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Agence France-Presse

Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died on Thursday. He was 71.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said.
The Hall of Fame talent - known for his towering physique, bandana and blond handlebar moustache - was ubiquitous during his heyday, acting in film and television, appearing in video games and promoting a range of products.
He also courted his share of controversy, first when a sex tape featuring him leaked, and again when a recording of him using racist language, including a slur referring to black Americans, resurfaced in 2015.

In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump.
“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 wrestling skills and magnetic personality as a heroic all-American in the ring transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a multibillion-dollar empire.
“Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!” fellow Hall of Famer Ric Flair said on social media.
“R.I.P Hulkster, thank you for opening up doors for so many people in the business including myself,” said retired pro and Olympic champion Kurt Angle.
Hogan was born on August 11, 1953 in the southern US state of Georgia to a construction worker father and a dance teacher mother. The family moved to Florida when he was a toddler.

After dropping out of university, Hogan was spotted at his gym by local wrestlers and was quickly swept into competitions.
His nickname came about in part because of comparisons to the Marvel superhero The Incredible Hulk, featured at the time in a television series.
He first competed in 1979 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) but became a mainstay and fan favourite in the mid-1980s alongside others like Andre the Giant and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
At age 48 in 2002, in the waning days of his competitive career, he even battled Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
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 absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special. My heart breaks,” said Rocky star Sylvester Stallone.

Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
But the scandal over his use of racial slurs led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He later apologised for his actions and was reinstated to the Hall of Fame.
When a tape emerged of Hogan having sex with a woman who was not his wife in 2012, he filed suit against Gawker Media and won a US$140 million judgment for invasion of privacy.
He eventually accepted a settlement of US$31 million, but the case divided media and press freedom advocates after it was revealed that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel had funded Hogan’s case as part of an effort to drive Gawker out of business.
Gawker shut its site down months after the verdict.
Hogan 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.
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way - Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,” Trump said on social media.
“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. In the 1990s, he admitted under oath that he had used anabolic steroids at the peak of his career.
He was married three times, and had two children with his first wife Linda.


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Fame and celebrity

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at 71

Hulk Hogan rips his shirt before Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York in October 2024. Photo: AP

Hulk Hogan fires up the crowd between matches at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles in 2005. File photo: AP

Hulk Hogan puts a choke hold on the neck of Utah Jazz basketball star Karl Malone at a pay-per-view wrestling match in San Diego in 1998. File photo: AP

Sylvester Stallone, Hulk Hogan and WWF’s Vince McMahon in 2005. File photo: TNS

Professional wrestler King Kong Bundy dead at age 61

This image provided by the WWE shows professional wrestler King Kong Bundy, who died on Monday. Photo: WWE via AP

Hulk Hogan agrees to accept US$31million in Gawker sex tape settlement

Hulk Hogan has agreed to settle his lawsuit with Gawker for US$31 million, ending a years-long fight that led to the media company’s bankruptcy. Photo: AP

WWE cuts ties with Hulk Hogan amid report that he used racial slurs on sex tape

Hulk Hogan takes on the Ultimate Warrior at the height of their fame at the start of the 1990s. Photo: Handout

Reality TV star and former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, sued Gawker for invasion of privacy in 2012 after the New York-based website published a tape of Hogan having sex with his then-best friend's wife. Photo: AP

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Known for his signature moustache and bandana, Hogan became the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s


Known for his signature moustache and bandana, Hogan became the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s.


Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at 71

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Known for his signature moustache and bandana, Hogan became the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s

Known for his signature moustache and bandana, Hogan became the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s