Actors - Hulk Hogan

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	Actors - Hulk Hogan

Terrence Gene Bollea (born August 11, 1953 in Augusta, Georgia), best known professionally as Hulk Hogan (and occasionally Hollywood Hulk Hogan), is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently the star of the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best, which is in its second season, and also makes occasional appearances for World Wrestling Entertainment on the RAW brand.

During his 1980s heyday wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation as the wholesome babyface character "Hulk Hogan," Terry Bollea became the highest-drawing, most popular wrestler in the history of the business. After flagging popularity, a steroid scandal, "retirements," and lawsuits damaged his momentum in the 1990s, he signed with WWF rival, World Championship Wrestling.

He later turned heel in July 1996, re-energizing and redefining his career as the greedy and manipulative villain Hollywood Hogan as part of the nWo. After WCW went out of business in Spring of 2001, Hogan made his comeback to the company that made him a mega-star, the WWE, in February 2002.

During his long career, he appeared and starred in several movies and TV shows and now makes occasional World Wrestling Entertainment appearances and manages the music career of his daughter Brooke Hogan.

Hogan is now officially recognized as a fifteen-time world heavyweight champion, since his two American Wrestling Association title reigns were validated in April 2005. His loyal fans are referred to as "Hulkamaniacs." Hulk Hogan was also the spokesperson for the Legends of Wrestling video game.

Hogan was born Terrance "Terry" Gene Bollea to Italian-American Pete Bollea, and Ruth Bollea, who is of French, Italian and Panamanian descent. Early in life, Terry Bollea was a standout in minor league baseball and also spent ten years playing bass guitar in several Florida-based rock bands, including Ruckus and Infinity's End. Many of the wrestlers who competed in the Florida territory at that time would visit the bars in which Bollea was performing. Bollea's impressive physical stature soon caught the attention of former top-drawing wrestler Jack Brisco and his brother Gerald, both of whom convinced Bollea to give wrestling a try. Bollea had been a wrestling fan since childhood and was eager to give it a chance. He trained for nearly two years under the watchful eye of legendary wrestler, Hiro Matsuda, a hard-nosed taskmaster who casually (and to instill respect, purposefully) broke Bollea's leg during their first training session.

Bollea wrestled his first professional match in Tallahassee, Florida on August 19, 1977 as The Super Destroyer, wrestling B. Brian Blair to a draw. Terry also used other ring names early in his career, including Terry "The Hulk" Boulder and Sterling Golden. In those formative years, Bollea would go on to win his first wrestling championships, the National Wrestling Alliance Southeastern Heavyweight Championships recognized in Alabama and Tennessee, respectively. Bollea even had an early shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, with it's holder generally recognized as the industry's #1 wrestler, in January 1979, facing NWA kingpin Harley Race.

World Wrestling Federation: the first run

On November 13, 1979 Bollea made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation as a heel and was given the name "The Incredible" Hulk Hogan by Vincent James McMahon, then the majority owner of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (at the time, the parent company of the Federation). In his debut, Hogan wrestled three matches in Allentown, Pennsylvania during one of the Federation's marathon television tapings. Hogan was victorious in all three bouts, squashing Harry Valdez in the first match, Paul Figueroa in the second, and Ben Ortiz in the third. One month later on December 17, Hogan made his Madison Square Garden wrestling debut, defeating Ted DiBiase in 11 minutes, 12 seconds.

The later, official explanation for the "Hulk Hogan" moniker was that many considered Bollea to be physically bigger than Lou Ferrigno, who at the time was starring in the popular TV series The Incredible Hulk. McMahon also wanted him to be a tough, working-man brawler with a possible Irish background at the same time, thus the name "Hogan." A deal was later struck with Marvel Comics to use the "Hulk" name. In February 2005, Bollea himself purchased the rights to the name "Hulk Hogan."

Hogan started out in the WWF as an arrogant heel, clad in a golden cape and managed by the late "Classy" Freddie Blassie. During his first run with the WWF, Hogan feuded intensely with WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund, "Mr. U.S.A." Tony Atlas, and a man he had met previously in the deep South and would see much more of down the road in his career: the 6'10", 520-pound André the Giant. Hogan and André would go on to clash in a historic match on August 9, 1980 in front of 36,295 fans in Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY. This was part of the WWF's Showdown At Shea event. In 1981, Sylvester Stallone personally offered him a part in the movie Rocky III
. Industry etiquette demanded that he first ask for his boss'( Vincent J. McMahon ) permission. McMahon said no, but Hogan took the part anyway, expecting the role to dramatically increase his profile and earning potential. McMahon fired Hogan, who would not appear with the company again for several years.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Hulk Hogan ]

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Actors - Hulk Hogan

World Wrestling Federation: the first run

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