Hulk Hogan, the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s who parlayed his prowess in the ring into an acting career, has died at the age of 71, US media reported overnight.
Hogan — a Hall of Fame talent known for his towering 6’7” (200cm) physique, bandana and distinctive blond handlebar moustache — died at his home in Florida, NBC News reported, citing his manager Chris Volo.
TMZ also reported the news, citing unnamed sources and an emergency personnel dispatch call about a “cardiac arrest” at his home.
Hogan’s magnetic personality — his ring character was a heroic all-American — and wrestling skills transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a revenue juggernaut.
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Hogan — real name Terry Bollea — first competed in 1979 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) but became a mainstay and fan favorite in the mid-1980s alongside others like Andre the Giant and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
His brand of “Hulkamania” transferred to the small and big screen, with roles in films such as “Rocky III,” “No Holds Barred” and TV’s “Baywatch.”
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
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“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” World Wrestling Entertainment said on social media.
“WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Hogan’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes on social meda, with US Predisent Donald Trump and fellow wrestling legends among those paying their respects.
The wrestler was embroiled in controversy more than a decade ago after an intimate video of him leaked, resulting in a $US140 million lawsuit award that bankrupted Gawker Media, and then again a few years later for his use of racist language, including a slur referring to Black Americans.
The latter caused him to be fired from WWE in 2015. He later apologised for his actions and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame.
In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump. He memorably appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention that would seal Trump’s nomination — tearing his shirt off to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top.
“With our leader up there, my hero, that gladiator, we’re gonna bring America back together,” Hogan said on stage in July 2024.
Hulk Hogan’s legendary match vs The Rock | 00:49
Paying tribute after Hogan’s passing, Trump posted on social media of his “great friend”: “He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”
Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring.
He was married three times, and had two children (Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34) with his first wife Linda.
AN ICONIC CAREER IN THE RING AND OUT
Before Hulk Hogan stepped into the arena, wrestling was a niche sport.
Clad in yellow tights and boots with red kneepads, long bleach-blonde hair and t-shirts he’d regularly rip off, Hogan captivated audiences with his flamboyant promos in which he’d brag about his “24 inch python” biceps, his constant use of “brother” and his signature line “What’cha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!”
He became WWF’s top attraction as Vince McMahon launched WrestleMania, which has became the biggest annual wrestling event in the world.
The first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden became a pop-culture phenomenon, as Hogan teamed with Mr. T to defeat Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper in the main event.
In 1984 he was crowned the World Heavyweight Championship, and went on to form his own league, the New World Order.
During WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in front of approximately 78,000 fans, Hogan bodyslammed Andre the Giant in one of the signature moments in wrestling history.
In 1994, Hogan was a key witness in McMahon’s steroid trial, in which he was accused of giving illegal steroids to pro wrestlers. While Hogan admitted to using steroids via a prescription, he said McMahon never asked him to take them and he never purchased them from McMahon.
By that point, Hogan had jumped to rival wrestling promotion WCW, where he later formed the New World Order (nWo) with fellow ex-WWE stars Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. His appearance at WCW’s Bash at the Beach even in July 1996 was considered the biggest heel turn in history, as the all-American hero Hulkster became ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan, a bad guy.
The group became one of the most popular in wrestling history, leading to WCW to beat WWF in television ratings for 83 weeks.
After WWE bought WCW, Hogan, Hall and Nash returned to WWE in 2002.
Hogan’s fame helped him cross over into movies and television. His first major film role came in “Rocky III,” where he portrayed the wrestler Thunderlips, who faced Rocky Balboa in an exhibition.
His other movie appearances include “No Holds Barred” and “Mr. Nanny.”
He was the centerpiece of the “Thunder in Paradise” television show in 1994 and made appearances on “The A-Team” and “Baywatch.”
Hogan and his family were also the subjects of a VH1 reality show, “Hogan Knows Best,” in the mid-2000s.
Born in Augusta, Ga. in 1953, Hogan had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife, Linda.
After Linda filed for divorce in 2007, Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010. They got divorced in 2022.
Hogan then got married to Sky Daily in 2023.
Hogan appeared at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 in support of Donald Trump’s run for president.
After Hogan’s passing, US Vice President JD Vance posted on X: “Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other.
“The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”
Hogan’s last appearance on WWE programming came during Raw’s Netflix debut on Jan. 6.
HULK’S MOUNT RUSHMORE OF WRESTLING
Hulk Hogan’s Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers surprisingly didn’t include him, when asked about it in 2023, but there could be few complaints on who made the cut.
Naming the four wrestlers who make up the list, in comparison to the American president monument, Hogan included three iconic opponents.
During a long career that saw Hogan on top of the wrestling world for over two decades, ‘The Hulkster’ tested himself against the very best his sport had to offer.
Three of his most memorable feuds came against Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, and The Rock, and all three make it onto Hogan’s Mount Rushmore.
“I’m just going with the older guys, you know, because there are some new guys like Seth Rollins, who I really admire,“ Hogan told Chris Van Vliet, as reported by DAZN.
“I’m all over the place with it but for me the quick fix would be Andre, Flair, Rock, and [Stonecold Steve] Austin. That’s a quick fix for me. Yeah, those four guys deserve it.”