'Leaping' Lanny Poffo, wrestling star known as 'The Genius' and younger brother of 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, dies at 68, 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan reveals

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Retired wrestling star Lanny Poffo has died at 68, fellow WWE legend 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan revealed Thursday. A cause of death has not been revealed.

'With a very, very heavy heart, I've been asked to let everyone know about the passing of our friend and colleague Lanny Poffo, The Genius,' Duggan wrote on social media. 'RIP Lanny.'

The real-life younger brother of 'Macho Man' Randy Savage and son of another wrestler, Angelo Poffo, Lanny got his start in the All-South Wrestling Alliance in the mid-1970s. But it was in 1985 with the WWE, then known as the WWF, that the younger Poffo got his big break.

First known as 'Leaping Lanny Poffo,' the Illinois native would turn heel in the late 1980s by adopting a new persona, 'The Genius,' who frequently insulted fans through poetry.

Outside of the ring, Poffo became an ardent anti-smoking advocate, and published books of his poetry warning children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Lanny Poffo, Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags( Nasty Boys) attends day 2 of Chiller Theatre Expo on October 24, 2015 in Parsippany, New Jersey

Retired wrestling star Lanny Poffo has died at 68, fellow WWE legend 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan revealed Thursday. A cause of death remains unknown

Later he became involved in podcasting and was a frequent participant at various wrestling events and conventions.

'LANNY POFFO MY BROTHER,' began a capitalized tweet by former wrestler, the Iron Sheik. 'I LOVE YOU FOREVER. GIVE [the late] NIKOLAI [Volkoff,] RANDY [Savage,] AND ELIZABETH [Hulette] HUG FOR ME.'

'Lanny Poffo. The genius. Man. I am so sorry brother,' tweeted another wrestler, Virgil (aka: Michael Jones). 'Love you and Randy more than you ever will know. RIP.'

Poffo is remembered for popularizing wrestling in the 1980s, when the once-regionalized spectacle became a nationwide sensation with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Savage, and Andre the Giant.

Later, he would serve as a manager for the Beverly Brothers as they beat the beloved tag-team pair, The Bushwackers.

Poff bounced back and forth from the WWF, WCW, and various independent circuits over the remainder of his career, and later inducted his late brother into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.

Leaping Lanny Poffo kicks a wrestler named 'Goulet' in Toronto in the late 1970s or early 1980s