BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONALITY OF A FAMOUS LEO: HULK HOGAN

Wrestler, actor. Born Terry Gene Bollea, on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia. Bollea is the youngest son of Pete Bollea, a construction foreman and Ruth Bollea, a homemaker and dance instructor. Bollea acquired an interest for wrestling in high school. He went on to study at Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida. However, in spite of his education, his interests remained in the ring, and he never received his degree. Instead, he chose to devote his time to working out in a local gym, owned by wrestlers Jack and Jerry Brisco. Encouraged by these two brothers, Bollea spent a few months wrestling on some small circuits in the Southeast.

In 1979, Bollea's talent caught the attention of Vincent McMahon Sr., the legendary promoter/owner of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the most prominent wrestling league in the Northeast. McMahon gave Bollea an opportunity to join the WWF - along with a new identity. Because of his massive physique (he stood 6"8" and weighed 303 pounds) and resemblance to the comic book hero the Incredible Hulk, McMahon suggested that Terry assume the name Hulk Hogan.

In 1980, Hogan had his debut bout against the fierce Andre the Giant. Hogan won the match, along with the respect and support of wrestling fans throughout the country. Actor Sylvester Stallone was so impressed by Hogan's performance that he cast him as "Thunderlips the Ultimate Male" in his 1982 movie Rocky III.

In 1984, Hogan was awarded the WWF championship belt for his memorable defeat of the Iron Sheik and Hogan, along with the related phenomena of "Hulkamania," rose to super-stardom. Hogan would hold this title for three more years during which his success continued to bolster public fascination with professional wrestling.

By 1985, Hogan had acquired tremendous popularity among Americans. His image was marketed to sell a multitude of products, and he began to take on leading roles in a number of films. In 1989, Hogan starred in a wrestling movie titled No Holds Barred. While this film had moderate success, Hogan was seen in a number of box office disasters, which included Mr. Nanny (1993) and Santa with Muscles (1996).

The success Hogan enjoyed in the 1980s was counteracted by the failure he endured through the early 1990s. Accused of providing anabolic steroids to its wrestlers, the WWF underwent a turbulent trial in which Hogan was called to testify against his former boss Vince McMahon Jr., (who succeeded his father as the WWF owner). Hogan's admission of his drug abuse forced him to terminate both his wrestling and film careers.

Hogan surprised everyone by making a remarkable comeback to the wrestling arena in 1996. He re-invented himself as "Hollywood" Hogan, established himself as a villain and, once again, secured his popularity among wrestling fans. Hogan joined media tycoon Ted Turner's WCW (World Championship Wrestling) as part of the New World Order, a wrestling team that paired Hogan with two other wrestlers, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. This infamous triumvirate gained immense support from wrestling fans and, ultimately, returned Hogan to the success of his past.

Hogan's career as a professional wrestler has spanned over two decades, and he remains to be one of the sport’s most recognized figures. He is most noted for his accomplishments in bringing the WWF to the public arena. He is also largely responsible for the immense popularity of wrestling as a form of family entertainment. Hogan is married to Linda Bollea, and they have two children, Nicholas and Brooke.

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