Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Icon and Pop Culture Phenomenon, Dies at 71
TAMPA, Fla. — Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life professional wrestling superstar whose charisma, physique, and showmanship transformed the sport into a global spectacle, died Thursday at the age of 71, the WWE confirmed. His cause of death was not disclosed.
Born Terrence Gene Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most recognized faces in sports entertainment. Standing well over six feet tall — though his exact height became the stuff of his own tall tales — and weighing more than 300 pounds in his prime, Hogan embodied the very image of a wrestling superstar.
He made his Madison Square Garden debut in December 1979, beginning a career that would span more than three decades. Under the bright lights and roaring crowds, Hogan won 12 world championships and twice earned induction into the WWE Hall of Fame — first in 2005 as an individual, and again in 2020 as part of a wrestling faction. His career reached such cultural heights that Sports Illustrated once declared, “Hulk Hogan is to pro wrestling what Babe Ruth was to baseball.”
With his signature blond handlebar mustache, trademark bandanas, and “24-inch pythons,” Hogan turned wrestling into theater, engaging in legendary rivalries with the likes of Sgt. Slaughter, André the Giant, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. His brash persona and undeniable charisma pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream, helping to create the billion-dollar entertainment empire WWE is today.
But Hogan’s reach extended beyond the ring. He starred in 15 films, beginning with his memorable turn as Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982), and became a fixture on television with appearances on The Love Boat, WWE Raw, and his VH1 reality series Hogan Knows Best (2005–2007). At the height of his fame, he walked red carpets, served as Cyndi Lauper’s bodyguard at the 1985 Grammys, and became a pop culture staple.
His journey to superstardom began far from the spotlight. Raised in South Tampa, Florida, Hogan was teased as a child for his size and weight. He found solace in music, sports, and eventually professional wrestling, idolizing stars like Dusty Rhodes. After a stint in community college and a series of odd jobs, he began training in small wrestling gyms, performing under various stage names before catching the eye of WWE founder Vince McMahon Sr. McMahon gave him the “Hogan” moniker and encouraged him to dye his hair red; instead, Hogan opted for the bleach-blond look that would define his image.
Hogan’s career was not without controversy. He admitted to steroid use, weathered lawsuits, and in 2015 was fired from the WWE after past racist remarks came to light. In 2018, after public apologies and charitable work, he was reinstated into the Hall of Fame. “I have a ton of scars,” Hogan told the Los Angeles Times in 2019. “I’m not perfect, but it’s about standing up, owning it, and moving forward.”
The physical toll of his career was steep. Years of high-impact performances left him with chronic pain, arthritis, and nerve damage. “My tailbone is bent from landing on my ass 400 times a year,” he told Rolling Stone in 2009. “My back’s got all kinds of problems. My legs get numb. My hands are numb. My neck, too.”
Despite his flaws and battles, Hogan’s legacy remains monumental. His bombastic entrances, crowd-pumping theatrics, and the simple rallying cry of “Whatcha gonna do, brother?” became part of wrestling history. To millions of fans, he was more than an athlete — he was a larger-than-life character who made them believe in heroes.
In a 2014 WWE interview, Hogan reflected on the persona that defined him: “The character of Hulk Hogan is impeccable. It’s made me a much better person. Without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
Hogan is survived by his children, Brooke and Nick, and a fanbase that spanned generations — each of whom can still hear the roar of the crowd when “Real American” played and The Hulkster took to the ring one last time.