Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) said Thursday, July 24. In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage, to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. Hogan contended the post violated his privacy. The lawsuit forced Gawker to shutter, and was closely watched by First Amendment experts and media lawyers alike.
Hogan's public persona has transcended the ring, making him a household name. He appeared in numerous movies – including the third Rocky film, where he took on the title character, played by Sylvester Stallone. Hogan also had a reality show about his life on VH1, called Hogan Knows Best in the early 2000s.
WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn the WWE Hall of Famer had passed away. "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," it said.