A professional poker player with a history of medical problems is dead at age 36.

John Goodman, of Austin, Texas, USA, died Wednesday at a hospital in Austin, according to the Austin American-Statesman, a local newspaper.

Goodman was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a crippling disease which forced him to use a wheelchair and sleep in an iron lung, the newspaper reported.

Nevertheless, despite one hand being almost paralyzed, he was a gifted poker player, making a living at it for the past few years, the newspaper reported.

In addition, Goodman was a screenwriter who worked on several motion pictures and television programs, the newspaper reported.

Apparently, Goodman made most of his money at poker playing in cash games.

According to tournament records, he finished in the money in only two poker tournaments, earning a total of $1,200.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)