Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
Now Streaming
Movies Streaming Now
TV Shows Streaming Now
In Theaters
Coming Soon
Sign In

Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
More
Now Streaming Movies Streaming Now TV Shows Streaming Now In Theaters Coming Soon Celebrities
Sign In

Home
People
Ivan Koloff

Ivan Koloff

Actor, Stunts

Born August 24, 1942 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died February 18, 2017

Upload Profile Picture

Movies & Shows

Discover Ivan Koloff content online

Loading streaming options...

Finding the best places to watch

No streaming options available

Check back later for new content

No matches found for your search

Try different keywords

Content availability varies by region and time. Links open in new window.

Share with a friend

Quick Copy Link

Share on Social Media

Popular

Professional

More Options

Photos Videos Awards

Biography

Ivan Koloff was one of the most fearsome wrestlers of the 1970s and 1980s. Despite being billed as being from Russia, Ivan was actually born and raised near Montreal Canada. He began wrestling in the mid 1960's under the name Red McNulty. After a few years, he took the name of "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff.

He got his first big break in the WWWF(which is now known as WWE), which was owned by Vince McMahon Sr at the time. He wrestled there from 1969 until 1971, when on January 18th, he did the impossible when he beat the legendary Bruno Sammartino after his record near-8 year reign as champion. From accounts of people who were at Madison Square Garden that evening, you could have heard a pin drop as fans were in a state of utter disbelief. He would hold the title for a little over three weeks, however, as he was defeated on February 8th 1971 by Pedro Morales. His championship rein made him a superstar around the world. He left the WWWF soon after that loss, but would return to the Federation many times over the course of the next 12 years, main eventing Madison Square Garden against Bruno again in 1975 in the very first steel cage match ever held in the building. He would also go on to feud with WWF Champion Bob Backlund in the late 70s and early 80s. He was actually scheduled to win the WWF Championship a second time in december 1983, but a knee injury put him out of action. The Iron Sheik ended up winning the belt, instead, and the rest is history.

Koloff became a fixture in the Mid-Atlantic region in the mid to late 80's after he recovered from his knee injury. He won the NWA Tag Team Titles several times with partners Don Kernodle, Ray Stevens, Krusher Khruschev, and his "nephew" Nikita Koloff. His tag team with Nikita was one of the most dominant of the mid 80s. They had a very memorable feud with the legendary Road Warriors. After Nikita and Ivan parted ways, Ivan wrestled in singles competition against the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Lex Luger, Ric Flair, and Magnum TA in between his Tag Team Title defenses. Ivan left the NWA, which had become WCW, in early 1989. He retired from full-time competition in 1994 at the ripe age of 52.

Ivan Koloff was one of wrestlings true greats for the 20 years he was on top. He won titles and wrestled in rings all around the world. His dethroning of Bruno Sammartino is one of the most memorable events in wrestling history. He main evented Madison Square Garden on nearly two dozen occasions between 1969 and 1983. He wrestled with and against some of the all-time greats the sport of wrestling has ever seen. He is definitely a future WWE Hall of Famer.

Less

More

Filmography

Actor

56

Type

Year

WWE Hall of Fame Poster

WWE Hall of Fame TV Special2025Self

Bruno Sammartino Poster

Bruno Sammartino Documentary2019

Ivan Koloff the Russian Bear Poster

Ivan Koloff the Russian Bear Documentary2015Self

The Resurrection of Jake the Snake Poster

The Resurrection of Jake the Snake Documentary2015Self

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment Poster

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment Documentary2013Self

The Legion of Supervillains the Official Music Video Feature Film2013Zombie

WrestleMania 29 Poster

WrestleMania 29 TV Special2013Self

WWE Hall of Fame 2013 Poster

WWE Hall of Fame 2013 TV Special2013Self

WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden Poster

WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden Video2013Self

WWE: The Best of WarGames Video2013Self

WWE: The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions Poster

WWE: The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions Video2012Self

Woo Mercy the Jimmy Valiant Experience Poster

Woo Mercy the Jimmy Valiant Experience Documentary2011Self

Starrcade: the Essential Collection Poster

Starrcade: the Essential Collection Video2009Self

WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams Poster

WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams Video2009Ivan Koloff

WWE: History of the World Heavyweight Championship Poster

WWE: History of the World Heavyweight Championship Video2009Self

Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection Poster

Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection Video2008Self

The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling Poster

The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling Video2007Self

Legends Never Die Poster

Legends Never Die Documentary2006Self

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story Poster

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story Video2006Self

WWE: The History of the WWE Championship Poster

WWE: The History of the WWE Championship Video2006Self

Road Warriors: The Life and Death of Wrestling's Most Dominant Tag Team Poster

Road Warriors: The Life and Death of Wrestling's Most Dominant Tag Team Documentary2005Self

The Best of IWA Wrestling Vol. 1 Video2005Self

WFP: Night of Superstars 4 Video2005Self

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Poster

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Video2003Self

WWE Bloodbath: Wrestling's Most Incredible Steel Cage Matches Poster

WWE Bloodbath: Wrestling's Most Incredible Steel Cage Matches Video2003Self

Eastern Championship Wrestling Poster

Eastern Championship Wrestling TV Series1993Self

WCW Slamboree 1993 Poster

WCW Slamboree 1993 TV Special1993Self

Smoky Mountain Wrestling Poster

Smoky Mountain Wrestling TV Series1992Self

The Best of Eastern Championship Wrestling: Volume II - ECW's Bloodiest Matches Video1992Ivan Koloff

UWF Beach Brawl Poster

UWF Beach Brawl TV Special1991Self

Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) Poster

Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) TV Series1990Ivan Koloff

UWF Fury Hour Poster

UWF Fury Hour TV Series1990Self

Clash of the Champions Poster

Clash of the Champions TV Special1988Self

Clash of the Champions III: Fall Brawl Poster

Clash of the Champions III: Fall Brawl TV Special1988Self

Clash of the Champions IV: Season's Beatings Poster

Clash of the Champions IV: Season's Beatings TV Special1988Self

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Poster

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Video1988Self

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede Poster

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede TV Special1988Self

Starrcade Poster

Starrcade TV Special1988Self

The Great American Bash Poster

The Great American Bash TV Special1988Self

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Poster

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Video1987Self

The Great American Bash Poster

The Great American Bash TV Special1987Self

The History of the WWF Heavyweight Championship Poster

The History of the WWF Heavyweight Championship Video1987Ivan Koloff

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Poster

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Video1986Ivan Koloff - The Russians

WWF Grudge Matches Poster

WWF Grudge Matches Video1986Ivan Koloff

Best of the WWF Volume 3 Poster

Best of the WWF Volume 3 Video1985Ivan Koloff

Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! Poster

Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! Video1985Ivan Koloff

Starrcade '85: The Gathering Poster

Starrcade '85: The Gathering TV Special1985'The Russian Bear' Ivan Koloff

SuperClash '85 Poster

SuperClash '85 Video1985Self - The Russians

WCW Saturday Night Poster

WCW Saturday Night TV Series1985Ivan Koloff

World Championship Wrestling Poster

World Championship Wrestling TV Series1985Ivan Koloff

Starrcade Poster

Starrcade TV Special1984Self

WCW PPV TV Series1983Ivan Koloff

WCW Worldwide Poster

WCW Worldwide TV Series1975Self - The Russians

World Wrestling Federation Poster

World Wrestling Federation TV Series1973Self

WWF Championship Wrestling Poster

WWF Championship Wrestling TV Series1972Ivan Koloff

WWF World Championship Wrestling Poster

WWF World Championship Wrestling TV Series1972Self

Thanks

3

Type

Year

LeagueOne: In the Spotlight! Poster

LeagueOne: In the Spotlight! TV Series2014

Godzilla vs. Ghost Godzilla Short Film2004

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Poster

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Video2003

Stunts

1

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Poster

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America Video2003

Featured Celebrity Photos

Isla Fisher Shines at Spa Weekend Premiere in Las Vegas

Isla Fisher Attends Southwest Airlines Spa Weekend Retreat in Burbank

Monica Bellucci Shines on The Invite Red Carpet at 79th Locarno Film Festival

Jules Robinson and Chantelle Ford Spotlighted in Sydney Photoshoot

Virginie Efira Shines at Leopard Club Award Ceremony at 79th Locarno Film Festival

Tracy Spiridakos Attends Anna Pigeon Premiere Event

Faye Marsay Joins Ted Lasso Season 4 Cast in New York for Apple TV Event

Juno Temple Joins Ted Lasso Season 4 Cast at Apple TV Event in New York

Abbie Hern Joins Apple TV's Ted Lasso Season 4 Cast in New York

Hailey Kittle Shines at Ice Cream Man Premiere in Los Angeles

Shailene Woodley at the 2026 AAFCA TV Honors in Los Angeles

Demi Rose Mawby Enjoys Vacation Highlights in Ibiza

Katy Perry Enjoys a Greek Cruise Following European Getaway in Mykonos

Ora Duplass Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills

Caylee Cowan Spotted Grocery Shopping in Los Angeles

Kendall Jenner Spotted Out and About in Los Angeles

Hayes Warner Shines at The Shards Launch Skate Party in Los Angeles

Meg Donnelly Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood 2026 in Beverly Hills

Emily Feld Showcases Unique Style in Bikini and Ballet Shoes for WithEvre Event

Inde Navarrette Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood 2026 in Los Angeles

Lizzy Greene Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills

Tricia Helfer Attends Los Angeles Premiere of "Anna Pigeon

Rebecca Black Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills 2026

Madison Beer Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills

Charli D'Amelio at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills, August 2026

Tate McRae Shines at Variety Power of Young Hollywood Event in Beverly Hills

Olivia Dunne Filming Scenes for "Baywatch" at Venice Beach

Hayes Warner Shines at Save Venice Un Ballo in Maschera 2026 Celestial Serenissima in New York

Monica Barbaro's Appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Julia Fox Shines at One Night Only Premiere at SVA Theater New York

Oops!

Sign up for free

Company

About Us
Contact Us
Send feedback

Contribute

Add Movie
Add TV Show
Contribution Guide

Legal

Terms
Privacy

© 2026 Gawby.com

Send feedback to Gawby.com

Describe your issue or suggestion