Maritime wrestling star Jean-Louis Cormier, who wrestled under the pseudonym Rudy Kay, died in hospital in Moncton early Monday morning.

The Memramcook native was 65.

He was admitted to the hospital on the weekend, not feeling well. He had stomach surgery on Sunday, and succumbed to an unknown virus around 5 a.m. on Monday, according to his family.

Cormier partnered with promoter Al Zinck to form Eastern Sports Association presents International Wrestling.

The promotion was a phenomenal hit throughout the Maritimes in the 1970s, producing daily cards in Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton. The circuit also produced a weekly television broadcast on ATV.

Zinck, who worked with Cormier for 10 years, was saddened to hear of his passing.

"We had a very good partnership," Zinck said. "That’s when wrestling was wrestling, not like today."

Cormier was part of a famous family of Maritime wrestling. One of 13 siblings, four brothers got into the business, with Yvon (as The Beast), Leo (as Leo Burke) and Bobby (as Bobby Kay) joining Jean-Louis in the ring.

As Rudy Kay, Cormier plied his trade around the world, wrestling throughout Canada and the United States as well as stops in Australia and Japan.

Yvon (The Beast) Cormier, the first of the brothers to get into the business, said Jean-Louis was a quality wrestler in his time. He will remember their times in the ring fondly.

"I’ve got pictures," Yvon said via telephone on Monday. "I’ll have to hide them because I don’t want to see them. Not right now."