Gwar Founding Member and ‘Sexecutioner’ Chuck Varga Dies at 68 Following Cancer Diagnosis

Ilana KaplanTue, September 29, 2026 at 4:55 PM UTC

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Chuck VargaCredit: Chuck Varga/FacebookGwar bassist Casey Orr announced his death in a Facebook statement on Friday, Sept. 25 -

Gwar’s founding member Chuck Varga died at 68

“I’m better for having known him and the world is lesser for his leaving,” Gwar bassist Casey Orr announced in a Facebook statement on Friday, Sept. 25

Varga was the “Sexecutioner” in Gwar from 1985 to 2021

Gwar’s founding member Chuck Varga, known as the “Sexecutioner,” has died. He was 68.

The heavy metal band’s bassist Casey Orr, aka “Beefcake the Mighty,” announced his death in a Facebook statement on Friday, Sept. 25.

“Chuck Varga has left this earthly realm,” he began the post. “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.”

Gwar in 1994Credit: Steve Eichner/WireImage

Orr concluded, “He is most likely being welcomed into Valhalla right now by Brockie and Smooty and all who went before. Raise your glass and tell his tales. Legends never die. Hail Varga! Hail Sexicutioner!”

While no cause of death was revealed, Gwar revealed Varga’s cancer diagnosis in April as his bandmates launched a nationwide blood donation campaign and fundraiser to honor him. Those who donated would receive a shirt designed by Varga.

Born in 1958 in Virginia, Varga was a sculptor and set designer in addition to being a founding member of Gwar and taking on the role of “Sexecutioner.”

Varga studied at Virginia Commonwealth University in the early 1980s before co-founding Slave Pit Studios in Richmond, Va., where he helped form Gwar in 1985.

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As Sexecutioner, Varga was part of eight major touring productions and co-authored two feature-length films, including the Grammy-nominated Phallus in Wonderland. He was also responsible for designing costumes, sets, props, and comic book narratives for the Gwar universe.

While Varga went on hiatus from the group in 1997 to relocate to New York City and work on Broadway and in film and television, he would occasionally join the band for performances before retiring in 2021.

Throughout Gwar’s tenure, the band earned two Grammy nominations — one in 1993 for Best Long Form Music Video and another in 1996 for Best Metal Performance.

The band is set to tour this October.

Chuck Varga as the ‘Sexecutioner’Credit: Chuck Varga/Facebook

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Varga is survived by his wife, Bambi.

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