Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Frances Kindon & Kaitlin Easton

The Goonies fans can't believe hunky Sloth's real life appearance before tragic death

With a whole new generation never having grown up watching the iconic '80s movie The Goonies which told the tale of a bunch of misfits stumbling onto an ancient pirate's map that leads them to legendary long lost treasure, many were unaware of what main character Sloth looked like off scene.

Sloth was the son of evil Mama Fratelli - the head of the Fratelli criminal family - and was badly deformed after she dropped him on the head as a child. It took five hours of makeup to transform actor John Matuszak into the character.

Now younger fans have been left shocked at what John looked like off-screen. An imposing presence, John was 6ft 9 and weighed 20st - making him a hit with the ladies. He even took part in a raunchy Playgirl shoot before his death in 1989.

The Mirror reports that party animal John was a football player for the Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins, building up a strong fanbase before finding success in Hollywood.

He won two Super Bowls when he was with the Oakland Raiders between 1976 to 1981. But he suffered injury while playing the sport and was left plagued by chronic pain.

His first injury was a shoulder separation while playing for the University of Missouri and then a series of further back injuries left him need surgery in the early '80s. He retired to the reserve list before he quit for good in 1983.

His parents, Marv and Audrey Matuszak, believed John's chronic pain contributed to his death at just 38 in 1989 after an accidental drug overdose.

In a statement, they said: "We are not unmindful of the problems our son had in his battle against chronic pain and his resulting use of drugs, both prescription and otherwise."

His formed girlfriend, Stephanie Cozart, also claimed that John was struggling with the trauma of losing not one, but two brothers at a young age to cystic fibrosis, and turned to drugs to cope.

"The man was in a lot of emotional pain. He had a lot of childhood stuff to deal with," she told the LA Times in 1989. "He had a lot of present-day stuff. He was a therapist's dream."

John even took part in a raunchy Playgirl shoot before his death in 1989 (NBC Universal via Getty Images)

Stephanie told of how John battled to stay on track after retiring from football and fought to keep his addictions under control despite his mental health issues.

"He was trying really hard to keep things under control. He was in AA - Alcoholics Anonymous - and he was trying his damnedest to succeed," Cozart told the Orlando Sentinel.

Indeed, in his 1987 autobiography, Cruisin' With the Tooz, he revealed how he had once lived on the 'breakfast of champions' - vodka and valium - but turned his back on drugs after hitting rock bottom.

"I abstain from cocaine, and any other foreign substance, entirely now. I take nothing, not even sleeping pills. I've hit damn near bottom. I don't ever want to go back," he wrote.

But Stephanie believed that despite the departure from his wild days, the damage had already been done.

"It's no secret that at one time he had an excessive lifestyle, and it might have taken its toll physically," she told the Orlando Sentinal.

John was found ill at home on June 17, 1989 and rushed to St. Joseph Medical Centre in Burbank, California. Sadly, doctors were unable to save him and he died at 9:39pm.

*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

The Goonies airs today on Channel 5 at 4.50pm.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

READ MORE:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.