8 Wrestlers Who Did Better Things In Retirement

8. Brian Glover

In pro wrestling terms, Brian Glover is a name only resonant these days to British grans with hazy memories of tuning in to ITV's World of Sport every Saturday afternoon. As 'Leon Arras, the Man from Paris' - a moniker given to him by a desperate promoter after a French import failed to turn up - Glover would leave viewers in stitches with his antics, in particular, shouting "ask 'im, ref!" in a gruff Barnsley accent which belied his supposed French origins.

It was Glover's exposure as Britain's toughest Tyke which led to his casting in 1967's class-and-kestrel struggle Kes, set in his South Yorkshire hometown. Despite having no prior formal acting experience, Glover excelled as the overbearing PE teacher Mr. Sugden, and soon his unique characteristics as a rough Yorkshireman were in demand. Though he remained active in the ring, notably sharing an uproarious contest with Les Kellett in 1970, 'Arras' gradually faded into the background as Glover's acting career took over. He'd go on to star in a range of TV and film roles, most notably a small part in Alien 3.

Despite being often typecast, Glover nevertheless enjoyed a diverse acting resumé; he was Bottom in BBC's adaptation of A Midsummer's Night's Dream, and Mr. Rottweiler in BBC's slapstick sit-com Bottom.