Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, the family confirmed in a statement posted on social media.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend,” the statement began.
“Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones. At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.
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“May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades.
“He will be missed, but never forgotten.”
In a press conference, police confirmed medics were called to his home in Clearwater, Florida, just before 10am on Thursday (midnight Friday AEST). Hogan was taken to hospital but died at 11.17am (1.17am on Friday AEST).
Police say there was no suspicious activity surrounding his death, which is suspected to have been caused by a heart attack.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) was among the first to pay tribute to its star, who the company dubbed “one of pop culture’s most recognisable figures”.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“One of pop culture’s most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Sylvester Stallone, who starred on-screen alongside Hogan in Rocky III led the celebrity tributes to the wrestler.
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“I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,” Stallone said.
“He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks.”
Other famous fans were also quick to take to social media to share their tributes, with Donald Trump Jr among the first.
“R.I.P to a legend. HULK HOGAN,” he captioned a photo of the two of them on X.
US Vice President JD Vance also paid tribute to one of the biggest celebrity supporters he and eventual US President Donald Trump had on the campaign trail last year.
“Hulk Hogan was a great American icon,” Vance wrote.
“One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other.
“The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”
Country music singer Lee Greenwood shared photos of himself and the wrestler seemingly taken at the RNC.
“Our hearts are with the Hogan family, the millions of fans, and friends across the world as we mourn this heartbreaking loss,” he captioned the post.
TV personality Piers Morgan also reacted to the “sad news” on social media.
“RIP Hulk Hogan – the most iconic wrestler in history, a wonderful character, and in person, a far gentler, charming, intelligent man far removed from his snarling beast ring (and Rocky movie!) persona,” he wrote in a post on X.
Wrestling legend Ric Flair shared his disbelief at the news about his friend, saying “no one will ever compare” to him.
“Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father!” Flair wrote.
“Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask for him to be.”
Ailing health a concern in his final days
Hogan had recently experienced “some adverse reaction” following an otherwise successful neck surgery, his friend Eric Bischoff said in a statement last month.
Since then his health had been the subject of a number of rumours including that the popular personality was in a coma and others saying he was on his “deathbed”.
His wife Skye quashed the reports, saying her husband was “strong” after the procedure and recovering.
The news of Hogan’s death comes just two days after Jimmy Hart, Hogan’s ex-manager and long-time pal, was quoted as saying the star “can’t speak”.
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“Hogan’s not doing well. He he can’t speak,” Hart reportedly said, according to American radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge on The Bubba Army.
“His trachea or whatever was damaged and he’s having problems and it does not look good. It does not look at all.”
The show said a hospital security guard told them Hogan was transferred home recently, saying he was “hooked up to two machines”.
“They’ve gone as far as they can go at the hospital now,” he quoted the security guard as saying.
“They just they’re keeping him comfortable at his house in a hospital bed.
“He’s not in such dire needs that he needs to be in close proximity to an emergency facility. He’s stable enough to be at home, but you know, rather than just be sitting here getting bed sores and muscle atrophy at at Morton Plant, I can at least be home, get doctors and nurses to swing by my place to continue to check up on me.
“But I’ve been told that that’s where he’s at now. And the security guard said the measures that they went to to make sure nobody saw him transported in an ambulance to his home was like Michael Jackson type stuff.”
In a podcast appearance last year, Hogan said he’d had “25 surgeries in the past decade”.
“Ten of them were back surgeries. I’ve had both knees and hips replaced, shoulders — everything,” he told Jake Paul on his Impaulsive podcast.
Hogan, who was born Terry Gene Bollea in 1953, became a larger-than-life character in the world of professional wrestling through the 1980s and into the early ’90s, sparking “Hulkamania” as it was called.
His celebrity-status translated outside of the wrestling world too, with Hogan appearing in a number of movies and television shows over the years, as well as starring in reality TV show Hogan Knows Best.
He was back in the headlines in particular last year for his support on the campaign trail for US President Donald Trump and made an appearance on-stage at the Republican National Convention.
He’s survived by his third wife, Skye, and his two children, reality TV personalities Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan, who he shares with first wife Linda Claridge.
Hogan was a grandfather of two.
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