(NEXSTAR) – Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, a household name also known for his work in Hollywood, and, more recently in politics, has died at the age of 71.
In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Police said Hogan was pronounced dead at local Morton Plant Hospital, according to Nexstar’s WFLA.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.
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Muhammad Ali, left, Liberace, center, and Hulk Hogan get together at Madison Square Garden in preparation for their upcoming wrestling event, March 29, 1985, in New York. Ali will be guest referee and Liberace time keeper when Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, of A-Team fame, are pitted against Rowdy Roddy Piper and Paul (Mr. Wonderful) Orndorff. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler) -
Wrestler Hulk Hogan prepares to slam “Rowdy” Roddy Piper down on the mat during “WrestleMania,” a wrestling extravaganza at New York’s Madison Square Garden, March 31, 1985. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine) -
Entertainer Dolly Parton, wearing a wedding dress, is shown with 300-pound wrestler Hulk Hogan during taping of a television special in Los Angeles, Ca., on Sept. 14, 1987. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith) -
World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan, right, faces off against Andre the Giant at a New York press conference on Feb. 3, 1988 to promote their upcoming bout on “The Main Event,” an NBC prime time special to be aired Feb. 5th. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) -
Former heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali, left, is pictured staring down wrestling’s Hulk Hogan as the two meet at New York City’s Planet Hollywood Wednesday, October 6, 1993. Hogan was at the restaurant to donate his pink tutu from his new movie, Mr. Nanny to their movie memorabilia collection when Ali came in for lunch. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) -
Cyndi Lauper with Hulk Hogan on Feb. 26, 1985. (AP Photo) -
Muhammad Ali shown with Liberace, Hulk Hogan on March 29, 1985 at Madison Square Garden for Wrestle Mania in New York City. Ail will referee match. Liberate will be timekeeper. (AP Photo/David Pickoff) -
Pro-wrestler Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, and 6-year-old actress Madeline Zima wait for the directors cue while filming on the set of the comedy “Mr. Nanny,” Thursday, June 11, 1992, Miami, Florida. Hogan plays Sean Armstrong, a former wrestler hired to protect two wealthy children. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) -
Hulk Hogan, right, and actor David Hasselhoff at the Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) -
Flanked by his attorneys Morris Sandy Weinberg, left, and Kevin Hayslett, Nick Bollea takes the oath to tell the truth in front of Pinellas County Judge Phillip Federico, before being sentenced to eight months in county jail Friday, May 9, 2008, in Clearwater, Fla. The 17-year-old son of wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan was sentenced after he pleaded no contest to causing a crash that seriously injured his best friend. (AP Photo/Pool, Joseph Garnett Jr.) -
Comedienne Joan Rivers shown with ?Hulk? Hogan in 1985. (AP Photo) -
Dr. George T. Zahorian III, center, an osteopath from Harrisburg, Pa., poses with Vince McMahon, left, and wrestler Hulk Hogan in 1988. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) -
Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman confronts Utah Jazz’s Karl Malone as Show host Jay Leno attempts to break it up during taping of the show, Wednesday, June 7, 1998 in Burbank, California With them is Hulk Hogan. Malone and Rodman are scheduled to wrestle July 12 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) -
In this April 4, 1989 file photo, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, top, has challenger Hulk Hogan in a headlock during the main event for Wresltemania V in Atlantic City, N.J. Savage, whose legal name is Randy Mario Poffo, died in a car crash in Florida on Friday, May 20, 2011, according to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report. (AP Photo/B. Vartan Boyajian) -
Reality TV star and former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, looks on as his attorney David Houston speaks during a news conference Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 at the United States Courthouse in Tampa, Fla. Hogan says he was secretly taped six years ago having sex with the ex-wife of DJ Bubba “The Love Sponge” Clem. Portions of the video of Hogan and Heather Clem were posted on the online gossip site Gawker. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) -
FILE – In this April 3, 2005, file photo, Hulk Hogan fires up the crowd between matches during WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles. Banished nearly three years ago from the wrestling organization in disgrace, the Hulkster is holding out hope for a reunion this year with the sports entertainment giant. Hogan would love to bust out the red-and-yellow colors for the “Raw” 25th anniversary show on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, and join fellow wrestling greats in celebration of WWE’s longest-running show. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) -
Real estate developer Donald Trump holds the World Wrestling Federation Championship belt as he flanked by Wrestlers Hulk Hogan, left and Andre the Giant at a news conference Tuesday, March 15, 1988 in New York announcing “WrestleMania IV” on March 27 at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. The belt will be under 24 hour guard at the hotel until the undisputed WWF Champion is crowned. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan) -
FILE – World Wrestling Federation heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan, left, and Mr. T. appear at a news conference on Sunday, March 18, 1985, in New York’s Madison Square Garden. From the start, WrestleMania was born to be different. (AP Photo/Corey Struller) -
Terry Bollea, also know as Hulk Hogan, left, and his daughter Brooke listen as Bollea’s son Nick is sentenced to eight months in county jail Friday, May 9, 2008 in Clearwater, Fla. The 17-year-old son of the wrestling superstar was sentenced after he pleaded no contest to causing a crash that seriously injured his best friend. (AP Photo/Joseph Garnett, Jr., POOL) -
Actor Hulk Hogan throw doubloons during the Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, the weekend before Fat Tuesday Feb. 5. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
Terry “Hulk” Hogan speaks as he sits beside his wife, Linda, during an interview June 22, 2005 in New York. Hogan and his family will star in the upcoming VH1 reality show “Hogan Knows Best.” (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
The WWE said in a statement Thursday that it was “saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” adding that he was “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 statement continued.
Ric Flair, Hogan’s friend and a familiar rival inside the ropes, mourned the news in a social media post, saying, “I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan!”
The post continued:
“Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business,” he wrote on X. “An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!”
Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.