Mark William Calaway, born March 24, 1965, is an American retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name The Undertaker.
Calaway is widely recognized as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
He is best known for his highly praised “Deadman” Undertaker character, for which he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022.
Calaway began his career in 1987, performing for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and other affiliate promotions under several gimmicks.
In 1989, he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for a brief period before joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) in 1990.
When Calaway joined the WWF, he was renamed “The Undertaker.”
Early life and Education
The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark William Calaway, was born on March 24, 1965, in Houston, Texas.
Calaway grew up in Houston and attended Waltrip High School.
He played basketball and football in high school and was offered a basketball scholarship to Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas.
Calaway then transferred to Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, where he continued to play basketball.
He earned a degree in sports management from Texas Wesleyan University in 1987.
Mark dropped out of university in 1986 to pursue a career in athletics.
He briefly explored playing professional basketball in Europe before deciding to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
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Career
The Undertaker began his wrestling career in 1984, wrestling for various regional promotions before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1989.
Mark William signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1990 and made his debut at the Survivor Series that same year.
Over the course of his career, The Undertaker won numerous championships in the WWF/WWE, including seven world championships and a record-breaking 21-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania, one of the WWE’s biggest events.
The Undertaker was known for his signature move, the Tombstone Piledriver, and for his eerie, supernatural persona and entrance music.
Mark William Calaway retired from professional wrestling in 2020, following his final match at WrestleMania 36.
Personal Life
Mark William Calaway, widely known by his ring as “The Undertaker,” is a very private person.
Calaway has had three marriages.
He was married to Jodi Lynn from 1989 to 1999.
From 2000 to 2007, he was married to Sara Frank, and his third marriage was to Michelle McCool, whom he married in 2010.
From his first two marriages, he has four children.
Calaway is a Christian who has indicated that his faith is very important to him.
Over his career, Calaway has been active with numerous charity organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
