I was never a wrestling fan, but I sure as hell remember the newly passed Rowdy Roddy Piper as the terrifically likable hero of John Carpenter’s “They Live” (1988).  To this day, I still think it’s a pretty scary movie.

Piper was a great everyman — perfectly suited for this 1980’s underrated cult classic about an ordinary man-on-the-street fighting a sprawling alien shadow government conspiracy.  His tough-but-lovable, working-class anti-yuppie was spot on.  (Carpenter’s left-leaning sci-fi gem posed the bourgeoisie as alien impersonators and their wealthy human collaborators.)

Check out “They Live,” if you get a chance.  And please … try these sunglasses.  JUST PUT ‘EM ON.