Hulk Hogan’s official social media accounts are paying tribute to the pro wrestling legend following his death July 24 at age 71.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend. Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones,” read a statement posted on Hogan’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.
“May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades. He will be missed, but never forgotten,” it added.
The statement, which was shared alongside a 1991 photo of Hogan in a wrestling ring, asked the former WWE stars’s fans to respect the privacy of his family and friends.
Hogan, who was born Terry Bollea, died July 24 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, according to a statement the Clearwater Public Safety Department shared with NBC News.
In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Major Nate Burnside said he died at 11:17 a.m., just over one hour after a 911 call came in.
โWWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop cultureโs most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hoganโs family, friends and fans,โ the wrestling organization said in a statement.
Hoganโs manager, Chris Volo, told NBC Los Angeles that the former wrestler was surrounded by family members when he died.
After becoming a household name in the 1980s thanks to his over-the-top antics in the wrestling ring, Hogan went on to appear in several films and TV shows.
In 1982, he played a wrestler who takes on Rocky Balboa in the third installment of the โRockyโ film franchise and later starred in the VH1 reality series โHogan Knows Best” with his then-wife, Linda Hogan, and their two kids, Brooke and Nick.
Just days before her ex-husband’s death, Linda Hogan shared a throwback pic of the former couple on Instagram, captioning it, “The good old days!”
In addition to his son and daughter, the wrestling giant is survived by his wife, Sky Daily.
