Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling, and Chuck Mangione, a prolific composer and musician, both icons in their respective fields, have passed on. Hogan was 71, while Mangione was 84.
Hogan, who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died Thursday. Mangione, on the other hand, died on July 22.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said.
The Hall of Fame talent — known for his towering 6’7″ (two-meter) physique, bandana, and blond handlebar mustache — was ubiquitous during his heyday, acting in film and television, appearing in video games, and promoting a range of products.
He also courted his share of controversy, first when a sex tape featuring him leaked, and again when a recording of him using racist language, including a slur referring to Black Americans, resurfaced in 2015.
In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump.
“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” World Wrestling Entertainment said on social media. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Hogan’s wrestling skills and magnetic personality as a heroic all-American in the ring transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a multi-billion-dollar empire.
Musician non-pareil
Mangione released 30 albums in his career, winning a Grammy in 1977 for best instrumental composition (“Bellavia”) and another in 1979 for best pop instrumental performance (“The Children of Sanchez”).
He also won a Golden Globe for the soundtrack of the movie “The Children of Sanchez.”
“The family of Chuck Mangione is deeply saddened to share that Chuck peacefully passed away in his sleep at his home in Rochester, New York, on July 22, 2025,” the family said in a statement.
A celebrated composer and virtuoso flugelhorn and trumpet player, Mangione began taking music lessons at age 8 and played in a jazz combo with his pianist brother, Gap, during his high school years.
His 1977 single “Feels So Good,” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It went as high as No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart in 1978, next to the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack.
Mangione also composed “Give it All You Got,”which became the theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
“His appreciation for his loyal worldwide fans was genuine as evidenced by how often he would sit at the edge of the stage after a concert for however long it took to sign autographs for the fans who stayed to meet him and the band,” his family said.
Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. But the scandal over his use of racial slurs led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He later apologized for his actions and was reinstated to the Hall of Fame.
He memorably appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention that would seal Trump’s nomination — tearing his shirt off to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top.
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way—Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,” Trump said on social media.
“He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”
Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring. In the 1990s, he admitted under oath that he had used anabolic steroids at the peak of his career.
He was married three times and had two children with his first wife Linda. AFP
