Gladiators stars' tragic deaths – cancer battles, suicide and 'unexpected' passing

Gladiators was amongst the biggest shows of the 90s and became an instant hit with fans following its debut in 1992.

The ITV game show ran for a total of eight seasons until 2000 and kept viewers all across the country entertained every Saturday night.

The hit programme was actually an adaptation of American Gladiators which aired from 1989 to 1996 and catapulted the stars to fame, much like the British version.

READ MORE: Gladiators legend Falcon dies aged 59 after cancer battle as tributes flood in

It was recently announced that Gladiators UK legend Bernadette Hunt, better known as Falcon, passed away at the age of 59 after battling cancer for “a number of years”.

Following her tragic death, Daily Star has looked into the lives of some of the other Gladiators who have sadly died.

Gold – Tonya Knight

Female bodybuilder Tonya Knight starred as Gold from 1990 until 1992.

The blonde bombshell was an established figure in the bodybuilding word and helped change the landscape of the sport.

Tonya, who was born in Peculiar, Missouri, rose to fame aged 22 when she finished fourth in Ms Olympia – professional bodybuilding’s most prestigious competition – in 1988.

She was crowned champion of Ms International the following year, but her success was soon met with controversy after she admitted to sending a surrogate to take a drug test before the event.

In 1989, Tonya was suspended and stripped of her Ms. International title and was asked to return the $12,000 she won in prize money from both competitions.

The star made her comeback in 1991, winning the Ms. International title and competing in a handful of other competitions before retiring at the age of 26.

Tonya passed away in February 2023 at the age of 56, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Atlas – Phillip Poteat

Phillip Poteat was born in Lankershim, Los Angeles and joined the cast of Gladiators as Atlas in the show’s fourth season.

Atlas dominated The Maze and Human Cannonball, however his time as a Gladiator was brief as he only remained on the programme for one season.

A lifelong bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast, the star also dabbled with acting, appearing in Silk Stalkings, The Ben Stiller Show and the 1992 movie The Naked Truth.

Phillip’s twin brother, bodybuilder John Poteat who passed away in 2016, was the ex-husband of fellow American Gladiator Gold (Tonya Knight).

The former Gladiator passed away aged 50 in 2017, with his cause of death still unknown.

Hawk – Lee Reherman

Joining Gladiators in 1993, Lee Reherman began creating a name for himself and remained on the programme until it came to a conclusion three years later.

He went on to represent America in two series of International Gladiators in 1994 and 1995.

In addition to his role as Hawk, Lee carved out a successful career in television and hosting reality shows.

He starred in over 100 television and feature film projects, from acting roles in Disney Channel show’s That’s So Raven and Hannah Montana to becoming the host of the Forza Motorsport Showdown in 2007.

The star appeared in a number of guest roles in TV shows, including 90210, Gilmore Girls, NCIS and General Hospital, The X-Files, and Jane the Virgin.

The Kentucky-born star often rubbed shoulders with the stars, appearing alongside Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1993’s Last Action Hero (1993) and starring in J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013.

In 2016 at the age of 49, Lee was found dead by his girlfriend, Natalina Maggio, in his house in Manhattan Beach, California.

His cause of death remains unknown, however the athlete was reportedly “not feeling well” a few days prior to his passing and was also recovering from hip surgery.

Early reports suggest that his cause of death could have been due to a blood clot, however this was never officially confirmed.

Lee’s rep and close friend Anthony Turk told Variety that the star’s death was completely unexpected, labelling the former professional footballer the “epitome of health.”

Siren – Shelley Beattie

The only deaf Gladiator, Shelley Beattie made her debut as Siren in 1992 and played the role until its end in 1996.

The blonde beauty, born in Orange County, California, became deaf at the age of three following an accidental aspirin overdose.

A standout heptathlete, gymnast, hurdler and cross-country runner in high school, Shelley went on to become an accomplished bodybuilder.

A number of titles were awarded to the athlete before she retired in 1993.

As one of the few deaf professional female bodybuilders in the entire world, Shelley graced the cover of Deaf Life magazine on two occasions and featured on the cover of Muscular Development magazine in the 1990’s.

Alongside her TV career, the star also helped children who suffered from mental, emotional as physical impairments through her work as a group home councillor.

It was known that Shelley suffered from depression for a number of years and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

In February 2008, she attempted suicide by hanging herself and died three days later at the age of 40.

After her six-year relationship with magazine columnist John Romano ended, Shelley moved on with girlfriend Julie Moisa whom she was living with at the time of her death.

Thunder – William ‘Billy’ Smith

Making his first appearance as Thunder in 1990 during the programme’s second season, William ‘Billy’ Smith enjoyed a two-year stint as a Gladiator.

A renowned bodybuilder, Billy began competing in the sport at 17 years old as earned numerous titles.

He was victorious at the 1984 Gold’s Classic, came sixth in the Nationals Heavyweight Class that same year and placed third in the National Championships in 1985.

Billy was married to fellow American Gladiators star Panther – real name Cathy Sassin – but the pair eventually divorced and Billy remarried.

Just days before his 57th birthday in 2021, it was announced Billy had passed away.

It was reported the star developed an infection following knee surgery, however no official cause of death was ever confirmed.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk