Hulk Hogan Biography

According to pro-wrestling legend, Hogan met wrestler Jack Brisco while working as a bouncer. Brisco immediately saw his potential, and arranged for him to be trained by the famous Hiro Matsuda.

Hulk Hogan debuted as an amateur in 1978, and six years later he won his first WWF title. He defeated Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden to capture the crown. Months earlier he had won his first major title in Japan. He developed a hero image, particularly popular with children.

He was highly influential in making wrestling appeal to a mainstream audience. His fight against Roddy Piper in 1985 became a prelude to the extremely popular 'Wrestlemania' TV series.

Hulk Hogan was the star of the early 'Wrestlemania'. In its second year, he routed King Kong Bundy, in a match fought in a cage. A year later, he beat top wrestler Andre the Giant. However, he was defeated in 1990 by the Ultimate Warrior, and decided to concentrate on things other than wrestling.

For the next five years, he threw himself into making movies such as 'Gremlins II', 'Suburban Commando', 'Mr Nanny' and the 'Thunder in Paradise' series and also appearing on TV. He came to be known as Hollywood Hogan and a cartoon series was also produced, in which he was the star.

He returned to wrestling in 1994 and in that same year he became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. But two years later, he went too far, seriously injuring wrestler Randy Savage. Even Hogan's supporters were disgusted with his behaviour.

By 2000, however, he had regained his hero status, and shortly afterwards he announced his retirement. During his career, he won seven World Titles. Before his retirement he had appeared in a number of comedy, action and martial arts movies, including 1996 films 'Spy Hard' and 'Santa with Muscles'. Other movies that capitalised on his hard man persona include 1997's 'The Ultimate Weapon' and 'Assault on Devil's Island', as well as '3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain' (1998) and 2001's 'Walker, Texas Ranger'.

Despite his macho image, he has also worked hard for charity, supporting the American Diabetes Association alongside the likes of Laila Ali, the daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali, and the Jonas Brothers. Hogan has also dabbled in marketing through endorsement of the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer and once opened a restaurant, which did not succeed. In 2005, he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame.

His marriage to Linda, whom he wedded in 1984 and with whom they have two children, Nick and Brooke, came to an end when she filed for divorce in Pinellas County, Florida, in November 2007. She revealed a year later that the decision to end the marriage was triggered by Hogan's infidelity. The wrestler had had an affair with daughter Brooke's best friend Christiane Plante during the shooting of 'Hogan Knows Best', a television show featuring the family.

Despite revealing that he considered suicide after his wife left him, Hogan has since moved on and married new flame Jennifer McDaniel in December 2010.