Hulk Hogan, the wrestling icon and actor who grew to become essentially the most acknowledged star within the sport, has died, the WWE confirmed. He was 71.

Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, grew up in Florida. The WWE Corridor of Fame wrestler, identified for strolling out to his theme track “Actual American,” represented nationwide patriotism inside the wrestling world. He soared to fame within the Eighties after profitable towards the Iron Sheik and cementing “Hulkamania” momentum in some of the culturally impactful matches of his profession. That battle made him the World Wrestling Federation’s heavyweight winner.

He later misplaced the championship title competing towards Andre the Large in 1988. Hogan stepped away from the WWF (now often called WWE) within the Nineteen Nineties after a steroid controversy. The ’90s additionally noticed the wrestler additional his appearing pursuits. He had already performed a component in 1982’s “Rocky III,” and his Hollywood profession continued with roles in 1990’s “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” 1991’s “Suburban Commando,” 1993’s “Mr. Nanny” and 1996’s “Santa With Muscle mass.”

Hogan determined to battle for World Championship Wrestling, a WWE competitor, in 1994. He debuted his heel persona, Hollywood Hogan, in 1996, and rejoined WWE within the early 2000s.

In 2012, the web information outlet Gawker revealed a intercourse tape of Hogan and Heather Clem, who was married to Hogan’s buddy, Bubba the Love Sponge. Hogan then sued Gawker and received $140 million in an notorious authorized battle that shut down the outlet and led to a debate over on-line privateness and First Modification rights.

Though Hogan was inducted into the WWE Corridor of Fame in 2005, the group eliminated that honor in 2015 in gentle of his use of a racial slur in one other intercourse tape. He was reinstated in 2018.

Hogan was a supporter of Donald Trump and spoke in favor of the the candidate on the Republican Nationwide Conference in 2024.

Hogan is survived by his spouse, Sky Hogan, in addition to his ex-wife Linda Hogan and their kids, Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan. He and Linda Hogan’s marriage lasted from 1983 to 2009. He was additionally married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 to 2021.