Doink the Clown is dead

Doink the Clown is dead.

Doink passed away Friday in Plano, Texas . Police have launched a homicide investigation into his death.

The Plano Police Department believe the death accidental.  Allegedly drugs may have been involved

Doink the Clown was 55.

Austin Front contacted Austin Texas Artist Paul Beck who was speechless.   Paul is known to be a long time fan of WWF.   Later in the day  Paul Beck released this statement " We will not forget the Doink.  Are thoughts and prayers go out  to the clowns family.  We will not forget the original balloon animal".   Paul also recounted the match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Doink.  Doink One last time in 1997 at the Slammy Awards and was attacked by Stone Cold Steve Austin, amidst crowd chants of "kill the clown".  "Epic" Paul Beck

artist portrait of "Doink the Clown Doin' Business" by paul beck

comments from around the world on the death  of Doink the Clown:

Any time you lose a great mind […] the business suffers.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

Matt’s a great guy and a great second-generation superstar..SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

I’m really, really sad that I didn’t take time to go out of my way to say hello.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

It stopped me in my tracks.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

He knew how to read a crowd and he knew how to feed off emotion. That would be a valuable lesson to anybody in the business..SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

If you want to study on how to work watch a Matt Bourne match because he was one of the most believable guys in the ring.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

With Matt Borne there was no wasted motion in the ring when facing an opponent. When he threw a punch, it meant something. When he threw a kick, it meant something..SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

He taught me how to take my time and make things mean something.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

His work was something I always admired and the fact that I got work with him and pick his brain here and there was something I’ll always value because he was one of the best wrestlers in the business.SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

I watched him as a fan as a child ... He was on the very first Wrestlemania. I watched him when he worked in World Class Championship Wrestling. I’ve seen him wrestle from watching tapes from Portland, Ore. where his father was a superstar, ‘Tough’ Tony Borne..SOURCE: Philly.com 2013-06-30 20:57:00

WWE is saddened by the news of Osborne's passing. Our deepest condolences go out to Osborne's family, friends and fans.SOURCE: Aces Showbiz 2013-06-29 04:52:00

Osborne made a major impact in WWE under the greasepaint of a prankster named Doink – one of the most enduring personas of the early ’90s. WWE is saddened by the news of Osborne’s passing. Our deepest condolences go out to Osborne’s family, friends, and fans..SOURCE: Wrestling Edge 2013-06-28 21:35:00

It was my very first match. I think I needed his guidance just a little bit. I was by no means ready to have a match ... I just froze out there so many times. But I got through it..SOURCE: Winnipeg Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I tried to get him to stay in college. He went down to Southern Oregon. I tried to get him to stay in college. He called me one day and said, 'Dad, I want to be a wrestler. I want to do it now. If you help me get in to the business, okay. But if you don't, I'm going to try to get into it myself,'.SOURCE: Winnipeg Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

Hell, I only got in the ring and did a few things maybe two, three times when Don Owen booked me in a tag match with my dad on December 9, 1978..SOURCE: Winnipeg Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I'd go over there every night and sit and watch Saturday Night Live with him, have a beer and party a little bit with him. Him and Terri and I, it became a regular thing.SOURCE: Winnipeg Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

It was my very first match. I think I needed his guidance just a little bit. I was by no means ready to have a match ... I just froze out there so many times. But I got through it..SOURCE: Toronto Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I tried to get him to stay in college. He went down to Southern Oregon. I tried to get him to stay in college. He called me one day and said, 'Dad, I want to be a wrestler. I want to do it now. If you help me get in to the business, okay. But if you don't, I'm going to try to get into it myself,'.SOURCE: Toronto Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

Hell, I only got in the ring and did a few things maybe two, three times when Don Owen booked me in a tag match with my dad on December 9, 1978..SOURCE: Toronto Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I'd go over there every night and sit and watch Saturday Night Live with him, have a beer and party a little bit with him. Him and Terri and I, it became a regular thing.SOURCE: Toronto Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

It was my very first match. I think I needed his guidance just a little bit. I was by no means ready to have a match ... I just froze out there so many times. But I got through it..SOURCE: Edmonton Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I tried to get him to stay in college. He went down to Southern Oregon. I tried to get him to stay in college. He called me one day and said, 'Dad, I want to be a wrestler. I want to do it now. If you help me get in to the business, okay. But if you don't, I'm going to try to get into it myself,'.SOURCE: Edmonton Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

Hell, I only got in the ring and did a few things maybe two, three times when Don Owen booked me in a tag match with my dad on December 9, 1978..SOURCE: Edmonton Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00

I'd go over there every night and sit and watch Saturday Night Live with him, have a beer and party a little bit with him. Him and Terri and I, it became a regular thing.SOURCE: Edmonton Sun 2013-06-28 19:30:00