Wrestling documentary filmmaker dies at 72
Summary
– Barry Blaustein, director of Beyond The Mat, has passed away at 72
– Blaustein gave wrestling fans one of the most influential documentaries in the industry’s history
– His career also included major comedy work with Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live and film projects
Barry Blaustein, the filmmaker behind Beyond The Mat, has passed away at 72.
His passing was announced by Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, where he worked as a longtime professor. Blaustein had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016 and was recently told he had stage four pancreatic cancer.
Wrestling fans know Blaustein best for Beyond The Mat, the 1999 documentary he wrote, directed, produced, and narrated. The film offered a raw look at the lives of wrestlers away from the spotlight, with Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake Roberts among its most memorable subjects.
Beyond The Mat explored WWE, ECW, and independent wrestling during a major boom period for the business. The documentary became one of the most important outsider looks at professional wrestling and was named one of 12 finalists for the Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Blaustein’s career reached far beyond wrestling. He worked with Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live and helped write memorable comedy material connected to Buckwheat, Gumby, and Mr. Robinson. He also contributed to films including Coming to America and The Nutty Professor.
For many wrestling fans, Beyond The Mat remains Blaustein’s defining work. It captured the pain, passion, and sacrifice behind the industry in a way few documentaries have matched.
