Lou Ferrigno
| Lou Ferrigno | |
|---|---|
 Ferrigno at the New York Comic Convention in Manhattan, October 10, 2010. |
|
| Born | Louis Jude Ferrigno November 9, 1951 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Bodybuilder, actor, personal trainer |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse | Susan Groff (1978-1979) Carla Green (1980-present) |
Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951[1]) is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. As an actor, he is best known for portraying the title role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk. He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Sinbad of the Seven Seas and Hercules, and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Lou Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, an Italian American police lieutenant.[2]
Soon after he was born, Ferrigno says he believes he suffered a series of ear infections and lost 75 - 80% of his hearing, though his condition was not diagnosed until he was three years old.[3][4] Ferrigno started weight training at age 13, citing body builder and Hercules star Steve Reeves as one of his role models.[5] He was also a fan of the Hercules films that starred Reeves—and would later play Hercules as well. Ferrigno's other personal heroes as a child were Spider-Man and the Hulk.[6] Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School[7] and Brooklyn Technical High School, where he learned metal working.[7][8]
[edit] Bodybuilding career
| Lou Ferrigno | |
|---|---|
| Personal Info | |
| Born | November 9, 1951 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[dead link][9] |
| Weight | 316 lb (143 kg)[9] |
| Professional Career | |
| Pro-debut | NABBA Mr. Universe, 1972 |
| Best win | IFBB Mr. Universe, 1973-1974, two years consecutively |
| Active | Retired 1995 |
After graduating from high school 1969, Ferrigno won his first major titles, IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe, four years later. Early in his career he lived in Columbus and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition. He then came third the following year, and his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1975 documentary Pumping Iron.
These victories, however, did not provide enough for him to earn a living. His first paying job was as a $10-an-hour sheet metal worker in a Brooklyn factory, where he worked for three years. He did not enjoy the dangerous work, and left after a friend and co-worker accidentally cut off his hand one day.[8]
Following this, Ferrigno left the competition circuit for many years, a period that included a brief stint as a defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He had never played football, and was cut after two games.[10]
During competition, Lou Ferrigno weighed 285 lb (130 kg) in 1975,[9] and 316 lb (143 kg) in 1992; at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[9]
Ferrigno competed in the first World's Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.[11]
In the early 1990s, Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding, competing for the 1992 and 1993 Mr. Olympia titles. Finishing 12th and 10th, respectively, he then turned to the 1994 Masters Olympia, where his attempt to beat Robbie Robinson and Boyer Coe was the subject of the 1996 documentary Stand Tall. After this, he retired from competition.
[edit] Acting career
In 1977, Ferrigno was cast in the title role opposite Bill Bixby as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk. Although Ferrigno and Bixby did not share lines on camera (except for one episode, "King of the Beach"), the two were friends, with Ferrigno describing Bixby as a "mentor" and "father figure" who took Ferrigno under his wing. Ferrigno also singles out the instances in which Bixby directed Ferrigno in some episodes as particularly memorable.[12] Ferrigno continued playing the Hulk role until 1981—although the last two episodes were not broadcast until May 1982. Later, he and Bixby co-starred in three The Incredible Hulk TV movies.
In 1983, Ferrigno appeared as John Six on the short lived medical drama Trauma Center.[13]
Ferrigno played himself during intermittent guest appearances on the CBS sitcom, The King of Queens, beginning in 2000 and continuing until the program's conclusion in 2007. He and his wife Carla were depicted as the main characters' next-door neighbors. Because of his role as the title character on The Incredible Hulk, he is often the target of Hulk jokes by Doug and his friends.
He made cameo appearances as a security guard in both the 2003 film Hulk and the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, in which he also voiced the Hulk.[14]
[edit] 2009–present
.jpg)
Ferrigno appeared as himself in the 2009 feature film comedy I Love You, Man.
Ferrigno had trained Michael Jackson on and off since the early 1990s, and in 2009, he had been helping Jackson get into shape for a planned series of concerts in London.[15]
Ferrigno took part in a Smosh video, titled "I love Lou Ferrigno", in which he is tracked down by one of Smosh's members, Anthony, in Hollywood. The skit ends with Ferrigno knocking Anthony unconscious, in response to Ian's claim that Anthony stole Ferrigno's Butterfinger.
In February 2006, Ferrigno was sworn in as a Los Angeles County, California reserve sheriff's deputy.[16]
Ferrigno sells his own line of fitness equipment through his company, Ferrigno Fitness. In a January 2009 taping, Ferrigno Fitness provided equipment to The Price Is Right, hosted by Drew Carey for use as a One Bid prize, and demonstrated the equipment himself.[episode needed]
In 2010, Ferrigno appeared in "My Two Chads", an episode of Sonny with a Chance, appearing as himself in an episode of the fictional series MacKenzie Falls.
In November 2010, Ferrigno was sworn in as a member of a Maricopa County, Arizona volunteer sheriff posse, which also includes actors Steven Seagal and Peter Lupus, in order to help control illegal immigration in the Phoenix Valley area.[17]
Ferrigno will once again perform the voice of the Hulk in the 2012 film The Avengers.[18][19]
[edit] Personal life
Ferrigno says his hearing loss helped shape his sense of determination in his youth, saying, "I think that if I wasn't hard of hearing I wouldn't be where I am now. Early on, as a youngster it was difficult, but I’m not ashamed to talk about it because many people have misconceptions about hearing loss; like who has hearing loss and what it’s like not to hear, so I do talk about it. I think my hearing loss helped create a determination within me to be all that I can be, and gave me a certain strength of character too. Anytime I do a movie or a TV show, I make them aware of my hearing loss at the beginning, and that makes it much easier for all of us to communicate and get the job done."[3]
Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978, divorcing a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married psychotherapist Carla Green, who then also began serving as his manager and later became a personal trainer. They have three children, Shanna, born 1981; Louis, Jr., born 1984; and Brent, born 1990. Shanna has a recurring role as Nurse Janice in Days of our Lives, and appeared in the NBC series Windfall, as well as the television movie Within, and in 2005 she appeared in the E! reality television series, Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive. Louis, Jr. was a linebacker for the University of Southern California Trojans football team.[20]
| Lou Ferrigno | |
|---|---|
| Personal Info | |
| Born | November 9, 1951 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[9] |
| Weight | 316 lb (143 kg)[9] |
| Professional Career | |
| Pro-debut | NABBA Mr. Universe, 1972 |
| Best win | IFBB Mr. Universe, 1973-1974, two years consecutively |
| Active | Retired 1995 |
[edit] Competitions
- 1971 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, Teen 1st[21]
- 1971 Teen Mr. America — AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
- 1972 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, 2nd
- 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
- 1973 IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner[21]
- 1973 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner[21][22]
- 1974 IFBB Mr. International[21]
- 1974 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner[21][22]
- 1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
- 1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place[21]
- 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th[21]
- 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th[21]
- 1994 Olympia Masters, 2nd[21]
[edit] Magazine covers
- Muscle & Fitness (1982, '83, '86, '87, '88, '89, '93, '94)[volume & issue needed]
- Flex (1983, '85, '89, '92, '93, '94)[volume & issue needed]
- Muscle Builder (1974, '77, '79, '80)[volume & issue needed]
- Iron Man (1973, '88, '92, '94)[volume & issue needed]
- Bodybuilding Lifestyle (1991, 1992)[volume & issue needed]
- Muscle Mag International (1983, 1994)[volume & issue needed]
- Muscular Development (1981, 2009, 2012)[volume & issue needed]
- Muscle Training Illustrated (1972)[volume & issue needed]
- Natural Bodybuilding (1983)[volume & issue needed]
- Strength & Health (1983)[volume & issue needed]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Pumping Iron | Himself | Docudrama |
| The Incredible Hulk | The Hulk | TV pilot movie for the series The Incredible Hulk | |
| 1978–1982 | The Incredible Hulk | ||
| 1980 | Mister Rogers' Neighborhood | Himself | |
| 1983 | Hercules | Hercules | |
| Trauma Center | John Six | ||
| The Fall Guy | Six | Episode "Trauma" | |
| 1985 | The Adventures of Hercules | Hercules | Sequel to Hercules |
| The Seven Magnificent Gladiators | Han | ||
| 1987 | Desert Warrior | Zerak | |
| 1988 | Family Double Dare | Himself | Celebrity contestant |
| The Incredible Hulk Returns | The Hulk | TV movie | |
| 1989 | Sinbad of the Seven Seas | Sinbad | |
| The Trial of the Incredible Hulk | The Hulk | TV movie | |
| Cage | Billy Thomas | ||
| Liberty & Bash | Bash | ||
| 1990 | The Death of the Incredible Hulk | The Hulk | TV movie |
| 1994 | Cage II | Billy Thomas | |
| 1996 | The Incredible Hulk | The Hulk | Voice |
| Stand Tall | Himself | Docudrama | |
| 1997 | Home Improvement | ||
| 1998 | "The Godson" | Bugsy | |
| 2000-2007 | The King of Queens | Himself | |
| 2002 | Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron | ||
| 2003 | Hulk | Security guard | Cameo with Stan Lee |
| 2004 | My Wife and Kids | Gay convict | Episode "Illegal Smile" |
| Reno 911! | Deputy Cletus Senior | Episode "Department Investigation: Part 2" | |
| 2008 | The Incredible Hulk | The Hulk / Security guard | Voice / Cameo |
| 2009 | I Love You, Man | Himself | |
| 2010 | Chuck | Sofia Stepanova's bodyguard | Episode "Chuck Versus the Suitcase" |
| Sonny with a Chance | Himself | Episode "My Two Chads" | |
| Adventure Time | Billy | Episode "His Hero" | |
| 2012 | The Avengers | The Hulk | Voice[18][19] |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Although Ferrigno's official site does not list a year of birth, it says he was 21 when he won the first of two successive Mr. Universe titles, which occurred in 1973 ("History of the Men's World Amateur Championships", IFBB.com, Accessed 2007-01-01). The results were reported in the July 1973 issue of Muscle magazine ("Lou Ferigno, Mr Universe, 1973". IFBB.com); See also "History of Mr. Olympia: Lou Ferrigno"
- ^ Jim Schmaltz (February 2004). Matt Ferrigno: 1925-2003. Flex. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ a b Mabe, Catherine "Lou Ferrigno: Living, Acting and Bodybuilding with Hearing Loss". Disaboom. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ^ Doughterty, Margot (May 16, 1988). "Green with Indignation, Lou Ferrigno Is Back in Bulk as the Incredible Hulk". People. Vol. 29, No. 19.
- ^ David Robson. The Incredible Hulk Returns: Lou Ferrigno Speaks About His Role & Acting Life!. Bodybuilding.com. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ The Incredible Lou.
- ^ a b Parker, Vernon. "On This Day in History: November 9That Incredible Hulk". Brooklyn Eagle. Novembre 9, 2011
- ^ a b "Deaf Awareness". Michigan State Grange. Retrieved November 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Biography. LouFerrigno.com. Version of February 20, 2006 available at archive.org. Accessed 2007-06-23.[dead link]
- ^ Grech, Ron. "Lou Ferrigno to Hulk up at the Mac". Daily Press. May 2011. Accessed 2011-09-19.
- ^ Bonnie Siegler. Fame & Fortune: Lou Ferrigno. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ Murphy, Matt. "WWLA: "The Incredible Hulk" Retrospective with Lou Ferrigno". Comic Book Resources. March 16, 2008
- ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. pp. 1227. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- ^ Jeff Otto (May 27, 2008). Special Report: "Hulk" Edit Bay Visit. Dark Horizons. Accessed 2008-05-27.
- ^ Smith, Michael David. "Lou Ferrigno: Michael Jackson Was Energetic and Happy in Training". AOL News. http://www.aolnews.com/2009/07/01/lou-ferrigno-michael-jackson-was-energetic-and-happy-in-trainin/. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
- ^ Lou Ferrigno becomes reserve LA County sheriff's deputy (February 13, 2006) AP. Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ "Lou 'The Hulk' Ferrigno Joins Posse Fighting Illegal Immigration" (November 18, 2010). Fox News/Associated Press. Accessed 2011-01-02.
- ^ a b Nuke The Fridge Interviews Lou Ferrigno (December 16, 2008). YouTube. Accessed 2009-05-16.
- ^ a b Ron Messer (2010-10-10). "NY Comic Con: Lou Ferrigno Interview – Opens Up About THE AVENGERS, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, and CHUCK". Collider. http://www.collider.com/2010/10/10/lou-ferrigno-interview-the-hulk-the-avengers-nycc/. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ Player Bio: Lou Ferrigno Jr. USCTrojans.cstv.com. Accessed 2007-01-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i History of Mr. Olympia: Lou Ferrigno. Schwarzenegger.it Accessed 2007-01-01.
- ^ a b "History of the Men's World Amateur Championships". IFBB.com. Accessed 2007-01-01.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lou Ferrigno |
- Official website
- Official FaceBook Fan page
- Official YouTube channel
- Lou Ferrigno at the Internet Movie Database
|
|||||
- 1951 births
- Living people
- Actors from New York City
- American bodybuilders
- American Christians
- American deaf actors
- American disabled sportspeople
- American film actors
- American people of Italian descent
- American strength athletes
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- Deaf sportspeople
- People from Brooklyn
- Professional bodybuilders
