Legendary WWE Hall of Famer and Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan Dead at 71
Hulk Hogan became a defining face of WWE and its foothold in Hollywood before his death at age 71.
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, known as one of the most prominent figures in all of wrestling with an illustrious career in WWE, film, and pop culture, has died at age 71.
Hogan, who was born Terry Gene Bollea in 1953, died at his home in Clearwater, Florida, surrounded by family, his manager Chris Volo told NBC Los Angeles. The late Superstar made a career in sports entertainment as one of the most electrifying figures the ring had ever seen, with many signature catch phrases as well as his tried-and-true move of ripping off his shirt before entering the ring. He embodied every role in WWE from consummate good guy to his infamous villain turn with the nWo.
In its obituary, the WWE wrote: "There are few names more synonymous with sports-entertainment than Hulk Hogan, as the larger-than-life icon was a central figure in WWE’s rise from a regional attraction to the worldwide entertainment leader. The Hulkster’s superhuman size and undeniable charisma helped him reach heights once unthinkable in sports and entertainment, as Hogan packed 93,173 fans into the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III, won six WWE Championships, starred in movies and set the standard for what a WWE Superstar could be."
Hulk Hogan as a WWE Superstar
Hogan’s career in the ring skyrocketed in the 1980s, an era when wrestling merged with mainstream pop culture.
Hogan was in the ring for the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985 and became a fixture for the event. Throughout the years, he faced off with Superstar titans such as André the Giant, Randy Savage, The Rock, and many more household names.
With his massive frame, handlebar mustache, and larger-than-life charisma, Hogan is largely credited for bringing professional wrestling into the mainstream in the 1980s, catapulting himself and other wrestlers into Hollywood stardom. With catchphrases like "Whatcha Gonna Do When Hulkamania Runs Wild On You!" and "Say your prayers and eat your vegetables," it's easy to see why the public fell in love with The Hulkster.
His victories spawned "Hulkamania," a phenomenon fueled by his massive in-ring presence and numerous backstage spots where he brought an intensity and showmanship to every ounce of his onscreen time. While he had many incredible in-ring performances, perhaps his most noteworthy moment came in 1996 when he shocked the world and joined Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the villainous New World Order (nWo). He would ditch his yellow spandex for a black biker look, and the trio wreaked havoc on the locker rooms of both WCW and, eventually, WWE.
However, Hulk Hogan was ultimately welcomed back by the WWE Universe as a good guy after the dust settled on the Attitude Era. Since then, Hulk has continued to lean into his fame and helped promote professional wrestling while maintaining a strong foothold in pop culture.
Hulk Hogan’s fame outside the ring
Hulk Hogan's presence in pop culture was immense. He launched his acting career in 1982 with Rocky III, in which he played Thunderlips, a wrestling champ who fights Rocky in an exhibition charity event. And who could forget his famous cameo in Gremlins II: The New Batch (1990), in which he threatened some of the mischievous creatures who dared mess with the projector while he was trying to watch the film in one of the most meta movie moments in pop culture history.
Hogan also tackled leading man roles in films such as No Holds Barred and Suburban Commando, had his own animated series (Hulk Hogan’s Rock 'n' Wrestling), and became a pop culture icon whose fame transcended wrestling. His likeness appeared in action figures, video games, and on cereal boxes, turning him into one of the first wrestlers to achieve mainstream celebrity status.
He even briefly had a reality show centered around his family titled Hogan Knows Best, which not only raised his personal profile but that of his family as well.
Hogan is survived by his ex-wife Linda Bollea and their two children, Brooke Hogan, 37, and Nick Hogan, 34, per NBCLA.
