Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, whose charisma and shirt-ripping showmanship brought professional wrestling to new heights of mainstream popularity, died Thursday in Florida, officials said.
He was 71.
Hulk Hogan in 1991. Brian Aris / Camera Press / Redux
Clearwater police and firefighters rushed to his home to answer a “cardiac arrest” call at 9:51 a.m., according to a city statement.
First responders then took him “to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased,” the statement added.
Hogan died surrounded by loved ones, manager Chris Volo told NBC Los Angeles.
Hulk Hogan in Melbourne, Australia, in 2009.Mark Dadswell / Getty Images file
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement.
“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
He’d become a fixture in Republican politics in recent years and appeared at last year’s GOP convention, ripping open his shirt to hype then-candidate and former President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, paid tribute to him on X with stars and stripes emojis alongside “R.I.P to a legend.”
Hogan — whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea — earned fame for his theatrical wrestling performances, but became a household name after making appearances in several films and television shows.
Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan on set of the movie “Rocky III” in 1982.Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images file
He famously appeared in the third installment of the “Rocky” film franchise in which he took on the title character, played by Sylvester Stallone, in a fight between wrestler and boxer.
Hogan’s family had a reality series on VH1 in the mid-2000s named “Hogan Knows Best,” following the lives of his then-wife, Linda, and their two children, Brooke and Nick.
Hulk Hogan in Fayetteville, Ark., in 2024.Wesley Hitt / Getty Images file
The show was canceled in 2007 after his son was seriously injured in a car accident in Clearwater and was charged with reckless driving.
Linda Hogan filed for divorce the same year, ending more than two decades of marriage.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Carla Kakouris
