Mick Foley Biography: Age, Height, Weight, Net Worth, Family, Career, and More

Mick Foley is a retired American professional wrestler, author, actor, and color commentator.

Born on June 7, 1965, in Bloomington, Indiana, Foley gained fame for his unique wrestling personas: Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love. He’s known for his hardcore wrestling style and willingness to take dangerous risks in the ring. Foley has also found success as a bestselling author and comedian.

His career spans multiple wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, and ECW. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of the Attitude Era.

About Mick Foley

Mick Foley, whose real name is Michael Francis Foley, was born on June 7, 1965, in Bloomington, Indiana. He comes from an Irish background. Foley is quite tall, standing at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm).

During his wrestling career, he weighed about 287 pounds (130 kg).

His size helped him in the ring, making him a formidable opponent. Foley’s American nationality and Irish heritage have played a role in shaping his character both in and out of the wrestling world.

His physical attributes, combined with his unique personality, made him stand out in the wrestling industry.

Family Background

Mick Foley comes from a close-knit family. His father, Jack Foley, was the Athletic Director at Ward Melville High School. Sadly, Jack passed away on September 13, 2009, at the age of 76.

Mick has an older brother named John. In 1992, Mick married Colette Christie, and they’ve been together ever since. The couple has four children: Dewey, Noelle, Michael Jr. (nicknamed Mickey), and Hughie.

Family has always been important to Mick. His kids have even followed in his footsteps in some ways. As of June 2018, Dewey works for WWE. Mickey and Hughie run their own YouTube channel called MickeyFoley0105. Mick sometimes appears in Mickey’s videos, showing how close the family is.

Education

Mick Foley went to Ward Melville High School on Long Island, about 40 miles east of New York City. In high school, he was active in sports. He wrestled and played lacrosse.

One of his classmates and wrestling teammates was Kevin James, who later became a famous actor. After high school, Foley went to college at the State University of New York at Cortland. It was during his college years that Foley started to get serious about professional wrestling.

In October 1983, while still a student, he hitchhiked to Madison Square Garden to see his favorite wrestler, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, in a match.

The experience inspired Foley to pursue a career in professional wrestling.

Career Milestones

Mick Foley’s wrestling career is full of important moments.

He started wrestling professionally in 1986. In 1991, he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he became known as Cactus Jack. In 1994, he moved to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he showed off his hardcore wrestling style. But his biggest break came in 1996 when he joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now called WWE). There, he created his most famous character, Mankind.

In 1998, Foley won his first WWF Championship, a huge achievement in the wrestling world. Outside the ring, Foley became an author. In 2000, he released his first book, which became a bestseller.

His wrestling skills and writing talent led to him being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. This honor showed how much he had contributed to professional wrestling.

Notable Works

Mick Foley isn’t just a wrestler; he’s also a successful writer.

He’s written many books, including five memoirs about his life and wrestling career.

His first book, “Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks,” came out in 1999 and was a big hit. People liked it because Foley wrote it himself, without help from a ghostwriter.

He’s also written books for kids. These include stories about Christmas and Halloween, showing Foley’s fun side. He even wrote two novels for adults: “Tietam Brown” in 2003 and “Scooter” in 2005.

Foley’s writing shows that he’s creative both in and out of the wrestling ring. His books have helped fans understand more about his life and the world of professional wrestling.

Awards and Recognition

Mick Foley has won many awards in his wrestling career.

In WWE (formerly WWF), he was the champion three times. He also won the tag team title eight times with different partners. This shows he was good at both single and team matches.

In 2013, WWE recognized his great career by putting him in their Hall of Fame.

Foley also did well in other wrestling companies.

He was the world champion in TNA Wrestling and won tag team titles in WCW and ECW. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which is like a newspaper for wrestling fans, put Foley in their Hall of Fame in 2000. This was a big honor because it came from people who really know about wrestling.

All these awards show that Mick Foley was one of the best and most respected wrestlers of his time.

Financial Status

Mick Foley has made money in many ways throughout his career. His main job was as a professional wrestler, where he worked for big companies like WWE, WCW, ECW, and TNA. These jobs likely paid him well, especially when he was a top star. But Foley didn’t just make money from wrestling. He’s also an author, and his books have sold many copies. This means he gets money from book royalties.

Foley has acted in TV shows and movies too. He’s even done stand-up comedy. All these different jobs have helped Foley make a living even after he stopped wrestling full-time.

Relationships

He has been married to Colette Christie since 1992. They’ve been together for a long time, which is impressive, especially in the world of entertainment. Foley has often talked about how important his family is to him.

He and Colette have four children together. Their long-lasting marriage shows that Foley values stability in his personal life, even though his wrestling career was often wild and unpredictable.

Foley has mentioned in interviews how Colette has supported him throughout his career, including during times when he was injured or away from home for long periods.

Their relationship seems to be a strong foundation in Foley’s life.

Hobbies and Interests

He’s a big fan of basketball and often went to watch the Stony Brook Seawolves college team play. Music is another passion of his. He especially likes the singer Tori Amos and became a fan of her music in 1993.

Foley really loves Christmas. He’s written children’s books about Christmas and even dresses up as Santa Claus sometimes. This love for the holiday led to a documentary about him called “I Am Santa Claus” in 2014. Foley also cares a lot about helping others.

He does charity work, especially for causes that help children. He’s also worked with RAINN, an organization that helps victims of sexual assault.

These interests show that there’s much more to Mick Foley than just his wrestling career.

Social Causes

Mick Foley is known for his big heart and desire to help others. He’s been involved with ChildFund International since 1992, sponsoring seven children. This group helps kids in poor countries get education and other important things. Foley also works with RAINN, which helps people who have been hurt by sexual assault. He volunteers on their hotline and has spent hundreds of hours talking to victims.

Foley supports U.S. troops too. He often visits military bases and hospitals to cheer up soldiers. He’s become well-known among injured troops for his regular visits.

Foley also works with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, helping make wishes come true for sick children.

All this charity work shows that Foley cares about using his fame to make the world better.

Skills and Talents

Mick Foley has many skills that made him successful in and out of the wrestling ring.

In wrestling, he was known for his hardcore style. He could take a lot of pain and do dangerous moves that other wrestlers wouldn’t try. Foley is also a talented writer. He’s written several books that have sold very well. Some are about his life, and others are made-up stories.

He’s good at public speaking too. Foley has done stand-up comedy and can talk to crowds in an entertaining way. He’s acted in some movies and TV shows, showing he can perform outside of wrestling.

One of Foley’s special talents was creating different characters. In wrestling, he played Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love. Each character was different and showed Foley’s creativity. These skills helped Foley have a long and varied career, even after he stopped wrestling full-time.

Controversies

Mick Foley’s career hasn’t been without some arguments.

One big issue was the extreme violence in his matches. Foley was known for doing very dangerous stunts that sometimes left him badly hurt. For example, in a famous match with The Undertaker, Foley fell from the top of a 16-foot high cage. Some people thought these kinds of matches were too violent and worried they might encourage others to try dangerous things.

Another controversy was Foley’s fight with another wrestler, Ric Flair. This wasn’t just for show in the ring.

They really didn’t like each other for a while. It started because Flair wrote in his book that Foley was just a “glorified stuntman.” This made Foley angry, and they argued about it for years. They did eventually make up, but it was a real problem for a long time.

Public Image

Mick Foley has a unique public image that combines toughness with kindness. In wrestling, he’s seen as a “hardcore legend.” This means fans remember him for taking big risks and enduring a lot of pain in his matches. He wasn’t afraid to get hurt if it meant putting on a good show.

But outside of wrestling, Foley is known for being a really nice person. He does a lot of charity work and is always willing to help others. Fans often talk about how friendly he is when they meet him.

Foley is also known for his sense of humor. He can make jokes about himself and has even done stand-up comedy. As a writer, Foley has earned respect. His books have been bestsellers.

Wrestling fans love Foley because he always gave his all in matches and came up with creative ideas. This mix of toughness, kindness, humor, and creativity makes Foley stand out in the public eye.

Legacy

Mick Foley’s legacy in professional wrestling and beyond is significant. He changed how people saw wrestling with his hardcore style. Foley showed that wrestlers could do extreme, dangerous things to entertain fans. This influenced many other wrestlers who came after him.

Foley also proved how powerful it could be to have multiple characters. By playing Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love, he showed that wrestlers could be creative and versatile.

Outside of wrestling, Foley’s success as a writer and entertainer opened doors for other wrestlers. He showed that wrestlers could use their fame to do other things, like writing books or acting.

Foley’s charity work is also a big part of his legacy. He set an example for using fame to help others, encouraging other wrestlers and celebrities to do the same. Even years after retiring from full-time wrestling, Foley’s impact on the sport and entertainment world continues to be felt.

Social Media Handles

Final Words about Mick Foley

Mick Foley’s journey from a young wrestling fan to a legendary figure in professional wrestling is truly remarkable. His willingness to take extreme risks in the ring earned him the nickname “The Hardcore Legend.” Foley’s creation of multiple memorable characters like Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love showed his creativity and versatility.

Beyond wrestling, Foley found success as a bestselling author, actor, and comedian. His charitable work, especially with children’s causes and RAINN, demonstrates his commitment to using his fame for good.

Foley’s legacy extends beyond his in-ring achievements, influencing the wrestling industry, entertainment world, and philanthropic efforts. His unique combination of toughness, creativity, humor, and kindness has made him a beloved figure among fans and colleagues alike.