Singer and actor Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74

His name was Robert Paulson.

That might not mean as much to those who haven’t compulsively watched Meat Loaf, the singer behind such hits as ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ and ‘I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’, who forged a successful career as a character actor, has died at the age of 74.

Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas in 1947, he claimed that his father nicknamed him “Meat” because of his chunky size at just a few days old. He had a troubled upbringing – his dad was a violent drunk and his mother died of cancer when Aday was 18.

Following an accident in which a shot put landed on his head, Aday discovered a three-and-a-half-octave vocal range, and, after his mother’s death, he headed to Los Angeles to seek a career in showbusiness. He formed a group called Meat Loaf Soul and opened for acts including Janis Joplin, but ironically, it was performing on stage in the musical ‘Hair’ that moved his singing career along. Another theatre job, a production of Jim Steinman’s ‘More Than You Deserve’ also boosted his profile and launched a partnership that would last through much of his career.

With Steinman’s ear for a catchy tune and Meat Loaf’s operatic style, the stage was set for numerous hits, even if it took a while for general audiences to appreciate his unique abilities and grandioso performances.

Rocky Horror’ was perfectly suited to Meat’s OTT persona, though he could also deliver work that was subtle and nuanced when the moment called for it.

He became known for his work in cult movies such as ‘Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny’ (2006).

Yet, alongside ‘Fight Club’, in which he played Robert “Bitch Tits” Paulson, an overweight, loyal member of Project Mayhem. A former bodybuilder whose use of steroids led to testicular cancer, the character of Paulson is a definite highlight of the movie.

Meat Loaf told The AV Club in 2016. “His average take was 44, so we’d sit there and watch 40 takes, and he’d go, ‘Which one did you like the best,’ and I’d say something like, ‘Well, it’s either 24 or 26,’ and he’d say, ‘I agree with you, 26.'”

His movie career might not be as giant as his contributions to music, but a vast majority of films feature his songs. He’ll go down as one of the most iconic singers in history, and a firm favorite on the acting front.