Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dead at 71

Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan died on Thursday, July 24, his family confirms to Us Weekly. He was 71.

Hogan suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, according to the Clearwater Police Department. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. TMZ was first to report the news.

Hogan’s death comes after Us Weekly exclusively reported in June that he was recovering from a major operation on his heart.

“Hulk had pretty serious heart surgery a few weeks ago and was doing well afterward,” a source told Us at the time.

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Born in Augusta, Georgia, in August 1953, Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) grew up in Port Tampa, Florida, and began watching wrestling as a teenager. He made his professional debut in August 1977 and earned his “Hulk” nickname after appearing on a talk show alongside Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno, whom the host noticed was actually smaller than the 6-foot-7 Hogan.

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Hogan skyrocketed to fame after he joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) — which would later become known as WWE — in 1979, adopting the name Hulk Hogan after WWF owner Vince McMahon Sr. suggested he use an Irish surname. He won the WWF heavyweight title in 1984, which launched “Hulkamania” and brought increased popularity to the sport. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the New World Order wrestling group.

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Outside of wrestling, Hogan pursued an acting career, with memorable roles in the films Rocky III in 1982, No Holds Barred in 1989, Suburban Commando in 1991 and Mr. Nanny in 1993. He also starred on the action-adventure TV show Thunder in Paradise in 1994 and helmed a VH1 reality show with his family titled Hogan Knows Best, which aired for four seasons from 2005 to 2007.

Hulk Hogan. Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

As for his personal life, Hulk was married to Linda Hogan (née Claridge) from 1983 to 2009. The exes welcomed daughter Brooke in May 1988 and son Nick in July 1990.

Hulk was subsequently married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 to 2021.

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Hulk tied the knot with his third wife, Sky Daily, in September 2023.

After retiring from wrestling in 2012, Hulk revealed in a 2023 Men’s Health interview that his body had “shut down” on him, leading to more than 20 surgeries on his back, knees, hips and face in approximately a decade. As a result, he changed his lifestyle, losing weight, exercising and eating better.

“I feel great,” he said at the time. “Without all the other extra stuff, you actually feel alive because a little bit of pain makes you know you are alive.”

Hulk is survived by wife Daily, his children, Brooke and Nick, and his grandkids, Oliver and Molly. Prior to his death, Us confirmed that the Hogan family was estranged, with Brooke not being on speaking terms with her parents.