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

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

Batman & Robin as Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
L.A. Confidential ... (Stunts)
Liar Liar ... (Stunts)
Bean ... (Stunts)
Dante's Peak ... (Stunts)
As Good as It Gets ... (Stunts)
Vegas Vacation ... (Stunts)
Gone Fishin' ... (Stunts)
The Brave ... (Stunts)
Double Tap as Wallace
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)
Strange Days ... (Stunts)
Money Train ... (Stunts)
Jury Duty as Security Guard (uncredited)
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up as Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
Steel Frontier ... (Stunts)
Ballistic ... (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

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
Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
For the Boys ... (Stunts)
Write to Kill ... (Stunts)

1990

Die Hard 2 ... (Stunts)
Total Recall ... (Stunts)
Dick Tracy ... (Stunts)
Problem Child ... (Stunts)
RoboCop 2 ... (Stunts)
Darkman ... (Stunts)
Marked for Death ... (Stunts)
Hard to Kill ... (Stunts)
Death Warrant ... (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

Mac and Me ... (Stunts)
Dead Heat

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

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
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)
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
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
Americathon as Referee
Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
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
I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
The Fifth Floor ... (Stunts)
The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
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)
The Gambler ... (Stunts)
Freebie and the Bean ... (Stunts)
California Split ... (Stunts)
Black Samson as Nappa's Gang
99 and 44/100% Dead ... (Stunts)

1973

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

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)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Three on a Couch ... (Stunts)

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)