Former WCW star Van Hammer passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 66 in Boynton Beach, Florida, with his former colleague Marc Mero sharing the sad news on social media, with no cause of death disclosed. However, Pro Wrestling Stories has since spoken to Van Hammer’s widow, Diane Hildreth, who has divulged that he died jobless and alone, with the autopsy listing the official cause of death as complications of chronic ethanolism. This would stem from years of severe alcohol abuse despite his repeated attempts at sobriety.
“Diane Hildreth, who lived through those final years beside him, exclusively shared the details of his passing with Pro Wrestling Stories in June 2026 after waiting for his autopsy report to be completed. According to her, Mark Hildreth passed away on April 18, 2026, jobless and alone. The autopsy reported a 2.5-inch laceration on the back of his head, two fractured anterior ribs, and evidence of long-term substance dependency in the liver. The cause of death was recorded as complications of chronic ethanolism.” – Pro Wrestling Stories
Van Hammer, real name Mark Hildreth, born November 1, 1959, served in the U.S. Navy before training under Boris Malenko and joining WCW. Exploding onto the scene in 1991 as the heavily promoted “Heavy Metal” Van Hammer, a charismatic 6’6”, 280-pound rock star who debuted with a lightning-fast squash victories. Though blessed with impressive size and presence, he faced in-ring limitations and personal struggles that stalled his momentum, and he later departed the company. Still, he later returned as part of Raven’s Flock and the Misfits in Action, going on to tour Japan and working the independents before quietly retiring around 2009.
