Terry Bollea, known for decades as Hulk Hogan, has died at the age of 71. It was the kind of celebrity death that you didn't need to be reading the internet or on social media or getting the breaking news email from the New York Times to find out about. It was the kind of celebrity death where out in the world you hear people talking about the fact Hulk Hogan died.
As a figure of pop culture, Hulk Hogan is truly significant. More than anybody else, he paved the way for professional wrestling, and professional wrestlers, into the mainstream.
Notably, Hogan actually played the totally-normally-named Thunderlips in "Rocky III" prior to signing with WWF (now, of course, WWE) in 1983. Professional wrestling used to be regional in scope, and a niche interest in general. Hogan hitting the WWF helped change that, as did the introduction of WrestleMania as an event. Of course, the Hulkster and WrestleMania go hand-in-hand. He became a true blue celebrity, a crossover star. People who didn't watch wrestling knew Hulk Hogan. You'd find him in TV ads and participating in other cameos. Later, Hogan joining WCW, the WWF's rival company, helped validate that organization and the birth of the so-called Monday Night Wars. Such was Hogan's fame he could, say, have a pasta restaurant in the Mall of America.
Hogan's fame was so great, and his popularity so vast, he got acting roles. Lead acting roles. Sure, it started with "No Holds Barred," a movie about wrestling. Hogan wasn't asked to stretch his chops out of the gate. However, there was also "Suburban Commando" and "Mr. Nanny" and "Santa with Muscles." Plus, his TV show "Thunder in Paradise."
Now, we will note these projects were uniformly bad. Hogan, unsurprisingly was not a natural thespian. He also wasn't particularly good on the mic as a wrestler and, to many, also wasn't even that good at wrestling. None of that changes the fact that he remains one of the biggest wrestlers in the history of wrestling and became a movie star based on his popularity as a pro wrestler.
Hogan, in that sense, walked so Dwayne Johnson or John Cena could run. Both of those guys actually can act, of course. Other wrestlers have gotten opportunities in the wake of Hogan's acting career and, while most failed, they got a chance. Hogan and his family even got a reality show, one clearly drafting off the success of "The Osbournes."
Say what you will about Hulk Hogan, he was the blueprint for the path from pro wrestler to celebrity. Important, significant cultural figures need not be saints. Hogan's legacy on that front is remarkable.
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