Gene LeBell
Born: 1932-10-09 in Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: 2022-08-09
Known For: Acting
Biography
Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) is an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and former professional wrestler. Nicknamed "the Godfather of Grappling", LeBell is widely credited with popularizing grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted LeBell to 10th Degree and in February 2005, he was promoted to 9th Dan in Traditional Judo by the USJJF. LeBell served as an inspiration for the character of Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Filmography
2018
- Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece as The Boss
2012
- I Am Bruce Lee as Self
2009
- From Mexico With Love as Referee
2008
- Redbelt as Old Stuntman
2007
- The Sarah Silverman Program. as Carl
- Reno 911!: Miami ... (Stunts)
2006
- Smokin' Aces ... (Stunts)
- Bottoms Up as Milt
- Beerfest ... (Stunts)
2005
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith ... (Utility Stunts)
2004
- Spider-Man 2 as Train Passenger (uncredited)
- Starsky & Hutch ... (Stunts)
- Cellular as Driving Instructor (uncredited)
2003
- Reno 911! as Old Man on Scooter
- Bruce Almighty ... (Stunts)
2002
- Men in Black II as Subway Passenger (uncredited)
- Deuces Wild ... (Stunts)
- Jackass: The Movie as Self
2001
- Rat Race as Veteran with Gun
- Bandits ... (Stunts)
- The Last Castle ... (Stunts)
2000
- Strong Medicine as Referee
- Dude, Where's My Car? ... (Stunts)
- The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave ... (Stunts)
1999
- Mystery Men ... (Stunts)
- End of Days ... (Utility Stunts)
- Running Red as Mercier's Bodyguard
- Man on the Moon as Foxy Jackson Referee
- The Hunter's Moon ... (Stunts)
1998
- That '70s Show as Referee
- Rush Hour as Taxi Driver
- U.S. Marshals ... (Stunts)
- Hard Time as Eddie
1997
- L.A. Confidential ... (Stunts)
- Batman & Robin as Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
- Bean ... (Stunts)
- Liar Liar ... (Stunts)
- Gone Fishin' ... (Stunts)
- The Brave ... (Stunts)
- Dante's Peak ... (Stunts)
- As Good as It Gets ... (Stunts)
- Double Tap as Wallace
- Trial and Error ... (Stunts)
- Vegas Vacation ... (Stunts)
- On the Edge of Innocence as Security Guard
- Judge and Jury ... (Stunts)
1996
- Jingle All the Way ... (Stunts)
- Independence Day ... (Stunts)
- Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal as NYC bouncer
1995
- Waterworld ... (Stunts)
- Jury Duty as Security Guard (uncredited)
- Money Train ... (Stunts)
- Steel Frontier ... (Stunts)
- Ballistic ... (Stunts)
- 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up as Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
- Strange Days ... (Stunts)
1994
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult ... (Stunts)
- Ed Wood as Ring Announcer
- Blown Away ... (Stunts)
- M.A.N.T.I.S. as Rioter (uncredited)
- Ring of Steel as MiB Bodyguard
1993
- The X-Files as Bartender
- C.I.A. II: Target Alexa ... (Stunts)
- Conflict of Interest ... (Stunts)
1992
- Patriot Games ... (Stunts)
- Rapid Fire as Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)
- Army of Darkness ... (Stunts)
- Bloodfist IV: Die Trying as Burly
- Night and the City ... (Stunts)
- The Human Factor as Referee
1991
- Hook ... (Stunts)
- The Last Boy Scout ... (Stunts)
- Dutch ... (Stunts)
- Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth ... (Stunts)
- Kickboxer 2: The Road Back as Referee
- Out for Justice ... (Stunts)
- Eyes of an Angel as Pit Bull Handler
- Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
- For the Boys ... (Stunts)
- Write to Kill ... (Stunts)
1990
- Die Hard 2 ... (Stunts)
- Total Recall ... (Stunts)
- RoboCop 2 ... (Stunts)
- Internal Affairs ... (Stunts)
- Hard to Kill ... (Stunts)
- Loose Cannons as Grimmer's Man
- Dick Tracy ... (Stunts)
- Death Warrant ... (Stunts)
- Darkman ... (Stunts)
- Almost an Angel ... (Stunts)
- Problem Child ... (Stunts)
- Men at Work ... (Stunts)
- Marked for Death ... (Stunts)
1989
- Family Matters as Referee
- Tango & Cash ... (Stunts)
- No Holds Barred ... (Stunts)
- Fletch Lives ... (Stunts)
1988
- Dead Heat
- Mac and Me ... (Stunts)
1987
- Married... with Children as Larry
- The Running Man ... (Stunts)
- Blind Date ... (Stunts)
- RoboCop ... (Stunts)
- The Lost Boys ... (Stunts)
- Death Wish 4: The Crackdown as Cannery Guard
- Number One with a Bullet as Referee
- Nightforce ... (Stunts)
- Code Name: Zebra ... (Stunts)
1986
- Sledge Hammer! as Archbishop
- The Golden Child as Drunken Biker (uncredited)
- Bad Guys as Terrible Turk Mc Gurk
- Eye of the Tiger ... (Stunts)
- The Morning After ... (Stunts)
- A Fine Mess ... (Stunts)
- Welcome to 18 as Motorcycle Cop
1985
- MacGyver as Murph
- Rocky IV ... (Stunts)
- Fletch ... (Stunts)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning ... (Stunts)
- City Limits ... (Stunts)
- D.A.R.Y.L. ... (Stunts)
- Runaway Train ... (Stunts)
1984
- Johnny Dangerously ... (Stunts)
- Micki & Maude as Wrestling Referee
- The Master as Brawler (uncredited)
1983
- Losin' It ... (Stunts)
- Heart Like a Wheel ... (Stunts)
1982
- Knight Rider as Junior
- T. J. Hooker as James Wallace
- The Beastmaster ... (Stunts)
- White Dog ... (Stunts)
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid as Hood
- They Call Me Bruce? ... (Stunts)
1981
- Falcon Crest as Union Guy
- Simon & Simon
- Going Ape! as Faraday
- Heartbeeps as Forklift Driver Robot
- Smokey Bites the Dust as Turk
1980
- Magnum, P.I. ... (Stunt Double)
- Airplane! as Religious Zealot (uncredited)
- Raging Bull as Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)
- The Big Brawl as Stroke
- Foolin' Around as Paul
- Inside Moves ... (Stunts)
- Bronco Billy ... (Stunts)
1979
- Hart to Hart
- The Jerk as Con Man
- Americathon as Referee
- Marciano as Ring Announcer
- The Prize Fighter ... (Stunts)
- The Fantastic Seven ... (Stunts)
- Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
- Goldie and the Boxer as Vinnie
1978
- Taxi as Referee
- Almost Summer as Football Coach
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
- The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
- Every Which Way but Loose as Biker
- The Fifth Floor ... (Stunts)
- The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
1977
- The Incredible Hulk
- Black Sunday ... (Stunts)
1976
- Quincy, M.E.
- Rocky ... (Stunts)
- King Kong ... (Stunts)
- The Big Bus ... (Stunts)
- No Way Back
1975
- Baretta
- The Day of the Locust ... (Stunts)
- Let's Do It Again ... (Stunts)
1974
- Dinah! as Self
- The Gambler ... (Stunts)
- California Split ... (Stunts)
- Busting ... (Stunts)
- Earthquake ... (Stunts)
- The Towering Inferno ... (Stunts)
- Black Samson as Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell)
- Freebie and the Bean ... (Stunts)
- 99 and 44/100% Dead ... (Stunts)
1973
- Walking Tall as 2nd Bouncer
- Hell Up In Harlem ... (Stunts)
- Slaughter's Big Rip-Off as Leo (uncredited)
- Cleopatra Jones as Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)
1972
- Blacula as Second Dracula Henchman
- Melinda as Hood
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
- Hammer as Referee
1970
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
- There Was a Crooked Man... ... (Stunts)
- The Challenge as Karate Instructor
1968
- Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
- Land of the Giants as Mezron's Brother
- The Split ... (Stunts)
- Don't Just Stand There ... (Stunt Coordinator)
1967
- Ironside
- The Happiest Millionaire ... (Stunt Coordinator)
1966
- The Green Hornet as Barney
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? ... (Stunts)
- Three on a Couch ... (Stunts)
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style
1965
- The Wild Wild West as Felix
- 7 Women ... (Stunts)
1964
- The Munsters as Tarzan McGirk
1963
- Burke's Law as Wrestler
- 4 for Texas ... (Stunts)
1961
- Blue Hawaii as (uncredited)