Latest news with #Mr.Nanny
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's roles as movie star, media crusader and MAGA hypeman had a major impact outside of the ring
Hulk Hogan, who died Thursday at the age of 71, will be remembered as a true icon of professional wrestling. His extraordinary star power helped turn the wrestling industry into a global phenomenon that rivals traditional sports in reach, income and cultural impact. As important as his wrestling legacy is, though, the man born Terry Gene Bollea also made a mark in other ways. These are some of the most memorable roles he played outside of the ring. TV and movie star Hulk Hogan and Madeline Zima in Mr. Nanny from 1993. (New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock) Hogan's larger-than-life tough guy persona seemed a perfect fit for the hyper-macho aura that defined action movies of the 1980s and '90s. His first acting performance was arguably his most successful, when he played a wrestler known as Thunderlips in 1982's Rocky III. He got his first starring role seven years later, again playing a character inspired by his wrestling persona, in No Holds Barred. The film was a commercial failure and was absolutely panned by critics. His next two movies, Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny, received similar receptions. Hogan didn't have much luck on TV either. His show Thunder in Paradise, which debuted in 1994, was canceled after one season. Advertisement Though his attempts to become a leading man failed, Hogan had a long list of memorable guest spots and cameos in a wide variety of projects over the decades, including Suddenly Susan, Muppets in Space and The Goldbergs. Reality star Terry (Hulk) Hogan sits surrounded by his now ex-wife Linda, daughter Brooke and son Nick for the second season of their VH1 reality hit, Hogan Knows Best, which aired in the mid-2000s. (Michael Albans/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) Hogan had much more success on the screen when he wasn't playing a character at all. In 2005, VH1 aired the first episode of Hogan Knows Best, which chronicled his everyday life with his wife and two children, Brooke and Nick. The show was a big hit, bringing in the network's largest audience ever for a premiere episode at the time. The show lasted for four seasons before being abruptly canceled amid a series of scandals within the family, including a car crash involving Nick Hogan that left his friend seriously injured. Hogan Knows Best helped Brooke achieve modest success as a recording artist and as the star of her own reality show, Brooke Knows Best. Media crusader Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, takes the oath in court during his trial against Gawker Media at the Pinellas County Courthouse in March, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (John Pendygraft/Getty) Hogan was at the center of one of the most important media legal battles in recent history. In 2012, the popular gossip and news site Gawker published portions of a video showing Hogan having sex with a friend's estranged wife. With the financial backing of right-wing tech billionaire Peter Thiel, Hogan sued on the grounds that Gawker had violated his privacy and caused him emotional harm. A jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $140 million in total damages. Advertisement The case drove Gawker Media, one of the defining media brands of its era, into bankruptcy. Its flagship site was shut down in 2016. Some of its other properties — including Deadspin, Gizmodo and Jezebel — remained in operation under new ownership but have never come close to achieving the heights they reached while they were under the Gawker umbrella. MAGA hypeman Hulk Hogan speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former President Trump at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024 in New York City. () Hogan's wrestling persona was emphatically pro-American, but politics wasn't a major part of his personal brand until the 2024 presidential race. Last year, he became one of President Trump's most vocal celebrity supporters. He touted 'Trumpamania' during what Trump called an 'absolutely electric speech' at the Republican National Convention last July, in which Hogan revived his signature move of tearing his shirt to shreds. He put on a similar show during a Trump rally in New York a few weeks before Election Day. 'In politics, celebrity endorsements rarely go viral. But by thinking BIG — and retro … Trump's team might have managed just that,' Yahoo's Andrew Romano wrote after Hogan's convention speech.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Hulk Hogan's Hollywood era: From cult classics to reality TV fame
Hulk Hogan carved out a career for himself in Hollywood after making a name for himself in the wrestling ring. The WWE star, who died Thursday at age 71, starred in a mix of action films, family comedies and reality TV hits that cemented his place as a true pop culture icon. Hogan was rushed to the hospital after medics responded to a call from his Clearwater, Florida, home about a cardiac arrest. Here's a look back at his iconic Hollywood roles, from "Rocky III" to "Hogan Knows Best." Hulk Hogan made his acting debut in 1982 alongside Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky III." He portrayed the wrestling champion of the world, Thunderlips. In the film, Hogan took part in a major exhibition match opposite Stallone. Stallone recalled filming the movie in a tribute to Hogan. "I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old," Stallone wrote on Instagram. "He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made 'Rocky' three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he's gone…" In 1989, Hulk Hogan landed his first lead role in the film "No Holds Barred." Hogan starred as Rip Thomas in the action-packed drama directed by Thomas J. Wright. Hulk Hogan later took on a new persona in family comedy. He starred in the 1993 film "Mr. Nanny" as Sean Armstrong. In the movie, Hogan portrayed a retired pro wrestler who takes on the role of bodyguard and ends up becoming a nanny for two mischievous children. On top of his lead acting roles, Hulk Hogan often appeared as himself. The WWE star made cameos in a handful of films. In "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," Hogan made a cameo appearance as himself when he breaks the fourth wall to get the movie back on track. Hogan also appeared as himself in "Muppets from Space." Portraying his own wrestling persona, Hogan was called in to flush Rizzo the Rat down a tube into a rat testing facility. Hulk Hogan's final lead movie role was in the 2009 film "Little Hercules." Hogan portrayed Zeus in the fantasy adventure movie. The motion picture was a modern-day take on the "Hercules" classic, in which the Greek hero travels from Mount Olympus to Earth to experience mortal life in Los Angeles. Hogan's fans got to see a different side of the pro wrestler when his movie career blossomed to include reality TV. Hogan's show, "Hogan Knows Best," aired from 2005 until 2007. At the time, Hogan was married to Linda Hogan. The couple had two kids, Brooke and Nick. "Hogan Knows Best" documented Hogan's relationship with his family along with his journey to return to the ring for SummerSlam 2006. He wanted fans to see the softer side of the wrestling hero they had burned into their memory. "People are locked into this one-dimensional view that Hulk Hogan is just a wrestler with a bald head that screams and body-slams people," Hogan said in an early episode. "[They] don't realize that I go to soccer games, play frisbee, watch 'The Lion King' and start crying." Hollywood tributes poured in shortly after Hogan's death was revealed. Brooke Shields took to Instagram to remember the wrestling pro. "Rest easy, Hulk. This moment and his entire guest episode on 'Suddenly Susan' was a true highlight. Sending love to all of his loved ones today." Mario Lopez admitted being starstruck by Hogan, writing: "Grew up running wild like a true Hulkamaniac. The only celebrity I've ever been truly starstruck by when I met. Hearing about Hulk Hogan's passing hits deep – feels like a piece of my childhood is gone. The bandana, the flex, the leg drop, the larger-than-life energy… he was the superhero for so many of us. Rest easy brother… Forever a legend." Lee Greenwood said, "Our hearts are with the Hogan family, the millions of fans, and friends across the world as we mourn this heartbreaking loss. #HulkHogan." He shared two photos of himself with Hogan.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's best movie roles, including 'Rocky III' (Thunderlips is here!)
Hollywood Hulk Hogan was more than just a nickname that Hulk Hogan embraced during his villainous heel turn days as a professional wrestler. The flamboyant 6-foot-7-inch Hogan (born Terry Gene Bollea) embraced Tinseltown, body-slamming into movies after throwing Sylvester Stallone's Rocky around the ring as giant wrestler Thunderlips in 1982's "Rocky III." Hollywood didn't always hug him back. Hogan, who died on July 24 at 71, the gaudy patriarch of the VH1 reality series "Hogan Knows Best" (2005-07), never achieved the movie-crossover success of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He also leveled critics while setting the wrong kind of box-office records with some of his over-the-top films. But with his flowing blond hair, muscle-bulging physique and larger-than-life persona, Hogan made movie impact – even if it was often a crashing sound. Here are Hogan's most memorable roles. 'Thunderlips is here!' announced Hulk Hogan's 'Rocky III' entrance Hogan's bicep-kissing entrance as Thunderlips in the third "Rocky" movie and his ensuing ring battle are brief but unforgettable. Billing himself as "the ultimate male," Hogan bellowed, "Thunderlips is here!" entering the ring in a charity match against Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Described as "nearly 7 feet tall" by the ring announcer, Thunderlips towered over Rocky before throwing the heavyweight around like a tomato can. Naturally, Rocky impossibly triumphed in the charity mismatch. But what a movie entrance, in a prime Hollywood franchise! 'No Holds Barred' (1989): Cult classic that brought 'Rip 'em!' Hogan's first lead movie role, as wrestler Rip Thomas, was tailor-made for his wrestling persona. Though critically panned, "No Holds Barred" became a cult favorite among wrestling fans due to its over-the-top ring theatrics, villains like Zeus (former NFL star Tom 'Tiny' Lister), and Rip's wrestling ring battle cry of, wait for it, "Rip 'em." It might just be the best bad movie ever. Hogan crash-landed on Earth in 'Suburban Commando' (1991) Hogan starred as intergalactic warrior Shep Ramsey, forced to lie low in American suburbia after a spaceship crash-landed in the action comedy. The pro-wrestler/alien-out-of-water movie was a box-office dud and a critical disaster. Packed with sci-fi gadgets incorporating groan-worthy special effects, slapstick humor, and early roles for Christopher Lloyd and Shelley Duvall (along with a young Elisabeth Moss), "Suburban Commando" found a second life on home video. Hogan later made an interstellar cameo appearance in "Muppets from Space" (1999), portraying himself as a "Man in Black." Hogan guarded kids in 'Mr. Nanny' (1993) On the heels of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop" (1990), Hogan played for kiddie-induced action laughs as former wrestler Sean Armstrong, who's tasked with serving as a bodyguard to two unruly kids. "Mr. Nanny" was another box-office bomb ($4.3 million) and critical dud that found renewed life on home video. Hogan ho ho ho-ed the line in 'Santa with Muscles' (1996) There had to be a Hulk Hogan Santa Claus movie (with biceps). Hogan played Blake Thorn, a conceited millionaire who truly believes he is Santa Claus after escaping from police in a mall Santa outfit. Despite an early film appearance by Mila Kunis and the best '90s Bad Santa line ever ("Fax me, you little brat"), "Santa with Muscles" was critically derided and an extreme box-office lump of coal with a total of $220,000 during two weeks in theaters. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hulk Hogan's best movies roles, from 'Rocky III' to 'Mr. Nanny'
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Hulk Hogan's best movie roles, including 'Rocky III' (Thunderlips is here!)
Hollywood Hulk Hogan was more than just a nickname that Hulk Hogan embraced during his villainous heel turn days as a professional wrestler. The flamboyant 6-foot-7-inch Hogan (born Terry Gene Bollea) embraced Tinseltown, body-slamming into movies after throwing Sylvester Stallone's Rocky around the ring as giant wrestler Thunderlips in 1982's "Rocky III." Hollywood didn't always hug him back. Hogan, who died on July 24 at 71, the gaudy patriarch of the VH1 reality series "Hogan Knows Best" (2005-07), never achieved the movie-crossover success of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He also leveled critics while setting the wrong kind of box-office records with some of his over-the-top films. But with his flowing blond hair, muscle-bulging physique and larger-than-life persona, Hogan made movie impact – even if it was often a crashing sound. Here are Hogan's most memorable roles. 'Thunderlips is here!' announced Hulk Hogan's 'Rocky III' entrance Hogan's bicep-kissing entrance as Thunderlips in the third "Rocky" movie and his ensuing ring battle are brief but unforgettable. Billing himself as "the ultimate male," Hogan bellowed, "Thunderlips is here!" entering the ring in a charity match against Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Described as "nearly 7 feet tall" by the ring announcer, Thunderlips towered over Rocky before throwing the heavyweight around like a tomato can. Naturally, Rocky impossibly triumphed in the charity mismatch. But what a movie entrance, in a prime Hollywood franchise! 'No Holds Barred' (1989): Cult classic that brought 'Rip 'em!' Hogan's first lead movie role, as wrestler Rip Thomas, was tailor-made for his wrestling persona. Though critically panned, "No Holds Barred" became a cult favorite among wrestling fans due to its over-the-top ring theatrics, villains like Zeus (former NFL star Tom 'Tiny' Lister), and Rip's wrestling ring battle cry of, wait for it, "Rip 'em." It might just be the best bad movie ever. Hogan crash-landed on Earth in 'Suburban Commando' (1991) Hogan starred as intergalactic warrior Shep Ramsey, forced to lie low in American suburbia after a spaceship crash-landed in the action comedy. The pro-wrestler/alien-out-of-water movie was a box-office dud and a critical disaster. Packed with sci-fi gadgets incorporating groan-worthy special effects, slapstick humor, and early roles for Christopher Lloyd and Shelley Duvall (along with a young Elisabeth Moss), "Suburban Commando" found a second life on home video. Hogan later made an interstellar cameo appearance in "Muppets from Space" (1999), portraying himself as a "Man in Black." Hogan guarded kids in 'Mr. Nanny' (1993) On the heels of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop" (1990), Hogan played for kiddie-induced action laughs as former wrestler Sean Armstrong, who's tasked with serving as a bodyguard to two unruly kids. "Mr. Nanny" was another box-office bomb ($4.3 million) and critical dud that found renewed life on home video. Hogan ho ho ho-ed the line in 'Santa with Muscles' (1996) There had to be a Hulk Hogan Santa Claus movie (with biceps). Hogan played Blake Thorn, a conceited millionaire who truly believes he is Santa Claus after escaping from police in a mall Santa outfit. Despite an early film appearance by Mila Kunis and the best '90s Bad Santa line ever ("Fax me, you little brat"), "Santa with Muscles" was critically derided and an extreme box-office lump of coal with a total of $220,000 during two weeks in theaters.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan: The larger-than-life icon behind pro wrestling's global takeover
Back in pre-internet Britain, light entertainment television shows were a sacred terrain. With just four channels to go around — and one of them reserved for more serious programs — spots on talk shows were generally held for the most universally accessible celebrities: footballers, soap stars and the occasional children's entertainer. Given the modest budgets of our television networks, booking an American celebrity was usually a risk in its own right. But to book an American wrestler? That would have been almost entirely unheard of — at least until Hulk Hogan came along. It's true that the WWF had some success with its live shows at this point. Just a few months before the Hulkster popped up on 'Pebble Lane' — one of the BBC's particularly twee magazine shows — in 1993 to answer questions about whether wrestling was fake, the company had brought SummerSlam to Wembley. The event had drawn a 70,000-strong crowd, but you wouldn't know that from watching mainstream British television In the minds of the BBC commissioners — and a decent chunk of the British public — wrestling was the sort of thing they'd seen on 'World of Sport': the cherished British institution which had turned beefy blokes from provincial towns into matinee idols for a Saturday afternoon audience. It was kitsch, yes, but that was how most of us liked it. The WWF, by contrast, was brash and bombastic. It was violent and un-PC, and would have likely been instantly pigeonholed by television bosses as the sort of thing that was bound to turn their audiences off and prompt angry letters calling for their sacking. As it turned out, though, all it needed was the right salesman — and that was Hulk Hogan. In truth, he probably only got booked as he happened to be promoting one of his unsuccessful Hollywood films at the time (the critically panned 'Mr. Nanny'). But once Hogan stepped out onto that stage, it didn't matter. Within a short six-minute segment, British television had found its most interesting character of the week. Soon, he was popping up across the channels, both in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, instantly growing into his role as WWF's international ambassador. It wouldn't have been news to Vince McMahon, who knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Hogan on his international media offensive. But from my (admittedly unreliable) perspective as a primary school child in the east of England, it suddenly seemed as if this larger-than-life character was everywhere I looked. It wasn't just the talk shows — which, as a kid, I hardly watched anyway — but the lunchboxes, magazine adverts, the GameBoy cartridges, the WWF video cassettes and all of the other paraphernalia that seemed to suddenly be sporting the image of this perma-tanned American hero sent to save us from boredom this summer holiday. How many other impressionable primary schoolers became wrestling fans due to Hulk Hogan? Of course, it's impossible to say, but looking back you can clearly see the causation from Hogan being thrust onto our cultural radar and the WWF becoming a mainstream entertainment product in the UK. Reliable viewings from the time are hard to find. There's also the fact that WWF's UK broadcast partner, the newly established subscription service Sky, made some bizarre decision which almost certainly held it back (the historian John Lister charts some of them here). But without Hogan, it's hard to imagine the WWF building the fanbase it did. If you speak to wrestling folks, they certainly credit him. Indeed, if you go to certain independent shows over here, you'll still meet those 'World of Sport' veteran types who dislike Hogan for launching what they see as the great Americanization of wrestling. Some resent the fact they had to dress as American characters to get booked in the ludicrous 'tribute shows' that were sweeping British towns, with local bruisers pretending to be the Legion of Doom. It's a unique kind of heel heat that Hogan probably never even knew he ever generated. Of course, these days WWE's cultural impact is broadly the same as it is Stateside. But you'll still spot the occasional testament to Hogan's enduring cultural legacy — like the fact that so many British men want to dress as him when they go on 'stag dos' (our take on bachelor parties) that most party stores will stock a handful of Hogan costumes ready to go. I always smile when I see one of these inebriated Hogans trying to imitate his muscle flex after six pints. By the same vein, we're all well aware of the controversies that dogged the man over his career. If he'd have appeared at the last WWE show in London back in March, I don't doubt the crowd would have booed him just as loudly as they did during the famous Netflix premiere. Maybe even louder, given how we tend to do these things over here. No matter how hard we would have jeered, though, I don't doubt there would have been a hell of a lot of fans in that building who would have known — deep down — that he played a big part in them being there in the first place. And, for that, we will always remain grateful.
