Late wrestling icon Hulk Hogan became one of the most recognizable names in professional wrestling, building a decades-long career that turned him into a pop culture icon. While much of the spotlight has remained on Hogan’s life and legacy, interest has also grown around the people closest to him, including his late older brother, Allan Bollea.
Although Allan lived a far more private life, he shared a complicated history with the wrestling legend and left a lasting mark on the Bollea family. From his athletic background to his relationship with Hogan, here are five fast facts to know about Allan Bollea.
1. Allan Bollea Was Hulk Hogan’s Only Sibling
Allan Bollea was born in Panama on May 5, 1947, to Pietro “Peter” Bollea and Vernice “Ruth” Moody Bollea.
His family later moved to Augusta, Georgia, where his younger brother, Terry Gene Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, was born on August 11, 1953.
In the mid-1950s, the Bollea family relocated to Port Tampa, Florida, where the Bollea brothers would spend the remainder of their childhood.
2. Allan Bollea and Hulk Hogan Were Not Close Growing Up
Allan Bollea was six years older than his younger brother, Hulk Hogan. While the duo had a significant age gap, the sibling rivalry was still present between the brothers.
Hogan revealed that he and his brother were not very close growing up, as Allan had grown up quickly, and by the time he was 17, he was “riding with a bunch of bikers.” Hogan was just 11 at the time, leaving the brothers with very different interests and lifestyles.
Hogan also felt like Allan was his father’s favorite son. According to Hogan, their dad, Peter, would always mention how strong Allan was and never gave Hogan the same type of recognition. Combined with the age difference, those feelings of favoritism contributed to the distance between the brothers growing up.
3. Allan Bollea Was a World Wrist-Wrestling Competitor
Allan Bollea earned recognition in competitive wrist wrestling, a strength-based sport similar to arm wrestling.
Bollea competed in the 1985 World’s Wristwrestling Championship in Petaluma, California. He won several matches in the unlimited division before being eliminated by champion Cleve Dean.
4. Allan Bollea’s Death Was Reportedly Linked to an Overdose
Allan Bollea died on April 30, 1986. He was just 38 years old. Hulk Hogan carried a lot of guilt surrounding his older brother’s death. Hogan revealed that he had asked his brother to come to one of his wrestling events, but Allan told him he didn’t have any extra money as he needed to pay his rent.
As a result, Hogan gave his brother some cash in hopes that he would show up to his wrestling event. Instead, Allan reportedly used the money to purchase drugs. Hogan received a devastating phone call on April 30, informing him that his brother had passed away from a drug overdose in Los Angeles, California.
Years later, Hogan shared, “I should have taken him with me instead of giving him the money. So that was the last time I saw him. It was – that was a hard one to get over.”
5. Allan Bollea Is the Father of Horace Hogan
Allan Bollea married Martha Alfonso in 1965. The couple welcomed three children: Michael, Vicky, and Melissa. Allan and Martha later divorced.
After divorcing, Martha was murdered by her boyfriend in 1978. She was just 33 at the time of her death. After Allan’s death in 1986, Hulk Hogan helped raise and financially support his brother’s three kids alongside his parents, Peter and Ruth.
Allan’s son, Michael Bollea, followed in his uncle’s footsteps and pursued a wrestling career. In the late ‘90s, he wrestled under the name Horace Hogan in WCW.
Although Allan Bollea and Hulk Hogan were not especially close growing up, Allan still left a lasting impact on his younger brother’s life. From their complicated family dynamic to the grief Hogan carried after Allan’s passing, his older brother remained an important part of the Bollea family story.
