US wrestling star Michael 'Virgil' Jones dies aged 61

Michael Jones had various wrestling personas including Virgil, Vincent and Soul Train Jones

US wrestling star Michael Jones - known by ring names including Virgil and Vincent - has died at the age of 61.

"Virgil passed peacefully at the hospital this morning [Wednesday]," wrestling referee Mark Charles III - known professionally as The Count - announced on X, formerly Twitter.

His death was also confirmed in posts on his social media accounts.

Jones was best known for his work in the World Wresting Federation (WWF) during the 1980s and 1990s.

"There is so much to say here and would love to share stories but for now it's a rough day as our friend is gone," reads a message posted on his Instagram account.

"Wishing him all the unlimited pasta in heaven. We love you Mike."

Jones, who was born in the US state of Pennsylvania, started wrestling professionally in the mid-1980s under the name Soul Train Jones.

He debuted with the WWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in 1986 and rebranded himself as Lucius Brown, which was later changed to Virgil.

This persona as the bodyguard for Ted DiBiase, known as The Million Dollar Man, launched him into fame and lasted several years.

Jones left the WWE in 1994 and worked for two years on the smaller independent circuit before joining the now defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the persona Vincent.

He briefly reinvented himself as Curly Bill for the wrestling outfit the West Texas Rednecks before leaving the WCW in 2000 when he retired due to injury.

Jones worked for what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for a number of years

Jones continued to make independent appearances as his various personas before his health began to deteriorate.

In 2022, he revealed that he had dementia and colon cancer. He also suffered a number of strokes.

Fundraising pages had been set up online to help pay for Jones's medical bills and, later, to pay for expenses including clothes and toiletries.

Among those to pay tribute to him following news of his death on Wednesday were WWE Hall of Fame inductee Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

"Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil," he wrote on X.

"Rest in peace, my friend."

"R.I.P Virgil, thanks for being a great sport during our shenanigans & for the memories," wrote fellow WWE star Luke Gallows.

"See you down the road good brother."