Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died Thursday. He was 71.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said.
The Hall of Fame talent – known for his towering 6'7" (two-meter) physique, bandana and blond handlebar mustache – was ubiquitous during his heyday, acting in film and television, appearing in video games and promoting a range of products.
He also courted his share of controversy, first when a sex tape featuring him leaked, and again when a recording of him using racist language, including a slur referring to Black Americans, resurfaced in 2015.
In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump.
"One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s," World Wrestling Entertainment said on social media. "WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans."
Hogan's wrestling skills and magnetic personality as a heroic all-American in the ring transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a multi-billion-dollar empire.
"Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!" retired wrestler Ric Flair said on social media.
From local gym to Hall of Fame
Hogan was born on August 11, 1953 in the southern US state of Georgia to a construction worker father and a dance teacher mother. The family moved to Florida when he was a toddler.
After dropping out of university, Hogan was spotted at his gym by local wrestlers and was quickly swept into competitions.
His nickname came about in part because of comparisons to the Marvel superhero The Incredible Hulk, featured at the time in a television series.
He first competed in 1979 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) but became a mainstay and fan favorite in the mid-1980s alongside others like Andre the Giant and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
At age 48 in 2002, in the waning days of his competitive career, he even battled Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
His brand of "Hulkamania" transferred to the small and big screen, with roles in films such as Rocky III, No Holds Barred and TV's Baywatch.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
But the scandal over his use of racial slurs led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He later apologized for his actions and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame.
When the tape emerged of Hogan having sex with a woman who was not his wife in 2012, Hogan filed suit against Gawker Media and won a US$140mil judgment for invasion of privacy.
He eventually accepted a settlement of US$31mil, but the case divided media and press freedom advocates after it was revealed that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel had funded Hogan's case as part of an effort to drive Gawker out of business.
Gawker shut its site down months after the verdict.
Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring.
He was married three times, and had two children with his first wife Linda. – AFP
