6-foot-7 Hulk Hogan in 'Rocky III' towering over Sylvester Stallone is must-see photo

Hulk Hogan has tragically passed away at the age of 71. His memorable performance as Thunderlips in "Rocky III" is a 1980s classic.

David McDaniel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71.

While many other outlets will have amazing obituaries about his life as a WWE legend, not to mention a sordid history away from the ring, we here at The Athlete Lifestyle will always remember him most fondly for his iconic role as Thunderlips in the one of the best sports movies of all time, "Rocky III."

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Thunderlips, aka Hulk Hogan, destroys Rocky, aka Sylvester Stallone, in "Rocky III." | IMAGO / United Archives

Mr. T, 73, who played Clubber Lang, was the known nemesis for Sylvester Stallone's immortalized Rocky character, but it was Hulk Hogan who stole the show with his staggering height at 6-foot-7. Stallone, 79, is listed at 5-foot-10, but that feels very generous.

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Hulk Hogan as The Ultimate Male

Thunderlips

in Rocky 3

RIP pic.twitter.com/9fvejwXDXh

— The Movie Professor 🎬🎥📺 (@FunMovieTVFan) July 24, 2025

In "Rocky III," released in 1982, Rocky, who looks nothing like the man from "Rocky II" with a sculpted new action-hero shredded physique, supposedly down to 2.8% body fat for the role, gets annihilated by Thunderlips in an exhibition match for charity.

In addition, Hulk Hogan was outstanding as Thunderlips in Rocky III pic.twitter.com/kTH9lODg7E

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) July 24, 2025

What's most staggering is the difference in stature as shown in this amazing photo of the two men standing side-by-side.

When I immigrated in 83, the plane that brought me here played the movie Rocky 3. In it was a man named Hulk Hogan. A giant, who for a young boy like me personified America. Big, brash, strong, but always kind, and never without humor. I've been a fan ever since. He'll be missed! pic.twitter.com/ZbYJmSjoPX

— AJ Steel Show (@ajsteelshow) July 24, 2025

Mr. T would reunite with Hulk Hogan for Wrestlemania I in 1985, and it's widely considered the wrestling event that saved the now multi-billion dollar entertainment franchise from bankruptcy and irrelevancy.

Hulk Hogan will forever live on as Thunderlips.

Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Thunderlips was one of the most memorable one-scene characters of the 20th century. #HulkHoganRIP pic.twitter.com/7KidhcuW2N

— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) July 24, 2025