Karl Von Hess

Karl Von Hess
Birth nameFrank George Faketty[1]
Born(1919-05-18)May 18, 1919[1]
Michigan, United States[2]
DiedAugust 12, 2009(2009-08-12) (aged 90)[2]
United States
Spouse(s)Lenore
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Frank Faggerty[2]
Frank Faketty[2]
Karl Von Hess
Mara Duba
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2]
Billed weight220 lb (100 kg)[2]
Trained byJoe Dusek
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Navy
UnitUnderwater Demolition Team
Battles / warsWorld War II (Pacific Theater)

Karl Von Hess (born Frank George Faketty; May 18, 1919 – August 12, 2009) was an American professional wrestler.

Early life

Faketty was born in Michigan in 1919 to Hungarian immigrants, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Von Hess was a lifeguard and swimming teacher before entering the United States Navy in World War II serving aboard the cruiser USS Montpelier in the Underwater Demolition TEAM 5.[3]

Professional wrestling career

After being discharged from the Navy, Faketty worked on the carnival circuit for several years, then worked in various regional wrestling promotions.

In 1955, he was inspired by another wrestler, Kurt Von Poppenheim (of the Pacific Northwest) who had a local "heel" gimmick, and there Von Hess further developed the gimmick of the villain into the wrestling persona of a Nazi sympathizer [3] there being the first to take the gimmick nationwide.[4] In doing this, Von Hess became one of the most hated wrestlers; and fans flocked to the arenas to boo him. He adopted the name of Karl Von Hess, later changing his name legally. Von Hess was so convincing as a "heel" that some fans tried to stab him, burn him, and even shoot at him.[3] Von Hess quickly rose to fame in Vince McMahon Sr's World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), drawing huge crowds wherever he went.[5] In truth, he was reportedly, not a Nazi sympathizer, but used the gimmick to inspire the position of the villainous "heel".[3]

In the early 1960s, Von Hess's gimmick began to wear thin, and he was gradually phased out of the WWWF.[5] He continued to work in various wrestling promotions before quitting the business in the late 1960s.

Later life and death

After wrestling, Von Hess operated trailer parks, including the Karl-Le trailer park on the Black Horse pike in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and other businesses with his wife Lenore.

Von Hess died on August 12, 2009, of Alzheimer's disease.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b "Karl Von Hess". WrestlingData.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Karl von Hess". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Johnson, Steven (August 12, 2009). "Hated German heel Karl Von Hess dies". SlamWrestling.net. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "PWTorch.com - Other News: Post-World War II era heel Karl Von Hess dies at age 90 this morning". www.pwtorch.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1492825975.
  6. ^ Karl von Hess ยป Titles CageMatch. Retrieved March 28, 2023
  7. ^ "List of CAC Award Winners". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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