Hulk Hogan, the iconic face of professional wrestling in the 1980s who parlayed his
prowess in the ring into an acting career, has died at the age of 71.
According to report on Thursday, Hogan a Hall of Fame talent known for his towering
two-meter physique, bandana and distinctive blond handlebar mustache died at his
home in Florida.
Hogan whose real name is Terry Bollea 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.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
The wrestler was embroiled in controversy more than a decade ago after an intimate
video of him leaked, and then again a few years later for his use of racist language,
including a slur referring to Black Americans.
The latter caused him to be fired from WWE in 2015. He later apologized for his actions
and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Hogan is said to have suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from
the years of abuse his body took in the ring.
Meanwhile, tributes from the wrestling world, political sphere and Hollywood have been
pouring in, with many remembering him as an "American pop culture fixture.
