Tolos was born on April 5, 1931, in Hamilton, Ontario to
Greek parents, Nicolaos and Evangelia (Evangeline) Tolos. During the 1950s and 60s, he was part of The Canadian Wrecking Crew with his brother
Chris Tolos. On December 28, 1963, they captured the
WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in
Teaneck, New Jersey in two straight falls from
Gorilla Monsoon and
Killer Kowalski. While both teams were heels at the time, the Tolos Brothers did a television interview prior to the title match, "looking forward" to seeing all of their fans in Teaneck. That night, they were cheered throughout. As a vicious heel known as the "Golden Greek", Tolos also engaged in a long time rivalry with
"Classy" Freddie Blassie in the
LeBell family's
World Wrestling Association, often feuding over the
Americas Championship.[4] Tolos had a run in Herb Abrams'
Universal Wrestling Federation from 1990 to mid-1991, managing
Cowboy Bob Orton,
Cactus Jack and The Power Twins as well as serving as color commentator on the UWF's Fury Hour program.
Tolos joined the
World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for a brief stint in mid-1991 as Coach (a classic
coach, complete with a whistle), managing
The Beverly Brothers and
"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, replacing Hennig's former manager
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who was then moving into a full-time broadcaster's role.[5] When a back injury sidelined Hennig for more than a year, Tolos was replaced by
The Genius as The Beverly Brothers' manager and departed the WWF. Tolos would return to Abrams' UWF as color commentator from 1992 through the promotion's final show in 1994. He also managed
Cowboy Bob Orton, The Power Twins and
Cactus Jack.
^Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253.
ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276.
ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269.
ISBN0-9698161-5-4.