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

2008

Redbelt as Old Stuntman

2007

The Sarah Silverman Program as Carl
Reno 911!: Miami ... (Stunts)

2006

Beerfest ... (Stunts)
Smokin' Aces ... (Stunts)
Bottoms Up as Milt

2005

Mr. & Mrs. Smith ... (Utility Stunts)

2004

Spider-Man 2 as Train Passenger (uncredited)
Cellular as Driving Instructor (uncredited)
Starsky & Hutch ... (Stunts)

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

The Last Castle ... (Stunts)
Bandits ... (Stunts)
Rat Race as Veteran with Gun

2000

Strong Medicine as Referee
Dude, Where's My Car? ... (Stunts)
The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave ... (Stunts)

1999

End of Days ... (Utility Stunts)
Man on the Moon as Foxy Jackson Referee
Mystery Men ... (Stunts)
Running Red as Mercier's Bodyguard
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)
As Good as It Gets ... (Stunts)
Batman & Robin as Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
Liar Liar ... (Stunts)
Dante's Peak ... (Stunts)
Bean ... (Stunts)
Vegas Vacation ... (Stunts)
Double Tap as Wallace
Gone Fishin' ... (Stunts)
The Brave ... (Stunts)
Trial and Error ... (Stunts)
On the Edge of Innocence as Security Guard
Judge and Jury ... (Stunts)

1996

Independence Day ... (Stunts)
Jingle All the Way ... (Stunts)
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal as NYC bouncer

1995

Waterworld ... (Stunts)
Money Train ... (Stunts)
Strange Days ... (Stunts)
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up as Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
Jury Duty as Security Guard (uncredited)
Steel Frontier ... (Stunts)
Ballistic ... (Stunts)

1994

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult ... (Stunts)
Blown Away ... (Stunts)
Ed Wood as Ring Announcer
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

Army of Darkness ... (Stunts)
Patriot Games ... (Stunts)
Rapid Fire as Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)
The Human Factor as Referee
Night and the City ... (Stunts)
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying as Burly

1991

Hook ... (Stunts)
The Last Boy Scout ... (Stunts)
Out for Justice ... (Stunts)
Trancers II ... (Stunts)
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back as Referee
Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
Dutch ... (Stunts)
Eyes of an Angel as Pit Bull Handler
For the Boys ... (Stunts)
Write to Kill ... (Stunts)

1990

Total Recall ... (Stunts)
Die Hard 2 ... (Stunts)
RoboCop 2 ... (Stunts)
Darkman ... (Stunts)
Hard to Kill ... (Stunts)
Death Warrant ... (Stunts)
Problem Child ... (Stunts)
Dick Tracy ... (Stunts)
Marked for Death ... (Stunts)
Men at Work ... (Stunts)
Internal Affairs ... (Stunts)
Loose Cannons as Grimmer's Man
Almost an Angel ... (Stunts)

1989

Family Matters as Referee
Tango & Cash ... (Stunts)
Fletch Lives ... (Stunts)
No Holds Barred ... (Stunts)

1988

Dead Heat
Mac and Me ... (Stunts)

1987

Married... with Children as Larry
RoboCop ... (Stunts)
The Lost Boys ... (Stunts)
The Running Man ... (Stunts)
Blind Date ... (Stunts)
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown as Cannery Guard
Nightforce ... (Stunts)
Number One with a Bullet as Referee
Code Name: Zebra ... (Stunts)

1986

Sledge Hammer! as Archbishop
The Golden Child as Drunken Biker (uncredited)
The Morning After ... (Stunts)
Eye of the Tiger ... (Stunts)
A Fine Mess ... (Stunts)
Bad Guys as Terrible Turk Mc Gurk
Welcome to 18 as Motorcycle Cop

1985

MacGyver as Murph
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning ... (Stunts)
Rocky IV ... (Stunts)
Runaway Train ... (Stunts)
Fletch ... (Stunts)
D.A.R.Y.L. ... (Stunts)
City Limits ... (Stunts)

1984

The Master as Brawler (uncredited)
City Heat as Garage Soldier
Johnny Dangerously ... (Stunts)
Micki & Maude as Wrestling Referee

1983

Losin' It ... (Stunts)
Heart Like a Wheel ... (Stunts)

1982

Knight Rider as Junior
T. J. Hooker as James Wallace
The Beastmaster ... (Stunts)
They Call Me Bruce? ... (Stunts)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid as Hood
White Dog ... (Stunts)

1981

Falcon Crest as Union Guy
Simon & Simon
Going Ape! as Faraday
Smokey Bites the Dust as Turk
Heartbeeps as Forklift Driver Robot

1980

Magnum, P.I. ... (Stunt Double)
Airplane! as Religious Zealot (uncredited)
Raging Bull as Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)
Foolin' Around as Paul
The Big Brawl as Stroke
Bronco Billy ... (Stunts)
Inside Moves ... (Stunts)

1979

Hart to Hart as Heavy #2
The Jerk as Con Man
Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
Americathon as Referee
Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
Goldie and the Boxer as Vinnie
The Fantastic Seven ... (Stunts)
The Prize Fighter ... (Stunts)
Marciano as Ring Announcer

1978

Taxi as Referee
Fantasy Island as The Referee
Every Which Way but Loose as Biker
The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
The Fifth Floor ... (Stunts)
Almost Summer as Football Coach

1977

The Incredible Hulk
Black Sunday ... (Stunts)

1976

Quincy, M.E.
Rocky ... (Stunts)
King Kong ... (Stunts)
The Big Bus ... (Stunts)
No Way Back

1975

The Day of the Locust ... (Stunts)
Let's Do It Again ... (Stunts)

1974

Dinah! as Self
The Towering Inferno ... (Stunts)
Earthquake ... (Stunts)
Busting ... (Stunts)
Freebie and the Bean ... (Stunts)
The Gambler ... (Stunts)
California Split ... (Stunts)
99 and 44/100% Dead ... (Stunts)
Black Samson as Nappa's Gang

1973

Walking Tall as 2nd Bouncer
Hell Up In Harlem ... (Stunts)
Cleopatra Jones as Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off as Leo (uncredited)

1972

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
Blacula as Second Dracula Henchman
Melinda as Hood
Hammer as Referee

1970

Beneath the Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
There Was a Crooked Man... ... (Stunts)
The Challenge as Karate Instructor

1968

Land of the Giants as Mezron's Brother
Planet of the Apes ... (Stunts)
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)

1962

The Beverly Hillbillies

1961

Blue Hawaii as (uncredited)