Lou Ferrigno | |
|---|---|
 Ferrigno in 2018 | |
| Born | Louis Jude Ferrigno November 9, 1951 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Bodybuilder, actor, personal trainer |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouses | Susan Groff
(m. 1978; div. 1979)Carla Green
(m. 1980; sep. 2023) |
| Children | 3, including Lou Jr. |
| Bodybuilder | |
| Personal info | |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[1] |
| Weight | 315 lb (143 kg) [1] |
| Professional career | |
| Pro-debut |
|
| Best win |
|
| Active | Retired 1995 |
Louis Jude Ferrigno Sr. (/fəˈrɪɡnoʊ/; born November 9, 1951)[2] is an American actor 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 documentary film Pumping Iron (1977). As an actor, he is best known for his title role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) and vocally reprising the role in subsequent animated and computer-generated incarnations. He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Hercules (1983) and Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989), and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.
Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, a police lieutenant.[3] He is of Italian descent. Soon after he was born, Ferrigno says he believes he had a series of ear infections and lost 75% to 80% of his hearing, though his condition was not diagnosed until he was three years old.[4][5] Hearing loss and his speech impediment caused Ferrigno to be bullied by peers during his childhood who called him "deaf" and "mute". He began reading comic books such as Hulk and Spider-Man at this time, later saying "I was obsessed with power", and "I wanted to be strong enough so that I could be able to defend myself".[6]
Ferrigno started weight training at the age of 13, citing bodybuilder and Hercules star Steve Reeves as one of his role models.[7] Because he could not afford to buy weights, he made his own using a broomstick and pails which he partially filled with cement.[7] He was also a fan of the Hercules films that starred Reeves. Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School[8] and Brooklyn Technical High School, where he learned metal working.[8]
After graduating from high school in 1969, Ferrigno won his first major title, IFBB Mr. America. Four years later, he won the title IFBB Mr. Universe. Early in his career he lived in Columbus, Ohio and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition. He came in third the following year, and his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. The documentary made Ferrigno famous.[9]
These victories, however, did not provide enough income 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 own hand.[10]
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.[11] Ferrigno left the world of Canadian football after he broke the legs of a fellow player during a scrimmage.[12]
Ferrigno, who stands at almost 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m),[1] weighed in during competition at 268 lb (130 kg) in 1975 and 315 lb (142 kg) in 1992.[1]
Ferrigno competed in the first annual World's Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.[13]
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,[14] 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.[15]
In 1977, Ferrigno was cast as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk. Though they were rarely on camera together,[7] Ferrigno and Bill Bixby — who played the Hulk's "normal" alter ego — became friends; Ferrigno has described Bixby as a "mentor" and "father figure" who took him under his wing. Ferrigno also singles out the instances in which Bixby directed Ferrigno in some episodes as particularly memorable.[16] 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 November 1978 and again in May 1979 Ferrigno appeared in Battle of the Network Stars.[17][18] He portrayed the titular character in the 1983 science fantasy adventure film Hercules, and received mixed-to-negative reviews for his performance. He was, however, praised by Marylynn Uricchio, a film critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,[19] and Andy Brack of Charleston City Paper.[20] Gary Allen Smith, author of the book Epic Films, complimented Ferrigno's physical strength and aesthetics in the film: "At 6'5" and 262 pounds, he is a massive and thoroughly convincing Hercules".[21] In 2014, Decider named Ferrigno the tenth "hottest onscreen Hercules ever".[22]
In 1983, Ferrigno appeared as John Six in the short-lived medical drama Trauma Center.[23]
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, enduring their jokes about him being the Hulk.
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.[24] In the latter film, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) bribes him with a pizza to gain entry into a university building. He voiced the Hulk in other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, uncredited.[7][25][26] He voiced the Hulk until 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.[27][28] Mark Ruffalo has voiced Hulk in subsequent films.[29]
He trained Michael Jackson intermittently beginning in the early 1990s, and in 2009, he helped Jackson get into shape for a planned series of concerts in London,[30] which were ultimately cancelled due to Jackson's death.
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.
Ferrigno has his own line of fitness equipment called Ferrigno Fitness. In January 2009, he provided equipment to The Price Is Right for use as a One Bid prize, and demonstrated the equipment himself.[31]
In 2016, Ferrigno appeared as a playable Lego version of himself in Lego Marvel's Avengers.[32]
In February 2006, Ferrigno was sworn in as a Los Angeles County, California, reserve sheriff's deputy, Level II.[33] In November 2010, Maricopa County, Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio swore Ferrigno in as a member of a volunteer sheriff posse, which also included actors Steven Seagal and Peter Lupus, in order to help control illegal immigration in the Phoenix Valley area.[34]
Ferrigno was a contestant on season five of the NBC reality television series The Celebrity Apprentice, which premiered in February 2012. He appeared on the program in order to raise money for his charity, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Ferrigno was Team Unanimous' project manager for the task depicted in the fifth episode, "I'm Going to Mop the Floor With You," which was to create a viral video to promote O-Cedar's ProMist Spray Mop, placing him in competition with actress Tia Carrere, the project manager of the women's team, Forte. In addition to the usual $20,000 awarded to the charity of the project manager of the winning team, O-Cedar pledged an additional $30,000 for that task. Team Unanimous' video—in which Ferrigno appeared dancing while mopping—won the task, winning the $50,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association.[35] He was fired in episode nine, "Ad Hawk", which involved creating a 60-second commercial for Entertainment.com.[36]
In June 2012, Ferrigno was sworn in as a reserve deputy to the San Luis Obispo County, California, Sheriff's Department.[37] There he completed his level I law enforcement academy, bringing his training up to full peace officer status. In September 2013, Ferrigno was sworn in as a special deputy to the Delaware County, Ohio, Sheriff's Department.[38]
In 2017, Ferrigno was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.[39]
In May 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Ferrigno to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.[40]
Due to ear infections he had soon after birth, Ferrigno lost 75 to 80% of his hearing and has been using hearing aids since the age of five.[41] 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."[4] Later in life, he received a cochlear implant which restored much of his hearing.[6]
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; she 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 film 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.[42] He currently plays a recurring role in the TV series S.W.A.T., airing on CBS.[43]
Ferrigno has filed suit against his younger brother, Andrew, on two occasions over the use of the name Ferrigno in business ventures.[44][45]
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Pumping Iron | Himself | Docudrama |
| 1983 | Hercules | Hercules | |
| The Seven Magnificent Gladiators | Han | ||
| 1985 | The Adventures of Hercules | Hercules | Sequel to Hercules |
| 1987 | Undershorts: The Movie | Hulk | Short: "The Incredible Bulk"[48] |
| 1988 | Desert Warrior | Zerak | |
| 1989 | Sinbad of the Seven Seas | Sinbad | |
| Cage | Billy Thomas | ||
| All's Fair | Klaus | ||
| Liberty & Bash | Bash | ||
| 1993 | And God Spoke | Himself | |
| 1994 | Cage II | Billy Thomas | |
| 1996 | Stand Tall | Himself | Docudrama |
| 1998 | The Godson | Bugsy | |
| 2003 | Hulk | Hulk | Voice |
| Security guard | Cameo | ||
| 2008 | The Incredible Hulk | Hulk | Voice |
| Security Guard | Cameo | ||
| 2009 | I Love You, Man | Himself | |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Hulk | Voice collaboration (uncredited)[25] |
| 2014 | Moms' Night Out | Cameo | |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Hulk | Voice collaboration (uncredited)[25] |
| The Scorpion King: The Lost Throne | Skizurra | Direct-to-video | |
| Avengers Grimm | Iron John | ||
| 2017 | Instant Death | John Bradley | Lead Role |
| Thor: Ragnarok | Hulk | Voice collaboration (uncredited)[49] | |
| 2019 | Ring Ring | Mr. Daniels |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk | Hulk | Pilot movie |
| World's Strongest Man | Himself / competitor | 4th place | |
| 1978–82 | The Incredible Hulk | Hulk | 82 episodes |
| 1979 | Billy | Cameo | |
| 1980 | Mister Rogers' Neighborhood | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | The Fall Guy | Six | Episode: "Trauma" |
| Trauma Center | John Six | 13 episodes | |
| 1984 | Matt Houston | Steve Otto | Episode: "Blood Ties" |
| 1985 | Night Court | The Klondike Butcher | Episode: "The Battling Bailiff" |
| Amazing Stories | Hulk | Episode: "Remote Control Man"; uncredited[citation needed] | |
| 1988 | The Incredible Hulk Returns | Movie | |
| 1989 | The Trial of the Incredible Hulk | ||
| 1990 | The Death of the Incredible Hulk | ||
| 1996–1997 | The Incredible Hulk | Voice role | |
| 2000–07 | The King of Queens | Lou Ferrigno | 20 episodes |
| 2002 | Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron | Himself | Documentary |
| 2004 | My Wife and Kids | Big Guy | Episode "Illegal Smile" |
| Reno 911! | Deputy Cletus Senior | Episode: "Department Investigation: Part 2" | |
| 2010 | Chuck | Sofia Stepanova's bodyguard | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Suitcase" |
| Sonny with a Chance | Himself | Episode: "My Two Chads" | |
| 2010–16 | Adventure Time | Billy / Bobby | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Celebrity Apprentice | Himself | 8 episodes (9th fired) |
| Next Great Baker | Guest judge | Episode: "Cake Powers, Activate!" | |
| 2014 | Star Trek Continues | Zaminhon | Web series; episode: "Lolani"[50] |
| 2016 | We Bare Bears | Paul | Episode: "Yard Sale" |
| 2022 | The Offer | Lenny Montana | Miniseries |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Lego Marvel's Avengers | Himself / Hulk | Can transform into the Hulk | .[51] |
