Hulk Hogan, the wrestling star turned vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71.
Hogan’s manager Chris Volo told NBC Los Angeles that Hogan, given name Terry Gene Bollea, suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and died surrounded by his family.
Rumors about Hogan’s health have swirled for weeks, after he reportedly was hospitalized. Last week, his wife, Sky, denied rumors that he was in a coma, stating that his heart was “strong” after multiple operations.
Instantly recognizable from his blonde horseshoe mustache and bandannas, Hogan was one of the most popular wrestling stars of the 1980s and considered one of the greatest of all time. Known for his ring theatrics and sizable physique – in his prime, Hogan clocked in at 6ft 7in and weighed 320lb (145kg) – he helped transform professional wrestling into home entertainment, primarily through his partnership with Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the performance routine known as Hulkamania.
The entertainment company confirmed Hogan’s death and mourned its former star in a statement on X: “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has 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.”
“The Hulkster” headlined WrestleMania, WWE’s signature event, eight times, including a seminal showdown in 1987 with his 520lb mentor Andre the Giant at Michigan’s Pontiac Silverdome, before a then record crowd of 93,173. Hogan won the WWE championship six times during his career.