Chuck Varga, one of the founding members of Gwar and the original performer behind the band’s iconic The Sexecutioner character, has died at the age of 68 following a battle with cancer.
Varga‘s passing was confirmed Friday night, September 25, by Casey Orr, who performs with Gwar as Beefcake The Mighty. Orr paid tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator in a social media post, revealing that Varga died peacefully with his wife, Bambi, by his side.
“Chuck Varga has left this earthly realm. He passed peacefully, his beloved wife Bambi holding his hand.
“He was one of a kind. As an artist, as a performer; as a scholar and a gentleman. I’m better for having known him and the world is lesser for his leaving.
“He is most likely being welcomed into Valhalla right now by [Dave] Brockie [who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus] and Smooty [GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot] and all who went before.
“Raise your glass and tell his tales. Legends never die. Hail Varga! Hail Sexecutioner!”
Varga‘s connection to Gwar stretched back to the band’s formative years. He portrayed The Sexecutioner from 1985 until 2022, becoming an important part of the elaborate mythology, characters and stage performances that helped distinguish the group from virtually every other act in heavy music.
However, his influence on Gwar went far beyond his work in costume. Varga was also an artist, illustrator and character designer whose work helped establish the visual world surrounding the band and the Slave Pit collective.
Earlier this year, Gwar appealed to fans for assistance as Varga’s medical expenses continued to grow. A fundraiser launched in June was intended to help pay for his cancer treatments, hospice care, specialized medical equipment and additional nursing support.
The campaign also sought to help maintain Varga‘s Brooklyn apartment while his wife, Bambi, took time away from work to provide full-time care for him.
At the time, Gwar‘s Bob Gorman, known within the band’s universe as Bonesnapper, spoke about the enormous impact Varga had on the group’s artistic development.
“Chuck Varga‘s contributions to the Gwar and Slave Pit collective are enormous. The influence of his illustrations, character designs, performances, and artistic vision can still be felt throughout Gwar today. Chuck‘s over-the-top underground art aesthetic helped define an entire universe and inspired generations of artists and fans around the world. His legacy will remain with us forever.”
Varga was among the artists and performers who helped establish Gwar‘s distinctive identity during its earliest era, contributing to a world built around grotesque characters, elaborate costumes, underground art and theatrical performances.
His death comes after the loss of several other important figures from Gwar‘s history, including longtime frontman Dave Brockie, who performed as Oderus Urungus, and guitarist Cory Smoot, known as Flattus Maximus.
