Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. His family confirmed he passed away on Thursday, July 24, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
The news comes just weeks after Us Weekly reported that Hogan had undergone major heart surgery. “Hulk had pretty serious heart surgery a few weeks ago and was doing well afterward,” a source shared at the time.
Born Terry Gene Bollea in August 1953 in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan was raised in Port Tampa, Florida. As a teenager, he became fascinated with professional wrestling, a passion that would soon shape his entire life.
He made his professional debut in August 1977, but it wasn’t long before his towering 6’7″ frame and magnetic charisma earned him national fame. After appearing on a talk show alongside Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno, the host pointed out that Hogan was actually bigger—earning him the nickname “Hulk.”
In 1979, Hogan joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as WWE, and was encouraged to adopt the name “Hulk Hogan.” In 1984, he won the WWF heavyweight title, igniting the phenomenon known as “Hulkamania.” His unmatched popularity helped usher in a golden era for professional wrestling.
Over the years, Hogan became a two-time WWE Hall of Famer—once as an individual in 2005 and again in 2020 as part of the New World Order wrestling group.
Outside the ring, Hogan pursued acting, appearing in “Rocky III” (1982), “No Holds Barred” (1989), “Suburban Commando” (1991), and “Mr. Nanny” (1993). He also starred in the TV series Thunder in Paradise and the VH1 reality show “Hogan Knows Best,” which aired from 2005 to 2007.
In his personal life, Hogan experienced both joys and trials. He was married to Linda Hogan from 1983 to 2009 and had two children, Brooke and Nick. He later married Jennifer McDaniel (2010–2021), and in September 2023, he wed Sky Daily, who was by his side until the end.
In recent years, Hogan opened up about the toll wrestling took on his body. After retiring in 2012, he told Men’s Health in 2023 that he had undergone more than 20 surgeries in a decade, including procedures on his back, hips, knees, and face. These challenges sparked a change in how he lived. “I feel great,” he said. “Without all the other extra stuff, you actually feel alive because a little bit of pain makes you know you are alive.”
But perhaps the most important transformation in Hogan’s later years wasn’t physical—it was spiritual.
In 2013, Hulk Hogan was baptized at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida. Sharing the moment with his fans on Instagram, Hogan called it the “greatest day of my life.”
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” he wrote. “No worries, no hate, no judgment, only love!”
Photos and video from the baptism show Hogan smiling as he rose from the water. He was wearing white, donning a silver cross necklace and a white bandana—his signature style, now symbolic of a new beginning.
His wife, Sky, was also baptized that day, with Hogan lovingly assisting her as she was submerged in the water.
The church later shared the powerful moment, writing, “God is doing amazing things at Indian Rocks.”
Hulk Hogan leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond the wrestling ring. He is survived by his wife, Sky; his children, Brooke and Nick; and his grandchildren, Oliver and Molly.
More than just the “Immortal” icon of wrestling, Hogan is now remembered by many as a man who found peace in his faith and publicly declared his love for Jesus.