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Linda Hogan (TV personality)
Linda Hogan (TV personality)
Linda Hogan (TV personality)
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Linda Marie Claridge (born August 24, 1959), also known as Linda Hogan, is an American television personality who was the first wife of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. She is best known for her role on the American reality television show Hogan Knows Best.

Key Information

Early years

[edit]
Claridge in 1976

Claridge was raised Catholic and is of British and Irish descent. She is the older sister of actress Christie Claridge.[1] In 1977, she graduated from Chatsworth High School in California.[1] She was a winning contestant on Match Game in 1978.[2]

Career

[edit]

In 1995, Claridge appeared on Hulk Hogan's album Hulk Rules, where she sang back-up vocals along with The Wrestling Boot Band.[3] Claridge entered the spotlight in 2005 as "Linda Hogan", due to the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best. A 2005 documentary DVD on street racers, called Vehicular Lunatics, includes a segment with Claridge.[4] Claridge wrote a book, Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, which was published in 2011.[5] She appeared on the Season 3, episode 8 of Bar Rescue.

Personal life

[edit]

Claridge met Terry Bollea, known professionally as Hulk Hogan, in a restaurant in Los Angeles. For nearly two years, the couple had a long-distance relationship mostly over the telephone.[citation needed] They married in 1983 in a wedding attended by André the Giant, Vince McMahon, and other wrestling personalities. They have two children together, Brooke (1988) and Nick (1990). Claridge filed for divorce from Bollea on November 20, 2007.[6] The divorce was finalized on July 28, 2009.[7][8][9]

Claridge received media attention when she began dating Charlie Hill in 2008, when she was 48 and Hill was 19. Hill proposed to her on an episode of the VH1 reality television show Couples Therapy in 2012; the couple split up later that year.[10][11][12]

In October 2012, Claridge was arrested in Malibu, California, for driving under the influence, with an alcohol level of 0.084.[13] She pleaded guilty to DUI. She was released several hours later after posting bail.[14][15]

She has had a strained relationship with her daughter, Brooke.[16][17]

Claridge would pay tribute to her ex-husband following his death on July 24, 2025, writing on Instagram that his death came as a "big surprise" and that she had been hit "so hard" by the news, as well as reminiscing about their 26-year marriage.[18][19][20] On August 5, 2025, Claridge would attend her ex-husband's funeral service.[21][22][23]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Linda Hogan (TV personality)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Linda Hogan (born Linda Marie Claridge; August 24, 1959) is an American television personality, actress, and author best known as the first wife of professional wrestler and as the matriarch featured on the reality series . Hogan, who grew up in and graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1977, met Terry Bollea () in the late 1970s and married him on December 18, 1983, in a ceremony that marked the beginning of a high-profile union in the world of . The couple had two children: daughter Brooke, born in May 1988, and son , born in July 1990, both of whom later pursued careers in entertainment. Her television career gained prominence in the mid-2000s with (2005–2007), which chronicled the daily lives of in their home and became a hit for , running for three seasons before ending amid family scandals. Prior to that, she made early appearances in wrestling-related programming, including (1994) and (1995–2001), often alongside her husband. After the show's cancellation, Hogan appeared on (2012) and contributed to documentaries like . The Hogans' marriage faced public turmoil, leading to Linda filing for in 2007, which was finalized in July 2009 after a contentious battle over assets and custody; she received a significant settlement, including half of the couple's liquid assets. In 2011, she published her memoir Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, detailing her experiences in the marriage and family life. Following the divorce, Hogan briefly became engaged to model Charley Hill in 2010 but ended the relationship in 2012. In recent years, particularly after Hulk Hogan's death in July 2025, Hogan has spoken publicly about their shared history, estrangements— including an eight-year rift with daughter Brooke—and reflections on her ex-husband's legacy as a father and partner.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Linda Marie Claridge, known professionally as Linda Hogan, was born on August 24, 1959, in , . She spent her childhood in , growing up in a family with ties to the and design industries. She is the daughter of Joe Claridge and Gail Claridge, the latter an established interior designer and owner of Gail Claridge Designs, who often collaborated on high-profile projects, including home designs for her family. The Claridges provided a supportive environment that exposed Linda to creative pursuits from an early age, though specific details about her upbringing remain limited in public records. Linda has two siblings: a brother, Joe Claridge Jr., and a younger sister named Christie Claridge, who pursued a career in modeling and acting, notably winning the 1982 title and appearing in films such as Gotcha! (1985). The sisters maintained a close relationship, with Christie's achievements in pageantry and entertainment reflecting the family's inclination toward public-facing professions.

Education and early pursuits

Linda Marie Claridge, known professionally as Linda Hogan, was born on August 24, 1959, in , . Raised in a Catholic household of American, Australian, British, and Irish descent, she completed her at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, , graduating in 1977. Following her high school graduation, Hogan pursued entrepreneurial interests in the beauty industry by opening a beauty and on Devonshire Street in Chatsworth, . This venture marked her initial foray into business ownership shortly after completing her education. In 1978, she gained early media exposure by appearing as a contestant on the game show Match Game. These early endeavors laid the groundwork for her later transition into modeling and entertainment.

Professional career

Modeling and initial media exposure

Prior to her high-profile marriage, Claridge established herself as a model, leveraging her 5'8½" stature in the competitive Los Angeles scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As Hogan's fame escalated through WWE (then WWF) in the mid-1980s, Claridge—now known as Linda Hogan—began accompanying him to events, providing her with initial exposure in sports entertainment media and fan circles. Her on-screen debut came in 1994 with a role in the action-adventure series , starring her husband as a crime-fighting boat captain alongside co-stars and ; the show, produced by the creators of , aired briefly on cable before syndication. This was followed by appearances on in 1995, where she featured in segments related to her husband's wrestling promotions, further embedding her in professional wrestling's televised landscape. These early ventures transitioned her from modeling to a supporting role in media, laying the groundwork for her later prominence. Linda Hogan gained prominence in reality television through her central role in the VH1 series Hogan Knows Best, which premiered on July 10, 2005, and documented the daily life of the Hogan family, including her husband Hulk Hogan, daughter Brooke, and son Nick. The show portrayed Hogan as the family matriarch, often highlighting her efforts to manage household dynamics amid her husband's wrestling career and the children's pursuits in music and racing. Over four seasons and 43 episodes, it achieved ratings success for VH1, but was abruptly canceled in 2007 following a high-profile car accident involving Nick Hogan that resulted in serious injuries to a passenger and subsequent legal proceedings. Following the cancellation of , Hogan made guest appearances on the spin-off series in 2008, where she offered maternal advice to her daughter amid Brooke's solo career endeavors. These appearances underscored her ongoing involvement in reality programming tied to family themes, though they were limited compared to her starring role in the original series. The family's televised experiences also intersected with broader media scrutiny, amplifying Hogan's public persona as a figure navigating fame's challenges. In wrestling-related work, Hogan's visibility stemmed primarily from her marriage to , leading to on-screen appearances in (WCW) programming. She was credited as herself in starting in 1995, often accompanying her husband during matches and segments. Notable cameos included a 1998 episode where she appeared alongside a young in the audience, adding a family element to the broadcast. Additionally, Hogan featured in multi-woman entourage scenes, such as Hulk Hogan's 1996 feud with , where she joined other valets like and to support her husband. Hogan also contributed to wrestling-adjacent media, including a role in the 1994 action series , starring as a crime-fighting duo with high-tech boats, where she played a supporting character named Linda. Her involvement extended to vocal contributions on 's 1995 album Hulk Rules, providing backup vocals with The Wrestling Boot Band, blending her personal life with the wrestling entertainment industry. These efforts positioned her as a peripheral but recognizable figure in wrestling television during the WCW era. In 2019, she appeared in the (now ) documentary series , providing interviews for the episode on and .

Authorship and later ventures

Following the end of Hogan Knows Best and her divorce from Hulk Hogan in 2009, Linda Hogan turned to authorship as a means of sharing her personal experiences. In 2011, she published her Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes through . The book chronicles her 24-year marriage to professional wrestler Terry Bollea (), detailing their early romance, family life amid his wrestling career, and the marital breakdown marked by allegations of , emotional mistreatment, and her decision to seek . Hogan co-authored the work with Stephen Prigge, emphasizing her transition to a new life post-divorce, including a relationship with a younger partner. Hogan's later ventures included continued appearances on reality television, leveraging her public profile from the Hogan family shows. In 2012, she featured on VH1's Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn, where she and her then-fiancé Charley Hill underwent counseling to address relationship challenges, including family disapproval and age differences; the couple later split that year. The following year, in 2013, she guest-starred on an episode of Spike TV's Bar Rescue titled "Karaoke Katastrophe," assisting host Jon Taffer in revamping a struggling karaoke bar in Las Vegas by drawing on her entertainment background.

Personal life

Marriage to Hulk Hogan

Linda Hogan, born Linda Marie Claridge, met Terry Bollea (professionally known as ) in the early 1980s at the , a venue near . According to Hogan's 2009 memoir My Life Outside the Ring, Claridge asked him to dance, but he declined; he later bought her a drink, and he recalled being "completely hooked from day one." The couple maintained a for nearly two years, primarily through conversations, before deciding to marry. They wed on December 18, 1983, in after approximately 18 months of dating. The marriage coincided with Hogan's rising fame in , and the couple adopted the shared surname Hogan. Their union lasted 24 years and was marked by frequent travel due to Hogan's wrestling commitments, which often kept the family on the move across the . The Hogans welcomed their first child, daughter Brooke, on May 5, 1988, followed by son on July 27, 1990. Brooke and Nick grew up in the public eye alongside their parents' high-profile lifestyle, with the family residing primarily in during Hogan's peak wrestling career. Linda Hogan supported her husband's profession by managing family logistics amid his demanding schedule, including appearances at wrestling events. From 2005 to 2007, the couple starred in the reality series , which offered viewers an inside look at their family dynamics, home life in , and the challenges of raising teenagers in a celebrity household. The show highlighted Linda's role as the family's stabilizing force, often mediating between Hogan's strict style and the children's pursuits in music and . The series ran for four seasons and portrayed a seemingly close-knit unit, though it later faced scrutiny for glossing over underlying tensions.

Children and family dynamics

Linda Hogan and her ex-husband Terry Bollea (known professionally as ) share two children: daughter , born on May 5, 1988, in , and son , born on July 27, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. The family gained public visibility through the VH1 reality series (2005–2007), which depicted their daily life, including the children's pursuits—Brooke in music and modeling, and Nick in motorsports—while portraying a close-knit unit centered around their parents' high-profile careers. Brooke later starred in her own spin-off, (2008–2009), further highlighting her transition to independence. Following the couple's divorce in 2009, family dynamics became increasingly strained, particularly with Brooke. Linda Hogan has described a long-standing estrangement from her daughter, noting in a tearful video on March 26, 2025, that they had not been in contact for approximately eight years—stemming from a conflict between Brooke and around 2017 that also affected her relationship with Linda—exacerbated by broader post-divorce family issues over the 15 years since the separation. She expressed profound sadness over Brooke's private 2022 marriage to NHL player and the birth of their twins, Oliver and Molly, in January 2025, stating, "Brooke doesn't talk to us. She had twins, she got married [and] she didn't tell us," and lamenting that her family was "the worst mess I've ever seen." Brooke, in response via on March 27, 2025, attributed the rift to years of verbal, mental, and from her childhood, which she said severely impacted her self-esteem and led to no contact with either parent for separate reasons. In contrast, Linda has maintained a positive relationship with Nick, whom she described in March 2025 as "still such a good boy" despite his past legal challenges, including a 2007 felony reckless driving conviction stemming from a car accident that injured a friend and a 2023 DUI arrest resulting in probation. Nick, who obtained a Formula D racing license in 2006 and appeared on Hogan Knows Best, married Tana Lea in January 2025, an event that aligned with Linda's ongoing involvement in his life. These divergent paths underscore the complex post-divorce family structure, with Linda navigating estrangement from one child while preserving ties to the other amid public scrutiny. Linda Bollea filed for divorce from Terry Bollea (known professionally as ) on November 20, 2007, in , citing that their 24-year marriage was "irretrievably broken." The filing came amid reports of Hulk Hogan's extramarital affair and family strain following their son Nick's August 2007 car accident, which resulted in criminal charges against Nick for and caused severe brain injury to his passenger. In her petition, Linda sought half of the couple's assets, valued at over $9.5 million, including their Bel Air mansion, Clearwater Beach home, and a condominium under construction; she also requested shared parental responsibility for their 17-year-old son Nick, with primary residence awarded to her and liberal visitation for Hulk Hogan, along with unspecified and . During the proceedings, a judge ordered temporary in August 2008, requiring to pay Linda $40,000 per month while the divorce was pending. The judge also permitted to withdraw $500,000 from joint assets for personal use and up to $400,000 for legal fees related to Nick's criminal case. countered in a court filing that Linda could support herself post-divorce and contribute to Nick's support, noting that their son, then 17, was old enough to choose his living arrangements. The couple reached a marital settlement agreement in July 2009, after 21 months of litigation, with terms finalized in ; both stated that their children, Brooke and , were pleased with the outcome. Under the agreement, no permanent alimony was awarded to Linda. Liquid assets totaling $10.41 million were divided such that Linda received $7.44 million (approximately 70%), while received $2.97 million; Linda also gained 40% ownership in 's companies and an additional $3 million property settlement payment from him. divisions included Linda retaining proceeds from the 2010 sale of their Clearwater Beach home for $1.65 million, with their Belleair estate (listed at $8.87 million after an original $13.9 million purchase) to be sold and proceeds split evenly after 's $3 million payment. Linda kept several vehicles, including a , , , Rolls-Royce, and off-road vehicles. Post-settlement disputes arose over compliance. In late 2011, a Pinellas County circuit judge ordered to pay Linda approximately $126,000 from his company revenues to fulfill settlement terms, a ruling upheld on appeal; his attorneys challenged it, arguing that only net revenues (not gross) applied and that disputes should proceed to rather than court. In August 2019, a judge ruled that had acted in bad faith by delaying compliance with asset division, including portions related to his lawsuit recovery, ordering him to pay Linda over $180,000 in her legal fees and costs within 30 days.

Post-divorce life and activism

Following her divorce from Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) in 2009, Linda Hogan shifted her focus toward personal reinvention and advocacy, authoring the memoir Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes in 2011, which chronicled the challenges of her marriage, family dynamics, and path to independence. The book received media attention for its candid revelations and contributed to her emergence as a public voice on resilience after marital dissolution. Hogan also pursued entrepreneurial ventures, acquiring and operating Sunny Girl Avocados, a farm in , where she oversees avocado production as a hands-on owner. Hogan's activism prominently centers on animal rights, beginning with a high-profile collaboration with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 2010 to protest circus animal abuse. She joined demonstrations against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, using a bullhorn to highlight the mistreatment of elephants and other performers during events at venues like the Staples Center in . This partnership marked her commitment to anti-cruelty campaigns, and she has since volunteered at local animal shelters, supported initiatives, and engaged with the to promote welfare reforms. Her advocacy extends to broader charitable efforts, including support for the Children’s Miami Chapter, reflecting a dedication to community causes beyond animal issues. In parallel, Hogan has advocated for , drawing from her experiences to appear frequently on television news and talk shows, offering guidance on navigating relationships, recovery from heartbreak, and self-reinvention at any age. Residing between and with eleven rescue dogs, she maintains an active presence on to amplify messages of animal protection and personal strength, encouraging others to prioritize healing and purpose post-adversity. Following Hulk Hogan's death on July 24, 2025, Linda Hogan publicly reflected on their shared history, expressing devastation and stating she still loved him as "the only man for me," while addressing ongoing family estrangements, including the rift with Brooke, and contemplating his legacy as a father and partner in interviews and social media posts in late July and August 2025.

References

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