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

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

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)
Jackass: The Movie as Self
Deuces Wild ... (Stunts)

2001

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

2000

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

1999

End of Days ... (Utility Stunts)
Mystery Men ... (Stunts)
Man on the Moon as Foxy Jackson Referee
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

Batman & Robin as Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
Liar Liar ... (Stunts)
L.A. Confidential ... (Stunts)
Dante's Peak ... (Stunts)
As Good as It Gets ... (Stunts)
Bean ... (Stunts)
Vegas Vacation ... (Stunts)
Gone Fishin' ... (Stunts)
Double Tap as Wallace
The Brave ... (Stunts)
Trial and Error ... (Stunts)
Judge and Jury ... (Stunts)
On the Edge of Innocence as Security Guard

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
Conflict of Interest ... (Stunts)
C.I.A. II: Target Alexa ... (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
Dutch ... (Stunts)
Eyes of an Angel as Pit Bull Handler
For the Boys ... (Stunts)
Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
Write to Kill ... (Stunts)

1990

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

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 Running Man ... (Stunts)
The Lost Boys ... (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)
A Fine Mess ... (Stunts)
Eye of the Tiger ... (Stunts)
Bad Guys as Terrible Turk Mc Gurk
Welcome to 18 as Motorcycle Cop

1985

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

1984

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

1983

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

1982

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

1979

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

1978

Fantasy Island as The Referee
Taxi as Referee
Every Which Way but Loose as Biker
The Fifth Floor ... (Stunts)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
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)
The Gambler ... (Stunts)
Busting ... (Stunts)
California Split ... (Stunts)
Freebie and the Bean ... (Stunts)
Black Samson as Nappa's Gang
99 and 44/100% Dead ... (Stunts)

1973

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

1972

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

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)