Ernie Roth

Ernie Roth (born June 7, 1929 in Florida, died October 12, 1983), best known as The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, also well known as Abdullah Farouk, was a professional wrestling manager of many infamous heels. Not a wrestler himself (he was short and weighed under 150 pounds), he was noted for his flamboyant outfit of sequined jackets, wraparound sunglasses, and a brightly-colored turban decorated with jewels and feathers.

Ernie Roth began a career in radio before getting involved in the mat sport around 1960. His big break came in the Detroit area when as Abdullah Farouk he was the handler for The Sheik, one of the first crazy heels.

As The Grand Wizard, he managed Stan Stasiak, Billy Graham, Luke Graham, Crusher Blackwell, Ernie Ladd, Blackjack Mulligan, Pat Patterson, Ken Patera, Stan Hansen, Playboy Buddy Rose, Greg "the Hammer" Valentine, Magnificent Don Muraco, Sgt. Slaughter, and many others in the WWWF/WWF. At the height of his fame in the 1970s he was part of the WWF's legendary "evil trinity" of managers along with "Captain" Lou Albano and "Classy" Freddie Blassie.

Roth died in 1983 from a sudden heart attack at age 54.