Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
October 9, 1932
Place of Birth:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Social Media
Gene LeBell
Biography
Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) 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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Biography: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper | Self |
| 2020 | The Search for Count Dante | |
| 2019 | The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes | |
| 2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | The Boss |
| 2012 | I Am Bruce Lee | Self |
| 2009 | From Mexico With Love | Referee |
| 2008 | Redbelt | Old Stuntman |
| 2006 | Bottoms Up | Milt |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
| 2004 | Cellular | Driving Instructor (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Jackass: The Movie | Self |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Subway Passenger (uncredited) |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Veteran with Gun |
| 1999 | Running Red | Mercier's Bodyguard |
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Foxy Jackson Referee |
| 1998 | Hard Time | Eddie |
| 1998 | Rush Hour | Taxi Driver |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard |
| 1997 | Double Tap | Wallace |
| 1996 | Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal | NYC bouncer |
| 1995 | 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up | Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Jury Duty | Security Guard (uncredited) |
| 1994 | Ring of Steel | MiB Bodyguard |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Ring Announcer |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | Rioter (uncredited) |
| 1992 | Bloodfist IV: Die Trying | Burly |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire | Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited) |
| 1991 | Eyes of an Angel | Pit Bull Handler |
| 1991 | Kickboxer 2: The Road Back | Referee |
| 1991 | Alligator 2: The Mutation | Referee |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons | Grimmer's Man |
| 1988 | Dead Heat | |
| 1987 | Death Wish 4: The Crackdown | Cannery Guard |
| 1987 | Number One with a Bullet | Referee |
| 1986 | Bad Guys | Terrible Turk Mc Gurk |
| 1986 | The Golden Child | Drunken Biker (uncredited) |
| 1986 | Welcome to 18 | Motorcycle Cop |
| 1984 | Micki & Maude | Wrestling Referee |
| 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid | Hood |
| 1981 | Smokey Bites the Dust | Turk |
| 1981 | Heartbeeps | Forklift Driver Robot |
| 1981 | Going Ape! | Faraday |
| 1980 | Airplane! | Religious Zealot (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Raging Bull | Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight) |
| 1980 | The Big Brawl | Stroke |
| 1980 | Foolin' Around | Paul |
| 1979 | Flesh & Blood | 2nd Fat Guy |
| 1979 | Goldie and the Boxer | Vinnie |
| 1979 | Marciano | Ring Announcer |
| 1979 | The Jerk | Con Man |
| 1979 | Americathon | Referee |
| 1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | Mean Bones' Manager |
| 1978 | Every Which Way but Loose | Biker |
| 1978 | I Wanna Hold Your Hand | Theatre Cop: Reese |
| 1978 | The One and Only | Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited) |
| 1978 | Almost Summer | Football Coach |
| 1976 | No Way Back | |
| 1974 | Black Samson | Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell) |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jones | Mommy's Henchman (uncredited) |
| 1973 | Walking Tall | 2nd Bouncer |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Off | Leo (uncredited) |
| 1972 | Melinda | Hood |
| 1972 | Hammer | Referee |
| 1972 | Blacula | Second Dracula Henchman |
| 1970 | The Challenge | Karate Instructor |
| 1966 | Paradise, Hawaiian Style | |
| 1961 | Blue Hawaii | (uncredited) |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Sarah Silverman Program. | Carl |
| 2003 | Reno 911! | Old Man on Scooter |
| 2003 | Reno 911! | Grandpa |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine | Referee |
| 1998 | That '70s Show | Referee |
| 1993 | The X-Files | Bartender |
| 1992 | The Human Factor | Referee |
| 1987 | Married... with Children | Larry |
| 1987 | Married... with Children | Referee |
| 1987 | Married... with Children | Black Ben |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer! | Archbishop |
| 1985 | MacGyver | Murph |
| 1982 | T. J. Hooker | James Wallace |
| 1982 | Knight Rider | Junior |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest | Union Guy |
| 1981 | Simon & Simon | |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart | |
| 1978 | Taxi | Referee |
| 1978 | Taxi | The Referee |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk | |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E. | |
| 1975 | Baretta | |
| 1974 | Dinah! | Self |
| 1968 | Land of the Giants | Mezron's Brother |
| 1967 | Ironside | |
| 1966 | The Green Hornet | Barney |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild West | Felix |
| 1964 | The Munsters | Tarzan McGirk |
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Wrestler |
| 1962 | The Beverly Hillbillies |