Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter Dead — Boxer Dies At 76 From Prostate Cancer – Hollywood Life

Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter: Former Boxer & Folk Music Icon Dead At 76

On April 20, the middleweight boxer known as 'Hurricane' passed away in Toronto, Canada after suffering from prostate cancer. Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, 76, will be remembered for many things -- his successful boxing career; the song written about him by Bob Dylan; and the fact that he was wrongly accused for murder in 1985 and spent 19 years in prison for it.

Reading Time: 2 minute
Rubin Hurricane Carter Dead
Image Credit: Getty, Landov

Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter Dead

John Artis, Rubin’s longtime friend was by his side at the time of his death, Win Whrer, director of client services for the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted confirmed.


“I always remember spending hours and hours with Rubin talking about the wrongful convictions,” Win told CNN. “He was a great mentor and teacher. I felt very fortunate to have those times with him. He lived a very full life.”

Rubin’s boxing career was a successful one — he fought 40 fights and won 27, lost 12 and had one draw. He had a total of 19 knockouts. However, the real battle in his life was out of the ring.

John and Rubin were driving around Paterson, New Jersey on June 17, 1966, the night that three murders took place — they were arrested and charged with triple murder. In 1966, Bob Dylan co-wrote the song “Hurricane,” a protest song declaring the innocence of Hurricane and claiming it was a racist charge.

In 1985, after 19 years behind bars, Rubin’s chargers were dropped, h was found innocent and got out of prison.

“Hatred and bitterness and anger only consume the vessel that contains them. It doesn’t hurt another soul,” Rubin told CNN in 2011. “If I were to allow myself to continue to feel that anger and the bitterness of being a victim, I would have never survived prison itself. Prison can deal with anger; prison can deal with hatred because prison is about all those things. So I had to overcome those things.”

Our thoughts go out to Rubin’s friends and family at this time.

— Emily Longeretta

More Sad Celebrity Deaths:

  1. Kevin Sharp: Country Star Dead At 43
  2. Peaches Geldof Found Dead With 11-Month-Old Son By Her Side
  3. Kate O’Mara: ‘Dynasty’ Actress Dead At 74