Keith Hart (wrestler)

Keith William Hart (born August 21, 1951) is an American born-Canadian retired professional wrestler and firefighter. He is a member of the Hart wrestling family and the third child of Helen and Stu Hart, CM. He is best known for his work for Stampede Wrestling and several appearances for WWE, often with his siblings Bret, Owen, Bruce and Diana. In Stampede he won several championships and for WWE he participated in the seventh edition of Survivor Series.

Keith Hart
Birth nameKeith William Hart
Born (1951-08-21) August 21, 1951
Great Falls, Montana, U.S.[1][2]
Spouse(s)Leslie duBerger (divorced)[3]
Joan Hart
​
(m. 2002)​
[4]
Children3
FamilyHart
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Keith Hart
Ted Keath[5]
Billed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[6]
Billed weight94 kg (207 lb)[6]
Billed fromCalgary, Alberta[7]
Trained byStu Hart
Debut1973[8]
Retired2000

Early life

Hart is the third child of wrestling promoter Stu Hart and his wife Helen, thus he is the younger brother of Smith and Bruce and the older brother of Wayne, Dean, Ellie, Georgia, Bret, Alison, Ross, Diana and Owen Hart.

He is of Greek descent through his maternal grandmother and Irish through his maternal grandfather.[9][10][11][12] His father was mainly of Scots-Irish descent but also had Scottish and English ancestry.[13][14] Hart is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.[15][16]

Before becoming a wrestler, Keith Hart earned a degree in teaching.

Amateur wrestling

Hart had a lot of experience in amateur wrestling during his youth,[17] something he did mostly to please his father.

Competing for the University of Saskatchewan, he earned a bronze medal at the west division championships in 1974.

Professional wrestling career

Stampede Wrestling

Hart trained under his father and began wrestling on June 1, 1973 in his father's promotion, Stampede Wrestling, facing Lindy Calder in his debut match. He spent much of his career as a tag team wrestler, teaming with wrestlers such as his brother Bret, with whom he won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship four times. He feuded with wrestlers such as Dick Steinborn, Dynamite Kid, Herbert Gallant, K J Anderssen, Mr. Hito, and Mr. Sakurada. As a singles wrestler he held the British Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight title. In addition to wrestling in Canada, Hart performed in Germany, Japan and made infrequent appearances in the United States of America.[18] At one point, Dave Meltzer referred to Hart as one of the best jobbers in wrestling.[19]

World Wrestling Federation

As part of the feud between Bret and Jerry Lawler, at the 1993 Survivor Series Bret and his brothers Keith, Bruce and Owen faced Shawn Michaels and his three masked knights. Though Owen was eliminated and Keith's shoulder was injured by a prolonged assault at the hands of Michaels, the Hart brothers were victorious.

Return to Stampede Wrestling

In the 1990s, Hart worked as a trainer in the Hart Dungeon (the wrestling training camp located in the basement of the Hart family mansion). He eventually retired in 1995 to become a full-time firefighter, although he briefly came out of retirement in 1999 when Stampede Wrestling was reopened by his brothers Bruce and Ross Hart. Hart became a tag team champion with Chris Benoit.

After wrestling

In the late 1970s, at the urging of his brother-in-law, B. J. Annis, Hart passed a test and was accepted into the Calgary Fire Department. As a result, he largely reduced his wrestling commitments.[20] Hart would work for Annis until 2007, when he retired from firefighting after 26 years and began working as a substitute teacher.[21][22] He is known to teach in Calgary and Okotoks (just outside Calgary).[23][24][25]

In the 1993 Alberta provincial election, Keith was the Liberal Party of Alberta's candidate in the Northeast Calgary riding of Calgary-Cross, coming in 2nd place with 33.12% of the vote.[26]

Other media

Hart has appeared on several wrestling documentaries, including the 1998 documentary Wrestling with Shadows and 2010's Survival of the Hitman which are both about his younger brother Bret. Hart was also present on the stage together with all his living siblings when his father Stu Hart was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.[27][28]

Personal life

In 1993 Hart and his first wife won $100,000 in a lottery. He spent some of the money on an unsuccessful campaign to get elected to provincial office.[29][30][31]

Family
Main article: Hart wrestling family

Hart has three sons with his ex-wife Leslie,[32][33] Stewart Hart II, Conor Hart and Brock Hart. The couple divorced in 1995.[30] Conor pursued amateur wrestling at the University of Calgary and coaches a local high school team.[34][35] His other son Stewart has also pursued amateur wrestling and has won a medal in his school championship but does not wish to work with pro wrestling.[36][37]

In 2002 Keith married for the second time to his long-time girlfriend Joan.[38]

Following the death of Stu Hart on October 16, 2003, the Hart family sold the Hart mansion. On August 14, 2004 Hart organised a fundraiser, held within the mansion, for the Stu Hart Amateur Sport Foundation (which supports amateur wrestling in the Calgary area).

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Surviving The Dungeon Extra: Ross Hart on The Hart Siblings (1 of 2)". Archived from the original on 2021-12-13 – via www.youtube.com.
  2. "Smith Hart on The Hart Family's ties to Long Island, the city of Long Beach, and more". noplacelikelongisland.com. No Place Likelong Island. May 19, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  3. Hart, Diana; McLellan, Kirstie (2001). Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family. Fenn. p. 84 pp. ISBN 1-55168-256-7.
  4. Hart, Martha; Francis, Eric (2004). Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 253 pp. ISBN 978-1-59077-036-8.
  5. "Keith Hart: Facts". WrestlingData.com.
  6. "Keith Hart". cagematch.net.
  7. "Keith Hart: Facts". WrestlingData.com.
  8. Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive Archived 2009-10-25 at WebCite (Stampede, June 1, 1973)
  9. Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling. Ebury Press. p. 8 pp. ISBN 9780091932862.
  10. Letawsky, Craig (2002-05-07). "Ask 411 - 5.07.02". 411wrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.
  11. Hart, Diana; McLellan, Kirstie (2001). Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family. Fenn. p. 16 pp. ISBN 1-55168-256-7.
  12. Heath McCoy (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ECWPress. p. 30 pp. ISBN 978-1-55022-787-1.
  13. Slamthology: Collected Wrestling Writings 1991-2004. jnlister. 2005. p. 252 pp. ISBN 1-4116-5329-7.
  14. Heath McCoy (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ECWPress. p. 16 pp. ISBN 978-1-55022-787-1.
  15. Martha Hart; Eric Francis (2004). Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 84 pp. ISBN 978-1-59077-036-8.
  16. "An open letter to Shawn Michaels". http: canoe. May 17, 1997.
  17. Mix, Brett (November 28, 2010). "Review: WWE Hart and Soul: Hart Family Anthology". wrestlingdvdnetwork.com.
  18. "Keith Hart: Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. The Internet Wrestling Database.
  19. Observer Staff (February 11, 1991). "February 11, 1991 Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania relocated, Clash of Champions reviewed". F4WOnline.com. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 7, 2019. (subscription required)
  20. "Keith Hart". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  21. "Hart Family, friends, fans stand behind Hitman". canoe.com.
  22. Platt, Michael (February 1, 2016). "Bret Hart reveals cancer diagnosis on Facebook". Calgary Sun.
  23. Staff (April 14, 2010). "RINGSIDE REMEMBRANCES — THE HART DYNASTY". 1Wrestling. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  24. Meltzer, Dave. "The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. page 54. (1986)
  25. Interim, Angela (March 17, 2009). "Pro-wrestler loves substitute teaching". High River Times. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  26. "Canadian Elections Database".
  27. "Bret Hart and the Hart family speak on behalf of Stu Hart". Archived from the original on 2021-12-13 – via www.youtube.com.
  28. "Ronda de noticias WWE". solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com. May 1, 2010.
  29. Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling. Ebury Press. p. 169 pp. ISBN 9780091932862.
  30. Hart, Diana; McLellan, Kirstie (2001). Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family. Fenn. p. 84 pp. ISBN 1-55168-256-7.
  31. "Canadian Election Database-Candidate History".
  32. Hart, Diana; McLellan, Kirstie (2001). Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family. Fenn. p. 49 pp. ISBN 1-55168-256-7.
  33. Hart, Martha; Francis, Eric (2004). Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 69 pp. ISBN 978-1-59077-036-8.
  34. "godinos: roaster: Conor Hart". godinos.com. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  35. "Torch passed to up-and-comers". Slam Canoe. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2001.
  36. "Sage advice from Uncle Bret". Slam Canoe. May 2, 1998.
  37. "Stu Hart's grandson continues family tradition". Slam Canoe. May 2, 1998.
  38. Hart, Martha; Francis, Eric (2004). Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 253 pp. ISBN 978-1-59077-036-8.
  39. "Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. April 3, 2016.
  40. Oliver, Greg (February 1, 2001). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: The Hart Family". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012.
  41. "Canoe Sports | Videos & Photos News Results Scoreboard & Statistics | Canoe".
  42. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1995". profightdb.com. The Internet Wrestling Database.
  43. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1996". profightdb.com. The Internet Wrestling Database.
  44. Clevette, Jason (June 16, 2010). "Booker T enjoying life away from the spotlight". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  45. "Keith Hart: Titles". WrestlingData.com.
  46. "Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  47. Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 27:55. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
  48. "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

Further reading
Books
  • Marsha Erb (2002). Stu Hart: Lord of the ring. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-508-1.
  • Hart, Bruce (2011). Straight from the Hart. ECW Press. pp. 272pp. ISBN 978-1-55022-939-4.
  • Hart, Julie (2013). Hart Strings. Tightrope Books. ISBN 978-1926639635.
  • Billington, Tom; Coleman, Alison (2001). Pure Dynamite: The Price you Pay for Wrestling Stardom. Winding Stair Press. ISBN 1-55366-084-6.
Articles
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