Hulk Hogan, the blonde, charismatic wrestling icon who helped launch professional wrestling into global popularity in the 1980s, passed away Thursday at age 71. Promoter Eric Bischoff confirmed the news. According to TMZ, emergency personnel were called to his Clearwater, Florida, home in response to a cardiac arrest report.

From WrestleMania to Hollywood

Hogan, known as “The Hulkster,” headlined WrestleMania eight times, including a legendary 1987 match against Andre the Giant before a record-breaking crowd of more than 93,000. At his peak, the six-foot-seven, 320-pound performer was known for his yellow trunks, ripped shirts, and thunderous theme song “Real American.” With his massive frame and electric presence, he embodied a larger-than-life hero and became a six-time WWE champion.

His wrestling persona made him a natural fit for the screen. Hogan debuted in Rocky III as Thunderlips, and went on to star in No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, and Santa With Muscles. He also appeared in the syndicated series Thunder in Paradise, as well as in episodes of Robot Chicken, American Dad!, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. In 1985, he co-hosted Saturday Night Live with Mr. T and voiced himself in the cartoon Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling.

Scandal, Lawsuits, and a Return

Hulk Hogan and Chris Lemmon
Hulk Hogan and Chris Lemmon in Thunder in Paradise.

Hogan’s public image took a major hit in the 1990s and 2010s. In 1994, he admitted to steroid use during testimony. Years later, a leaked video caught him making racist comments, prompting WWE to remove him from the Hall of Fame. Hogan sued Gawker for publishing a portion of that video and won a $140 million verdict, backed by billionaire Peter Thiel. He later settled for $31 million and was welcomed back to WWE in 2018.

Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, he was the son of a pipefitter and a Navy secretary. After playing Little League and performing in Florida rock bands, he was spotted by wrestling scouts at Hector’s Gym in Tampa and trained by Japanese legend Hiro Matsuda. He wrestled under various names—including Super Destroyer and Terry “The Hulk” Boulder—before landing on Hulk Hogan. A local talk show host once compared him to Lou Ferrigno and told viewers, “You’re bigger than the Hulk.” Hogan replied, “That’s because I’m the real Hulk.”

He rose through Florida’s Championship Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association before gaining fame in Japan, where fans nicknamed him “Ichiban,” meaning number one. A close friendship with Vince McMahon helped launch him into superstardom in the WWE. His signature catchphrases—like “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”—and his showmanship made him the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish Foundation during his prime.

The Final Chapter

After more than a decade with WWE, Hogan joined Ted Turner’s WCW and reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hogan.” The heel turn shocked fans as he aligned with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the villainous New World Order. He won multiple WCW titles and headlined some of the highest-rated matches in cable history, including a 1998 showdown against Bill Goldberg.

Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, briefly recapturing the world title before losing to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Toronto. His final WWE appearance came in 2006 at SummerSlam, followed by a stint with TNA Wrestling. In April 2025, he launched the Real America wrestling league with Bischoff, which recently secured a TV deal with Fox Nation.

He is survived by his wife Sky, whom he married in 2023, and his children Nick and Brooke from his previous marriage to Linda Claridge. Hogan was also married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2009 until their separation in 2021.

In promoting his 2009 book My Life Outside the Ring, Hogan addressed the nature of wrestling. He said, “Fake implies that the punches don’t hurt and you never get injured … it’s as real as it gets.”