The dynamic wrestler died on Thursday, July 24, from cardiac arrest.

Where’s Hulk Hogan’s famous family now? Revisiting Hogan Knows Best 20 years later

The dynamic wrestler died on Thursday, July 24, from cardiac arrest.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a former editor at **. He left EW in 2023.

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Published on July 24, 2025 05:04PM EDT

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- Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan led a VH1 reality series, *Hogan Knows Best*, from 2005 to 2007.

- His then-wife, Linda, and their children, Brooke and Nick, costarred on the show, which chronicled their lives and passions.

- The family has mostly grown estranged from each other in the decades since.

Hulk Hogan played many roles throughout his long, colorful, and controversial career.

Though many will forever remember him as professional wrestling royalty, the mustached strongman — who was also known as Terry Bollea — was a movie star, host, musician, businessman, restauranteur, and, in his later years, political pundit.

He also led *Hogan Knows Best*, a VH1 reality series following Hulk and his family for four seasons from 2005 to 2007. The show was canceled amid familial turmoil that included allegations of infidelity against Hulk and a serious car accident involving his son, Nick.

On July 24, Hulk died at age 71 from cardiac arrest. Below, we review the former wrestler's life and what his famous family has been up to since *Hogan Knows Best* ended two decades ago.**

Hulk Hogan​, a.k.a. Terry Bollea

Hulk Hogan at the 'War of the Worlds' premiere in June 2005; Hogan in Cleveland in February 2025.

Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty; Jeff Haynes/NBAE/Getty Images)

Born Terry Gene Bollea but best known by his wrestling moniker, Hulk Hogan was a ubiquitous presence in the 1980s and 1990s, having been a controversial but seminal figure in professional wrestling.

In the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) — later rebranded as the WWE in 2002 — Hulk drew in younger audiences as a patriotic hero whose theme song encouraged fans to "fight for what's right, fight for your life!"

He successfully subverted expectations, however, when he pivoted to the World Championship Wrestling (WCW), joining fellow WWF alums Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in forming the villainous nWo on July 7, 1996. Hogan's heel turn was decried by audiences, but it nevertheless helped pave the way for a grittier, more modern era of sports entertainment, one whose influence carries on to this day.

Hulk capitalized on his fame with acting roles in films (*Rocky III, Mr. Nanny*) and on TV (*Thunder in Paradise, Walker, Texas Ranger*). In 2005, he recruited his then-wife Linda, daughter Brooke, and son Nick for a VH1 reality show, *Hogan Knows Best*. It was a commercial success.

A central focus of the series was Hulk's relationship with his teenage daughter, Brooke, who was pursuing a pop music career while also wading into the dating pool. On the show, Hulk presented himself as strict and protective of Brooke, warning her away from many potential suitors.

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While under oath during the infamous Bollea v. Gawker trial in 2016, Hulk revealed that he signed on for the show to help pay for Brooke's music career and also to help save his marriage to Linda, per Fox News. He also admitted that the show was "lightly scripted," meaning that many scenes were shot "two or three times."**

Hulk became a lightning rod in the years following the series' 2007 finale. In 2015, a sex tape recorded in 2007 was leaked, along with a transcript of Hulk admitting to being "a racist, to a point," while also using racist slurs to describe a Black man dating Brooke, per the *New York Times*.

He apologized in the aftermath, saying in a statement to PEOPLE that it was "unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language," adding, "I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise.”

Still, the entertainer was fired from the WWE, where he had recently returned as a host and performer, though he claimed to have resigned. Hulk was also removed from the WWE Hall of Fame, though the company reinstated him in 2018. He went on to make several more appearances at WWE events up until his death.

Hulk and Linda divorced in 2009. He was then married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 until 2021 and soon began dating Sky Daily, a yoga instructor. In October 2023, Hulk and Daily were married in Clearwater, Fla.

In July 2024, Hulk delivered a memorable speech at the Republican National Convention. He evoked his wrestling persona by ripping off his shirt and rallying the audience to “let Trumpamania run wild, brother.”**

Linda Hogan at the MTV VMAs; Linda at Sushi Samba in Miami Beach.

Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage; Linda Hogan/Instagram

Linda Hogan, born Linda Claridge, married Hulk in 1983 and costarred with him on *Hogan Knows Best*.

Hulk claimed that he signed up for the series in part to help heal his marriage. But in a 2006 interview on *The Howard Stern Show*, Linda touched on how the stress of shooting the series could have her and Hulk at each other's throats.

"We can endure, it's just that sometimes it's the superficial stuff on the surface that is just hard to deal with," she said. "It's stressful with cameras in the house... Sometimes, we hate each other."

Linda filed for divorce in 2007. The following year, she alleged in E! News via her publicist that Hulk had an affair with Christiane Plante, a friend of Brooke's. Hulk, speaking through his lawyer, called the claim a "pathetic plea for attention."**

After years of contentious legal battles, the divorce was finalized in 2009, according to PEOPLE.

In 2008, the 48-year-old Linda began dating 19-year-old Charlie Hill, and the couple later appeared on the 2012 season of VH1's *Couples Therapy*. She and Hill broke up that same year, and he went on to sue her for $1.5 million, claiming he was forced to perform "menial labor" for her, per the *Miami Herald*. The lawsuit was later dismissed.**

Linda also wrote a book, 2011's *Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes*, in which she characterized her relationship with Hulk as "abusive." Hulk filed a civil suit against her in response, claiming she and the book "harmed the reputation of Mr. Bollea, exposed him to distrust, hatred, contempt and ridicule," per the *LA Times*.

Earlier this year, Linda shared a video on her social media in which she called Hulk a "liar" and a "sex addict," and admitted she hadn't seen Brooke in eight years.

“I've given him more opportunities to come back and make up the family,” she said of Hulk. “It’s been 20 years and I’m still this sad. Somebody please explain that. I do love living alone. I don’t ever want to be married again after him, trust me.” **

Brooke Hogan

Brooke Hogan at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005; Brooke via her Instagram in 2025.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Brooke Hogan/Instagram

Brooke Hogan was 17 years old when *Hogan Knows Best* premiered, emerging as its breakout star due to her dating drama and dreams of pop stardom.

Working with successful producer and songwriter Scott Storch, Brooke's debut album, *Undiscovered* (2006), landed in the *Billboard* 200. The first single, "About Us," reached the top 40 of the *Billboard* Hot 100.

Following the cancellation of *Hogan Knows Best*, Brooke led her own VH1 reality series, *Brooke Knows Best* (2008–2009), which saw her living on her own in South Beach while navigating the music industry and coping with her parents' divorce.

She went on to release another album, 2009's *The Redemption*, and a pair of EPs, 2015's *I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend *and 2018's *So Many Summers. *She continues to share new music, having released multiple singles over the past several years.

Brooke has since taken after her dad by joining Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as an onscreen manager from 2012 to 2013.

She also appeared in films like *2-Headed Shark Attack* (2012) and *L.A. Slasher *(2015), and lent her voice to the Adult Swim animated series *China, IL* (2012–2013). In 2017, she appeared on an episode of the Netflix hit *Glow*, a fictionalized take on the real-life Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

After calling off her engagement to former Dallas Cowboys player Phil Costa in 2013, Brooke married Steven Oleksy on June 8, 2022, in Orlando. Earlier this year, Brooke gave birth to twin boys. She also often promotes her design company, BB Designs by Brooke, on her social media.

After Linda revealed that she hadn't spoken to Brooke in eight years, Brooke responded via Instagram.

"I have completely separate reasons for going no contact with each of my parents," she wrote. "No contact with my mom has nothing to do with my dad, and no contact with my father has nothing to do with my mother . . . what I'm about to say is not pointed at either person. It is my own personal truth."

She went on to claim that she was "extremely verbally and mentally abused since childhood," noting that it would "frequently turn physical."

She continued, "Cycles must be broken... At this point, my husband, my children, and my relationship with God is my priority. There have been more than enough chances and reprieve given. It has to stop, it ends now."**

Nick Hogan in 2005; Nick via his Instagram in 2023.

Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic; Nick Hogan/Instagram

Nick Hogan was 14 when *Hogan Knows Best* premiered. The show highlighted Nick's passion for motorsports, which led to the youngest Hogan earning a Formula D competition license from Formula Drift in 2006.

Tragically, Nick got into a serious car accident in August 2007 while driving after consuming alcohol, resulting in the passenger, John Graziano, suffering brain damage. According to ABC News, Graziano's injuries resulted in him needing 24-hour nursing care.**

Nick pleaded no contest to charges of felony reckless driving, and was sentenced to eight months in Pinellas County Jail, of which he served six.

“He was moving through life and maybe not real appreciative of things,” Hulk told PEOPLE in 2008. “When this happened, it totally spun him in a 180. … It’s the best thing that ever happened to him. I’m not saying it’s a good thing. But it happened for a reason.”

Nick addressed the accident during a 2010 appearance on *Good Morning America*. “I pray every day that I will be able to deal with it," he said, citing his guilt over Graziano's injuries. "It’s still at this point it’s too much to think about. It’s something that I carry with me every day.”

In 2023, Nick was arrested for driving under the influence. According to Ringside News, he was sentenced to a year of probation, a $1,000 fine, and a court-mandated alcohol monitoring system.

Nick married Tana Lea, an adult film actress, in January 2024.

In June, he shared a photo of him as a child with Hulk. "Had a great Father’s Day with the goat!" he wrote. "Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome dads!"**

Where can I watch Hogan Knows Best?

You can rent or buy episodes and seasons of *Hogan Knows Best* via Amazon Prime Video or Apple.

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