Hulk Hogan, Chuck Mangione, George Kooymans, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dies

These guys were the face of the World Wrestling Federation, and was an actor; won Grammy awards playing the trumpet and flugelhorn; formed the band Golden Earring and wrote hits such as “Radar Love” and “Twilight Zone”; and played Theo on the Cosby Show and appeared in a multitude of TV episodes over the years.

Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Tampa, Florida, was one of the most influential and recognizable professional wrestlers in history. Growing up with a passion for sports and music, he played bass in local rock bands before turning to bodybuilding and eventually professional wrestling. He briefly attended Hillsborough Community College and the

University of South Florida but left to pursue a wrestling career. Trained by Hiro Matsuda, Hogan debuted in 1977 and skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s as the face of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), igniting the Hulkamania craze with his charismatic persona, powerful physique, and iconic catchphrases like “Whatcha gonna do, brother?”

He headlined numerous WrestleManias, starred in movies such as Rocky III, and helped transform wrestling into a mainstream global phenomenon. In the 1990s, he joined WCW and reinvented himself as a villain by forming the New World Order (nWo),

leading the company to new heights. His personal life included a long marriage to Linda Claridge, with whom he had two children, Brooke and Nick; following their divorce, he married Jennifer McDaniel (divorced 2021), and in 2023, he wed yoga instructor Sky Daily.

Though his career was marked by controversy, including a racially charged scandal in 2015 that led to a temporary WWE suspension, he was later reinstated and honored as a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee—once individually in 2005 and again with the nWo in 2020. Hulk Hogan died today, Thursday, July 25, 2025, at the age of 71, at his home in Clearwater, Florida, due to complications from ongoing spinal and heart issues. He is survived by his wife Sky Daily, his daughter Brooke, his son Nick, and a legacy that made him a global icon and helped shape the modern era of professional wrestling.

Chuck Mangione, born Charles Frank Mangione on November 29, 1940 in Rochester, New York, grew up in a musical, Italian-American family and began piano lessons as a child before switching to trumpet and flugelhorn, forming the “Jazz Brothers” with his pianist brother Gap during high school.

He attended and graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1963, later returning as director of its jazz ensemble beginning in 1968, and early in his career played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He released more than 30 albums from the 1960s onward, blending jazz, pop, and orchestral elements.

His breakout came with the 1977 instrumental hit “Feels So Good,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and propelled him to international fame. He won two Grammy Awards—Best Instrumental Composition for “Bellavia” in 1977, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for The Children of Sanchez in 1979—earning numerous nominations overall.

His compositions featured prominently in the Olympics—“Chase the Clouds Away” for the 1976 Montreal Games and “Give It All You Got,” the theme for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, performed live at the closing ceremonies. He also became a familiar face (and voice) via a recurring role as himself on King of the Hill and collaborated widely with

musicians such as Gerry Niewood and Grant Geissman. Mangione never served in the military and remained private about his personal life. Chuck Mangione died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at his home in Rochester, New York, at the age of 84. He is survived by his brother Gap Mangione, nieces and nephews, and a vast global fanbase that celebrated his joyous, melodic music legacy.

George Kooymans, born George Jan Kooymans on March 11, 1948, in The Hague, Netherlands, was a celebrated guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and co-founder of the iconic Dutch rock band Golden Earring. He formed the group in 1961 with his childhood friend and future brother-in-law Rinus Gerritsen, originally calling themselves The Tornados

before evolving into Golden Earring. With Kooymans as a prolific songwriter and lead guitarist, the band gained international fame with the global hit “Radar Love” in 1973, followed by U.S. chart successes like “Twilight Zone” in 1982 and “When the Lady Smiles” in 1984.

He also enjoyed a solo career with albums such as Jojo (1971) and Solo (1987), and worked as a producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists including Anouk, whom he helped discover. Kooymans married Melanie Gerritsen (Rinus’s sister) in 1969, and they had two children, Kid and Cassy.

He never served in the military and remained based in the Netherlands and Belgium throughout his life. In 2021, he was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which forced his retirement and prompted the end of Golden Earring’s nearly 60-year career. He received numerous accolades in the Netherlands,

including the Zilveren Harp and the Eddy Christiani Award for his contributions to Dutch music. George Kooymans died on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the age of 77, at his home in Rijkevorsel, Belgium, due to complications from ALS. He is survived by his wife Melanie, their children, and a legacy that helped define Dutch rock on the international stage.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a celebrated American actor, director, musician, poet, and cultural figure best known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Raised primarily by his mother, Pamela Warner, who also served as his manager, he developed a passion for the arts early and began acting professionally by age nine.

He attended the Professional Children’s School in New York, graduating with honors in 1988, and later studied film at New York University. He never served in the military. Warner’s breakout came in 1984 when he was cast on The Cosby Show, earning widespread acclaim and an Emmy nomination.

His career spanned decades and included starring roles in series like Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, The Resident, and Suits, while also directing episodes of various television shows. He was also a Grammy-winning spoken word artist and musician,

winning Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2015 for his collaboration on “Jesus Children” with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. In addition to television and music, Warner was known for his poetry, activism, and advocacy for Black representation in media. He was married and had one daughter,

though he kept his family life intentionally private. Tragically, Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at age 54, in Costa Rica due to accidental drowning while swimming with his daughter at Playa Cocles. Despite immediate attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He is survived by his wife and daughter and remembered as a groundbreaking performer who brought warmth, intelligence, and depth to generations of audiences.