Lou Ferrigno
Encyclopedia
Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951) 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
.
police
lieutenant
.
As an infant, Lou suffered an ear infection and lost some of his hearing. Ferrigno started weight training at age 13, citing body builder and Hercules
star Steve Reeves
as one of his role models. 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
. Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School and Brooklyn Technical High School
, where he learned metal working.
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.
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.
During competition, Lou Ferrigno weighed 285 lb (130 kg) in 1975, and 316 lb (143 kg) in 1992; at 6 in 5 in (1.96 m)
Ferrigno competed in the first World's Strongest Man
competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.
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.
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. 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
.
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.
.jpg)
Ferrigno appeared as himself in the 2009 feature film comedy I Love You, Man
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While the Hulk will be physically played by Mark Ruffalo
in the 2012 The Avengers movie, Ferrigno will perform the voice of the character.
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.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America
IFBB Mr. America
IFBB Mr. America was a bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1949 and in direct competition with the AAU Mr. America...
title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. As an actor, he is best known for portraying the title role in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series The Incredible Hulk. He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Sinbad of the Seven Seas
Sinbad of the Seven Seas
Sinbad of the Seven Seas is a 1989 film directed by Enzo G. Castellari revolving around the adventures of Sindbad the Sailor. It claims to be based on Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Thousand and Second Tale of Scheherazade," though no similarity can be found between its plot and the story...
and Hercules
Hercules (1983 film)
Hercules is a 1983 Italian adventure film written and directed by Luigi Cozzi. The film follows the exploits of Hercules.Part of the adventure finds Hercules battling giant robots brought to life by stop motion animation. The musical score was provided by Pino Donaggio.Despite not being a critical...
, and as himself in the sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
The King of Queens
The King of Queens
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
.
Early life
Lou Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, an Italian AmericanItalian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
police
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
As an infant, Lou suffered an ear infection and lost some of his hearing. Ferrigno started weight training at age 13, citing body builder and Hercules
Hercules (1958 film)
Hercules is a 1958 Italian epic fantasy feature film based upon the Hercules myths and the Quest for the Golden Fleece. The film stars Steve Reeves as the titular hero and Sylva Koscina as his love interest Princess Iole. Hercules was directed by Pietro Francisci and produced by Federico Teti...
star Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves
Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
as one of his role models. 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
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
. Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School and Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech or just Tech, and also administratively as High School 430, is a New York City public high school that specializes in engineering, math and science and is the largest specialized high school for science, technology, engineering, and...
, where he learned metal working.
Bodybuilding
After graduating from high school 1969, Ferrigno won his first major titles, IFBB Mr. AmericaIFBB Mr. America
IFBB Mr. America was a bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1949 and in direct competition with the AAU Mr. America...
and IFBB Mr. Universe, four years later. Early in his career he lived in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
competition. He then came third the following year, and his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1975 documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
.
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.
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
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He had never played football, and was cut after two games.
During competition, Lou Ferrigno weighed 285 lb (130 kg) in 1975, and 316 lb (143 kg) in 1992; at 6 in 5 in (1.96 m)
Ferrigno competed in the first World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.
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
Masters Olympia
The Masters Olympia was an international bodybuilding competition which was held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . The competition was created by Joe Weider in 1994 as a venue for former champions to continue to compete at the highest professional level into their later...
, where his attempt to beat Robbie Robinson and Boyer Coe was the subject of the 1996 documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Stand Tall
Stand Tall
Stand Tall is a 1997 documentary about bodybuilding in the same vein as Pumping Iron. The movie centers on Lou Ferrigno's battle with hearing loss and his rise to prominence on the world bodybuilding stage. Bodybuilding legends Joe Weider and Arnold Schwarzenegger also appear in the film, as well...
. After this, he retired from competition.
Acting
Bill Bixby
Wilfred Bailey Everett “Bill” Bixby III was an American film and television actor, director, and frequent game show panelist.His career spanned over three decades; he appeared on stage, in motion pictures and TV series...
as the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
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. 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
Trauma Center (TV series)
Trauma Center is an American medical drama that aired on ABC from September 22, 1983 to December 8, 1983.-Premise:The series followed the staff at the McKee Hospital Trauma Center who dealt with numerous traumas in each episode...
.
Ferrigno played himself during intermittent guest appearances on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom, The King of Queens
The King of Queens
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
, 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
Hulk (film)
Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte...
and the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk (film)
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
, in which he also voiced the Hulk.
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
.
2009–present
Ferrigno had trained Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
on and off since the early 1990s, and in 2009, he had been helping Jackson get into shape for a planned series of concerts
This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
This Is It was a planned series of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 Arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through to March 2010. However, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died less than three weeks before the first concert date...
in London.
Ferrigno took part in a Smosh
Smosh
Smosh is a web-based comedy duo consisting of Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla. Padilla first began posting flash movies on Newgrounds in early 2003, under the name Smosh. He was later joined by his friend Ian Hecox...
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
Butterfinger
Butterfinger is a candy bar made by Nestlé.The bar consists of a flaky, orange-colored center—somewhat similar texture to crisp caramel, with a taste similar to peanut butter—that is coated in compound chocolate.- History :...
.
In February 2006, Ferrigno was sworn in as a Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
reserve sheriff's
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
deputy.
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
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
, hosted by Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
for use as a One Bid prize, and demonstrated the equipment himself.
In 2010, Ferrigno appeared in "My Two Chads", an episode of Sonny with a Chance
Sonny With a Chance
Sonny with a Chance is an American children's sitcom which aired on Disney Channel, created by Steve Marmel, that follows the experiences of teenager Sonny Munroe, portrayed by Demi Lovato, who becomes the newest accepted cast member of her favorite live comedy show, So Random!.The series debuted...
, 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
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
volunteer sheriff posse, which also includes actors Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
and Peter Lupus
Peter Lupus
Peter Lupus is an American bodybuilder and actor of Syrian ancestry. He attended the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University, where he also played football and basketball, graduating in 1954...
, in order to help control illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
in the Phoenix Valley area.
While the Hulk will be physically played by Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Alan Ruffalo is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He starred in films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Just Like Heaven, You Can Count on Me and The Kids Are All Right for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best...
in the 2012 The Avengers movie, Ferrigno will perform the voice of the character.
Personal life
Ferrigno sees his loss of hearing as influential towards bodybuilding and his life: "...if I hadn't lost some of my hearing, I wouldn't be where I am now. It forced me to maximize my own potential. I had to be better than the average person to succeed."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
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
. 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
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
, and appeared in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Windfall, as well as the television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
Within, and in 2005 she appeared in the E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series, Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive
Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive
Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive is an American reality television program that aired on the E! network in 2005. On E! Australia it aired as Rich Kids: Cattle Drive.-Synopsis:...
. Louis, Jr. was a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the University of Southern California Trojans football
University of Southern California Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program, established in 1888, represents the University of Southern California in college football. USC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS and the Pacific-12 Conference . The Trojans have been a football powerhouse throughout NCAA...
team.
Competitions
- 1971 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, Teen 1st
- 1971 Teen Mr. America — AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
- 1972 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, 2nd
- 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
- 1973 IFBB Mr. AmericaIFBB Mr. AmericaIFBB Mr. America was a bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1949 and in direct competition with the AAU Mr. America...
, Overall Winner - 1973 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
- 1974 IFBB Mr. International
- 1974 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
- 1974 Mr. OlympiaMr. OlympiaMr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
, Heavyweight 2nd - 1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place
- 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th
- 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th
- 1994 Olympia Masters, 2nd
Magazine covers
Total: 37- 10 Muscle & FitnessMuscle & FitnessMuscle & Fitness is an American bodybuilding magazine founded by Joe Weider, but now published by American Media, Inc.-History:Muscle & Fitness has a more mainstream focus than its companion publication, Flex...
('82, '83, '86, '87, '88, '89, '93, '94) - 8 FlexFLEX (magazine)Flex is an American bodybuilding magazine, published by American Media, Inc.-History:Founded in 1983 by Joe Weider, local versions are now published throughout the world, in countries such as the UK and Australia.The premier issue was dated April 1983, and featured Chris Dickerson on the cover...
('83, '85, '89, '92, '93, '94) - 7 Muscle Builder ('74, '77, '79, '80)
- 4 Iron Man ('73, '88, '92, '94)
- 2 Bodybuilding Lifestyle ('91, '92)
- 2 Muscle Mag International ('83, '94)
- 2 Muscular Development ('81, '09)
- 1 Muscle Training Illustrated ('72)
- 1 Natural Bodybuilding ('83)
- 1 Strength & Health ('83)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Pumping Iron Pumping Iron Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler... |
Himself | Docudrama Docudrama In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction.... |
| The Incredible Hulk | The Hulk Hulk (comics) The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 .... |
TV pilot movie for the series The Incredible Hulk | |
| 1978–1982 | The Incredible Hulk | ||
| 1980 | Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"... |
Himself | |
| 1983 | Hercules Hercules (1983 film) Hercules is a 1983 Italian adventure film written and directed by Luigi Cozzi. The film follows the exploits of Hercules.Part of the adventure finds Hercules battling giant robots brought to life by stop motion animation. The musical score was provided by Pino Donaggio.Despite not being a critical... |
Hercules Hercules Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene... |
|
| Trauma Center Trauma Center (TV series) Trauma Center is an American medical drama that aired on ABC from September 22, 1983 to December 8, 1983.-Premise:The series followed the staff at the McKee Hospital Trauma Center who dealt with numerous traumas in each episode... |
John Six | ||
| The Fall Guy The Fall Guy The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series... |
Six | Episode "Trauma" | |
| 1985 | The Adventures of Hercules The Adventures of Hercules The Adventures of Hercules is the 1985 sequel to the film Hercules. It was written and directed by Luigi Cozzi , and had Lou Ferrigno reprising his role as the title character.-Summary:The film begins in outer space, just as the first film does, and begins with a retelling of the... |
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 Incredible Hulk Returns The Incredible Hulk Returns is a 1988 TV movie loosely based on the Marvel comic books that serves as a continuation of the popular television series. In it, Dr. David Banner has nearly cured himself from being the Hulk... |
The Hulk | TV movie | |
| 1989 | Sinbad of the Seven Seas Sinbad of the Seven Seas Sinbad of the Seven Seas is a 1989 film directed by Enzo G. Castellari revolving around the adventures of Sindbad the Sailor. It claims to be based on Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Thousand and Second Tale of Scheherazade," though no similarity can be found between its plot and the story... |
Sinbad Sinbad the Sailor Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional sailor from Basrah, living during the Abbasid Caliphate – the hero of a story-cycle of Middle Eastern origin... |
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| The Trial of the Incredible Hulk The Trial of the Incredible Hulk The Trial of the Incredible Hulk is a 1989 TV movie sequel to the 1970s Incredible Hulk television series, featuring both the Hulk and fellow Marvel Comics character Daredevil, who team up to defeat Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin... |
The Hulk | TV movie | |
| Cage Cage (film) Cage is a 1989 American martial arts action film starriing Reb Brown and Lou Ferrigno.-Plot:A GI in Vietnam saves his buddy's life, but in the process is shot in the head. The injury results in brain damage to the point where he basically has a child's brain in a man's body... |
Billy Thomas | ||
| Liberty & Bash Liberty & Bash Liberty & Bash is an 1989 Action film starring Miles O'Keeffe and Lou Ferrigno as Vietnam war buddies who team up to rid their community of drugs.-Plot:... |
Bash | ||
| 1990 | The Death of the Incredible Hulk The Death of the Incredible Hulk The Death of the Incredible Hulk is a 1990 made-for-television film, the last of three revival TV movies from the 1977–1982 television show The Incredible Hulk. Bill Bixby reprises his role as Dr. David Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno returns to play the Hulk... |
The Hulk | TV movie |
| 1994 | Cage II | Billy Thomas | |
| 1996 | The Incredible Hulk | The Hulk | Voice |
| Stand Tall Stand Tall Stand Tall is a 1997 documentary about bodybuilding in the same vein as Pumping Iron. The movie centers on Lou Ferrigno's battle with hearing loss and his rise to prominence on the world bodybuilding stage. Bodybuilding legends Joe Weider and Arnold Schwarzenegger also appear in the film, as well... |
Himself | Docudrama Docudrama In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction.... |
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| 1997 | Home Improvement | ||
| 1998 | "The Godson The Godson (film) The Godson is a 1998 comedy directed by Bob Hoge, starring Rodney Dangerfield, Kevin McDonald and Dom DeLuise.The film is a parody of The Godfather franchise and Scarface, as well as other gangster films that were popular in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.... " |
Bugsy | |
| 2000-2007 | The King of Queens The King of Queens The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures... |
Himself | |
| 2002 | Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron | ||
| 2003 | Hulk Hulk (film) Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte... |
Security guard | Cameo with Stan Lee Stan Lee Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.... |
| 2004 | My Wife and Kids My Wife and Kids My Wife and Kids is an American television family sitcom that ran on ABC from March 28, 2001 until May 17, 2005. Produced by Touchstone Television , it starred Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin, and centers on the character of Michael Kyle, a loving husband and modern-day patriarch who rules... |
Gay convict Convict A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed... |
Episode "Illegal Smile" |
| Reno 911! Reno 911! Reno 911! is an American comedy television series on Comedy Central that ran from 2003 to 2009. It is a mockumentary-style parody of law enforcement documentary shows, specifically COPS, with comic actors playing the police officers. Most of the material is improvised, using a broad outline, and... |
Deputy Cletus Senior | Episode "Department Investigation: Part 2" | |
| 2008 | The Incredible Hulk The Incredible Hulk (film) The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... |
The Hulk / Security guard | Voice / Cameo |
| 2009 | I Love You, Man I Love You, Man I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film... |
Himself | |
| 2010 | Chuck Chuck (TV series) Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central... |
Sofia Stepanova's bodyguard | Episode "Chuck Versus the Suitcase Chuck Versus the Suitcase "Chuck Versus the Suitcase" is the second episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired September 27, 2010. There are crimes of fashion when Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker go undercover in Milan for Fashion Week to seize a high-tech weapon, yet Chuck soon recognizes a flaw in his... " |
| Sonny with a Chance Sonny With a Chance Sonny with a Chance is an American children's sitcom which aired on Disney Channel, created by Steve Marmel, that follows the experiences of teenager Sonny Munroe, portrayed by Demi Lovato, who becomes the newest accepted cast member of her favorite live comedy show, So Random!.The series debuted... |
Himself | Episode "My Two Chads" | |
| 2012 | The Avengers | The Hulk | Voice |