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
2019
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)
- Beerfest ... (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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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)
- Trial and Error ... (Stunts)
- Double Tap as Wallace
- 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)
- Eyes of an Angel as Pit Bull Handler
- Kickboxer 2: The Road Back as Referee
- Dutch ... (Stunts)
- Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
- For the Boys ... (Stunts)
- Trancers II ... (Stunts)
- Write to Kill ... (Stunts)
1990
- Total Recall ... (Stunts)
- Die Hard 2 ... (Stunts)
- RoboCop 2 ... (Stunts)
- Hard to Kill ... (Stunts)
- Problem Child ... (Stunts)
- Death Warrant ... (Stunts)
- Darkman ... (Stunts)
- Dick Tracy ... (Stunts)
- Marked for Death ... (Stunts)
- Men at Work ... (Stunts)
- Internal Affairs ... (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 Lost Boys ... (Stunts)
- The Running Man ... (Stunts)
- Blind Date ... (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)
- 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)
- Fletch ... (Stunts)
- D.A.R.Y.L. ... (Stunts)
- City Limits ... (Stunts)
1984
- The Master as Brawler (uncredited)
- 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
- White Dog ... (Stunts)
- They Call Me Bruce? ... (Stunts)
1981
- Falcon Crest as Union Guy
- Simon & Simon
- Heartbeeps as Forklift Driver Robot
- Going Ape! as Faraday
- 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)
- Inside Moves ... (Stunts)
- Foolin' Around as Paul
1979
- Hart to Hart
- The Jerk as Con Man
- Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
- Americathon as Referee
- Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
- The Fantastic Seven ... (Stunts)
- Goldie and the Boxer as Vinnie
- Marciano as Ring Announcer
- The Prize Fighter ... (Stunts)
1978
- Fantasy Island as The Referee
- Taxi as Referee
- Every Which Way but Loose as Biker
- The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
- The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
- Almost Summer as Football Coach
- The Fifth Floor ... (Stunts)
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 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)
- 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)
1961
- Blue Hawaii as (uncredited)