim Duggan isn't built that way.
He’s still incredibly active on the convention circuit. Just this month, in January 2026, he was spotted at the Central Carolina Comic Con alongside other icons like Lex Luger and Arn Anderson. Fans still line up for hours just to get a picture with the 2x4 and hear a "Hoooo!" in person.
He also stays connected through The Hacksaw Hour, his podcast on the Golden Era Network. It’s basically him and Marcus DeAngelo shooting the breeze about the old days. If you want to know what it was like to share a locker room with Andre the Giant or Macho Man Randy Savage, that’s where you go. He’s got this "uncle at a barbecue" vibe that makes the stories feel fresh, even if you’ve heard them a dozen times.
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The Secret to His Longevity
How is he still going? Kinda comes down to his outlook. Duggan has always been a "glass half full" guy. Even when he was posting updates from a hospital bed, he was thanking the doctors and the fans.
There’s also the fact that he never took himself too seriously. Unlike some of his contemporaries who struggled when the spotlight moved on, Duggan embraced his role as a "special attraction" legend. He didn't need to be the world champion to be happy; he just needed a crowd to chant three letters and a piece of lumber.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan of the Golden Era, there are a few ways to support the "Tough Guy" as he navigates his 70s.
- Check out the "Hacksaw Hour" on YouTube: It’s free, and hearing his voice is a great nostalgia trip.
- Follow him on social media: He and his wife, Debra, are very active. It’s where he posts his real-time health updates and appearance schedules.
- Grab an autograph at a local Con: If he’s in your town, go. These legends aren't around forever, and Jim is famously one of the nicest guys in the business.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan at 72 is proof that you can’t keep a good man down. Whether he’s beating cancer or just beating the odds of a high-impact career, he remains the personification of the American spirit he spent decades defending in the ring.
Actionable Insight: Keep an eye on local Comic-Con listings for the Spring 2026 circuit; Jim frequently adds dates last minute depending on his energy levels. If you plan on meeting him, bring your own 2x4 for a signature—it’s a fan favorite move that usually gets a laugh from the big man himself.