With his flowing blond mane, bulking muscles and patriotic persona, Hulk Hogan was one of the first mainstream professional wrestling stars, helping propel a regional and fractured sport into an international juggernaut watched by millions.

Hogan, who died Thursday at 71, was instrumental to the industry’s rise in the 1980s, becoming a crossover figure who appeared in movies, late-night talk shows and commercials. His journey laid the blueprint for Dwayne Johnson, John Cena and others to travel the now-familiar pathway between wrestling and Hollywood.

Here are some key moments showcasing how Hogan parlayed athletic success into acting gigs and endorsement deals.

1982

‘Rocky III’

Hogan goes to Hollywood

Hogan was still early in his wrestling career when he accepted his first acting role, stepping into “Rocky III” to spar with Sylvester Stallone. The role in a major movie franchise introduced Hogan to a wider audience and presaged his wrestling ascent.

In the movie, Hogan played a wrestler known as Thunderlips who took on Rocky (Stallone) in a match for charity. Thunderlips was not unlike Hogan’s wrestling persona: Even in limited screen time, he is bloviating and egocentric, calling himself “the ultimate male” and praising the size of his muscular arms.