Classic Photos of William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Seemingly as wide as he was tall (6-foot-2), William "The Refrigerator" Perry earned his nickname from an elevator ride during his Clemson years. When he stepped out of the elevator, his immense frame blocked all of the elevator's light and a friend said he looked like a walking refrigerator. Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by the Chicago Bears, Perry recorded 29.5 sacks, three touchdowns and history's largest Super Bowl ring (size 25 compared to the average man's size 10) through his 10-year NFL career. In celebration of his 54th birthday on Dec. 16, 2016, we present these classic photos of "The Fridge."

Classic Photos of William "The Refrigerator" Perry

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Collegiate Images/Getty Images

1984

Tony DeGrate, Jack Del Rio and William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Carson/AP

Dec. 12, 1984 — Lombardi Award finalists

Chicago Bears Team President Michael McCaskey and William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

April 30, 1985 — NFL Draft

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Bill Smith/Getty Images

Nov. 3, 1985 — Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and David Letterman

Rick Maiman/AP

Nov. 11, 1985 — Late Night with David Letterman

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Otis Wilson

Heinz Kluetmeier

Nov. 17, 1985 — Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and teammates

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Dec. 3, 1985 — "Super Bowl Shuffle" music video

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Dec. 3, 1985 — "Super Bowl Shuffle" music video

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Bob Hope

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Dec. 6, 1985 — The Bob Hope Christmas Show

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Heinz Kluetmeier

Dec. 9, 1985 — Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Jan. 26, 1986 — Super Bowl XX, Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Otis Wilson

Andy Hayt

Jan. 26, 1986 — Super Bowl XX, Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

Willie Gault, Steve McMichael, Mike Ditka, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Maury Buford

Phil Sandlin/AP

Jan. 26, 1986 — Super Bowl XX, Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Charlie Bennett/AP

April 7, 1986 — Wrestlemania 2

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Tony Dorsett

Perry McIntyre/Getty Images

Aug. 3, 1986 — Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Ed "Too Tall" Jones

Ken Regan/Camera 5

Aug. 11, 1986 Sports Illustrated cover

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Bill Smith/Getty Images

Sept. 4, 1988

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

1989 training camp

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Mike Singletary

Heinz Kluetmeier

Nov. 3, 1991 — Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Sept. 18, 1992 — Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

John Iacono

Sept. 4, 1994 — Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

March 18, 1996

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Brian Lanker

July 3, 2000

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and father-in-law Crosby Broadwater

Brian Lanker

July 3, 2000

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Brian Lanker

July 31, 2000 Sports Illustrated cover

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Bob Sapp

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Nov. 4, 2000 — Toughman Boxing Competition

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Akira Ono/AP

July 4, 2003 — Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Albert L. Ortega/WireImage for Horizon Productions, Inc

June 5, 2006 — "Lingerie Bowl IV" National Kick-Off Press Conference

William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Stacy Keibler

Thos Robinson/Getty Images

Feb. 2, 2007 — Benihana Grill-Off

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Doug Buffington/Icon Sportswire

Oct. 19, 2013 — Clemson vs. Florida State