Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71 in Florida, family confirms
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71 in Florida, TMZ first reported.
The outlet reports that first responders arrived at Hogan’s Clearwater home Thursday morning regarding a “cardiac arrest.”
The family later confirmed to UsWeekly that Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) had passed. The celebrity outlet had previously reported that the Real American Beer founder was dealing with more serious problems that were heart related, but that he was on the mend.
“Hulk had pretty serious heart surgery a few weeks ago and was doing well afterward,” a source told the outlet in an exclusive a few weeks ago, adding, “It wasn’t a near-death thing.”
During his illustrious 35-year pro wrestling career, Hogan changed the face of the business.
When Vince McMahon Jr. took over the World Wrestling Federation - WWF in 1982 from his father, Vince Sr., he made Hulk Hogan the face of the company (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment - WWE).
With a massive 6-foot-7, 300-pound frame, a physical specimen who also had the gift of gab, Hulk Hogan would refer to his large biceps as “24-inch pythons,” and he became a household name, a pop culture icon.
“Whatcha Gonna Do When Hulkamania Runs Wild on You” was his classic catchphrase to end his interviews. Fans of all ages loved Hulk Hogan, making him one of the most iconic pro wrestlers in the history of the business and one of most lucrative. His merchandise made him and WWF a lot of money.
Television talk shows clamored to have him as a guest, especially in the 1980s. Hollywood came calling with TV shows and movie roles. He bridged a gap between mainstream and the pro wrestling world. “Rocky 3” was one of those movies, and Hogan and Mr. T met on the set of “Rocky 3,” where Hogan portrayed pro wrestler Thunderlips and Mr. T as boxer Clubber Lang. The Thunderlips role also added to the rising mainstream star Hulk Hogan.
Friends through the years, he and Mr. T also co-hosted NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 1985 as they were preparing for the company’s inaugural “WrestleMania,” which because of Hogan and McMahon Jr. developed into the Super Bowl of professional wrestling.
Whether it was feuding with top stars like “Macho Man” Randy Savage and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in WWF/WWE or combating “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the champion Hogan sold out many arenas around the world.
Furthermore, when he bodyslammed the 500-plus pound Andre the Giant (the slam heard round the world), handing the Giant his first pinfall loss of his own historic career, before 90,000-plus fans at the Pontiac Silverdome in the main event of WrestleMania 3, Hogan’s star power rose to new heights.
In the 1990s, Hogan reinvented himself, turning heel as part of the iconic group the nWo (with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) in WCW. Fueled by the nWo, it marked the first time another pro wrestling company drew better TV ratings than WWF/WWE.
Nash wrote on his X account: “I lost another brother. Icon doesn’t even touch it. Rest in power my friend. NWO 4 Life....and beyond.”
Returning to WWE, he and The Rock made history in 2002 with a classic icon vs. icon battle at WrestleMania 18 in front of 68,000-plus fans at the SkyDome in Toronto. He later worked for TNA Wrestling, before rejoining WWE again.
From Terry to ‘The Hulk’
Hogan actually obtained his pro wrestling start in Florida in the mid-1970s.
Playing in a rock band “Ruckus” at various bars around his hometown Tampa, he stood out on bass guitar. Impressed by his physique while at one of the bars hanging out, pro wrestling legends the Brisco Brothers (Jack and Jerry) were the ones to discover him.
They sent him to wrestling legend Hiro Matsuda in Tampa for training. Legend has it that Matsuda injured Hogan’s leg to see if he had the mental and physical toughness to become a pro wrestler. After 10 weeks of rehab, Hogan returned to train with Matsuda and blocked him when he tried to injure his leg again.
Gerald Jerry Brisco wrote a tribute to Hogan on his Facebook page: “As with all of us, I am deeply saddened at the death of my friend Hulk Hogan. My brother Jack and I knew him even before he got into the business and we were honored to be able to help him get started and guide him in those early days. He is certainly transcended the sport as no other and he was a good friend to so many. I remember one of the last times we spoke when we saw each other and I asked him how he was doing, and he laughed and said.,” I’ve had 13 operations so far. Damn, Brisco you never told me about this part of the business.” Then he laughed as was part of his good nature and his kind heart. The world of sports and the world of entertainment will miss him greatly, and I will miss him greatly as my friend.”
A graduate of Robinson High School in Tampa, Hogan attended Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida, dropping out of the latter to pursue his music plans full-time. He attended Championship Wrestling from Florida shows and revered “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and especially “Superstar” Billy Graham, who also had a massive physique, boasting his own “22-inch Pythons.”
In the early years, working his way up the ladder, Hogan wrestled in Memphis, appearing on a local talk show, where he sat beside Mr. Olympia contender Lou Ferrigno, star of the television series “The Incredible Hulk.” The host commented on how Hogan actually dwarfed “The Hulk.” As a result, Hogan began performing as Terry “The Hulk” Boulder.
As a heel facing the beloved Andre the Giant in the co-main event of the WWF Showdown at Shea in 1980 put him on a superstar level pathway. Later feuding with AWA Champ Nick Bockwinkel started to turn him into a top fan favorite. Wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling also was instrumental in his escalation to the top, but it was WWF/WWE that took him to a new level.
‘Hogan Knows Best’
In the early 2000s, he starred in a reality show, “Hogan Knows Best,” that followed him and his family as they faced the challenges presented by his career and raising kids in the spotlight. The show lasted four seasons.
Hogan had two children with his first wife, Linda, whom he divorced in 2009. At the time of his death, Hogan remained close with 34-year-old son Nick, a DJ at his dad’s Clearwater Beach bar, Hogan’s Hangout. But the sports icon was apparently estranged from daughter Brooke, who told her social media followers earlier this year that she wanted no contact with both parents.
Hogan did seem to be on good terms with Linda, who posted a throwback picture of them together over the weekend.
“The good old days,” said Linda’s caption.
Hogan has weathered other out-of-the-ring scandals throughout his long career. About a decade ago, he won millions after suing now defunct Gawker Media for posting a sex tape of him with Heather Clem, then the wife of radio host Todd Clem, aka Bubba the Love Sponge, who was behind the camera.
Ironically, Bubba dropped the bombshell rumor a few weeks ago that Hogan was in poor health.
“If you did some sniffing around, you might find him in a hospital near you and it’s not good,” Hogan’s former friend said on his show back in June. “I got some pretty reliable information last night that there are phone calls being made to various family members about getting to town to come say your goodbyes.”
Hogan also raised a few eyebrows when he revealed himself to be a staunch MAGA supporter, appearing at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 to endorse then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Hulk had also shown his support for Barack Obama at one point.)
“Let Trumpmania make America great again!” he yelled to the screaming crowd.
Hogan is survived by his third wife Sky Daily, his two children Brooke (Steven Olesky) and Nick, and two grandchildren, Oliver and Molly.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71 in Florida, family confirms."
