Hulk Hogan’s Sudden Death: Friends Recall Emotional Final Hours and Deathbed Heartbreak
Hulk Hogan, 71, Dies Amid Family Estrangement and Health Struggles
Hulk Hogan (born Terry Bollea), the wrestling icon and pop culture legend, died of a cardiac arrest at his Florida home on Thursday. While celebrated for his charisma and career triumphs, his final years were marked by a heartbreaking rift with his daughter Brooke, 36, and health challenges that left him with “the body of a 140-year-old man,” per sources.
[Image: Hogan with Brooke, Linda, and son Nick at the 2005 War of the Worlds premiere in New York.]
A Family Divided
Hogan hadn’t spoken to Brooke in nearly eight years. Though he held hope for reconciliation, their strained relationship weighed heavily on him. Sources say he maintained a close bond with son Nick, 34, but Brooke’s absence left a void. Earlier this year, Brooke hinted at childhood “verbal and mental abuse” without naming her parents, though TMZ reported she shared a final “I love you” with Hogan before his death. Her husband, NHL player Steven Oleksy, reportedly tried mediating peace.
[Image: The Hogan family on their reality show Hogan Knows Best, which catapulted Brooke to fame.]
Ex-Wife Linda’s Grief and Accusations
Linda Hogan, 65, Hogan’s ex-wife of 24 years, aired frustrations in a tearful March video, lamenting Brooke’s estrangement and Hogan’s alleged infidelities. She claimed he was a “sex addict” and “liar,” while also mourning Brooke’s silence: “She’s had twins, got married, didn’t tell us.” The couple’s 2007 split followed their son Nick’s high-profile car crash, which left a friend permanently injured. Linda’s post-divorce life included a DUI arrest and a short-lived relationship with a teenager.
[Image: Linda Hogan in her emotional March video rant.]
Scandals and Legal Battles
Hogan’s controversies followed him beyond the ring. In 2012, he was caught in a sex tape scandal with his friend’s wife, leading to a $31 million lawsuit against Gawker. The case, bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel, reshaped media privacy laws. Later, a 2015 recording revealed Hogan using racial slurs, sparking backlash that lingered into his final WWE appearances.
[Image: Hogan and Donald Trump in 1987; Hogan later endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign.]
Legacy and Unresolved Struggles
Despite public setbacks, Hogan embraced his larger-than-life persona, launching a beer brand and campaigning for Trump. Privately, he grappled with chronic pain from wrestling, undergoing neck surgery weeks before his death. Yet insiders say his greatest sorrow was the fractured bond with Brooke. “He was heartbroken but hoped to fix it,” a source shared.
[Image: Hogan with young Brooke and Nick in a vintage family photo.]
Hogan’s death leaves a complex legacy: a trailblazing entertainer beloved by fans, yet haunted by personal turmoil. Survived by Linda, Nick, Brooke, and third wife Sky Daily, his story underscores the stark contrast between public fame and private pain.
[Image: Hogan affectionately nuzzles a young Brooke in a throwback snapshot.]
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