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Gene LeBell
Actor
Born October 9, 1932 (89 years)
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.
Filmography
| 2022 | Bruce Lee: The Way of the Warrior · as actor |
| 2019 | Through My Father's Eyes · as Unknown |
| 2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece · as The Boss |
| 2014 | Kingdom (2014) (TV Series) · as actor |
| 2009 | Blood and Bone · as Attendant |
| 2009 | From Mexico with Love · as Referee |
| 2008 | Redbelt · as Old Stuntman |
| 2007 | The Sarah Silverman Program (TV Series) · as Carl |
| 2006 | Bottoms Up · as Milt |
| 2004 | Cellular · as Driving Instructor (uncredited) |
| 2003 | Las Vegas (TV Series) · as Gambling Patron |
| 2003 | Reno 911! (TV Series) · as Old Man on Scooter |
| 2002 | Men in Black II · as Subway Passenger (uncredited) |
| 2001 | Rat Race · as Veteran with Gun |
| 2001 | 24 (TV Series) · as Elderly worker |
| 2000 | Down 'n Dirty · as Henchman |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1999 | Running Red · as Mercier's Bodyguard |
| 1999 | Man on the Moon · as Foxy Jackson Referee |
| 1998 | Rush Hour · as Taxi Driver |
| 1998 | Hard Time · as Eddie |
| 1998 | That '70s Show (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro (TV Series) · as Henchman |
| 1997 | Double Tap · as Wallace |
| 1997 | On the Edge of Innocence · as Security Guard |
| 1996 | Shaughnessy · as NYC bouncer |
| 1996 | The Real Thing · as Proprietor |
| 1995 | 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up · as Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky |
| 1995 | Jury Duty · as Security Guard |
| 1994 | Ed Wood · as Ring Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1994 | Ring of Steel · as MiB Bodyguard |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. · as Rioter |
| 1993 | Nowhere to Run · as Bulldozer Man |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) · as Thug |
| 1993 | The X-Files (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire · as Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited) |
| 1992 | Bloodfist IV: Die Trying · as Burly |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Various Characters |
| 1991 | Kickboxer 2: The Road Back · as Referee |
| 1991 | Alligator II: The Mutation · as Referee |
| 1991 | Eyes of an Angel · as Pit Bull Handler |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons · as Grimmer's man |
| 1989 | Baywatch (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1989 | Family Matters (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1988 | Freeway · as CHP officer |
| 1988 | Dead Heat · as Guard |
| 1987 | Blind Date · as Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1987 | Number One with a Bullet · as Referee |
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid · as Big Mac |
| 1987 | Married... with Children (TV Series) · as Black Ben |
| 1987 | Death Wish 4: The Crackdown · as Cannery Guard |
| 1986 | The Golden Child · as Drunken Biker (uncredited) |
| 1986 | Eye of the Tiger · as Biker Goon |
| 1986 | Streets of Gold · as Reporter |
| 1986 | Bad Guys · as Terrible Turk McGurk |
| 1986 | Welcome to 18 · as Motorcycle Cop |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer! (TV Series) · as Archbishop |
| 1986 | Perfect Strangers (TV Series) · as Security Guard #1 |
| 1986 | Amen (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1985 | Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins · as Red |
| 1985 | Gotcha! · as KGB #1 |
| 1985 | Misfits of Science (TV Series) · as Headsman |
| 1985 | MacGyver (TV Series) · as Murph |
| 1984 | City Heat · as Garage Soldier |
| 1984 | Micki + Maude · as Wrestling Referee |
| 1984 | City Limits · as Border Guard |
| 1984 | Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Biker |
| 1984 | The Master (TV Series) · as Brawler |
| 1984 | Cover Up (TV Series) · as Deputy |
| 1983 | Automan (TV Series) · as 3rd Gang Member |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker (TV Series) · as James Wallace |
| 1982 | Knight Rider (TV Series) · as Junior |
| 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid · as Hood |
| 1981 | Smokey Bites the Dust · as Turk |
| 1981 | Going Ape! · as Faraday |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1981 | Dynasty (TV Series) · as Oil Worker |
| 1981 | Bret Maverick (TV Series) · as Wrestler |
| 1981 | The Greatest American Hero (TV Series) · as Thug |
| 1981 | The Fall Guy (TV Series) · as Biker |
| 1981 | Simon & Simon (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1980 | Raging Bull · as Ring Announcer - Reeves Fight |
| 1980 | Foolin' Around · as Paul |
| 1980 | Battle Creek Brawl · as Stroke (as Gene La Bell) |
| 1980 | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series) · as Security Guard |
| 1979 | The Jerk · as Con Man |
| 1979 | Americathon · as Referee |
| 1979 | Marciano · as Ring announcer |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1978 | The One and Only · as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited) |
| 1978 | I Wanna Hold Your Hand · as Theatre Cop: Reese |
| 1978 | Almost Summer · as Football Coach |
| 1978 | Taxi (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1978 | Every Which Way but Loose · as Biker |
| 1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan · as Mean Bones' Manager |
| 1977 | Man from Atlantis (TV Series) · as Ditcher |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as The Referee |
| 1976 | The Big Bus · as Bus Driver in Bar |
| 1976 | No Way Back · as Unknown |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E. (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1976 | Future Cop (TV Series) · as Referee #2 |
| 1975 | At Long Last Love · as Boxer |
| 1975 | A Matter of Wife... and Death · as actor |
| 1975 | Starsky & Hutch (TV Series) · as Hillard thug |
| 1975 | Baretta (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1975 | Barbary Coast (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1974 | Black Samson · as Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell) |
| 1974 | The Green Hornet · as Barney |
| 1974 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) · as Thug |
| 1974 | The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series) · as Guard |
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series) · as Officer Tim Olson |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jones · as Mommy's Henchman (uncredited) |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Off · as Leo (uncredited) |
| 1973 | Kojak (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) · as Brawler |
| 1973 | Walking Tall · as 2nd Bouncer |
| 1972 | Blacula · as 2nd Dracula henchman. |
| 1972 | Hammer · as Referee |
| 1972 | Melinda · as Hood |
| 1972 | Kung Fu (TV Series) · as Fighter |
| 1970 | The Challenge · as Karate Instructor |
| 1968 | The Outcasts (TV Series) · as Prisoner |
| 1968 | Land of the Giants (TV Series) · as Mezron's Brother |
| 1967 | The Happiest Millionaire · as Barfly |
| 1967 | Ironside (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1967 | Mannix (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1966 | Paradise, Hawaiian Style · as (uncredited) |
| 1966 | Three on a Couch · as Mr. Five by Five |
| 1966 | Mission: Impossible (TV Series) · as Sudow |
| 1966 | The Green Hornet (TV Series) · as Barney |
| 1966 | Batman (TV Series) · as Cossack |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild West (TV Series) · as Felix |
| 1965 | I Spy (TV Series) · as Man |
| 1964 | The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) · as Guard |
| 1964 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV Series) · as Vulcan Crew Member |
| 1964 | The Munsters (TV Series) · as Tarzan McGirk |
| 1964 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (TV Series) · as Drunk in Bar |
| 1963 | 4 for Texas · as Thomas Worker |
| 1963 | General Hospital (TV Series) · as Harbormaster |
| 1962 | The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1961 | Blue Hawaii · as (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (TV Series) · as Hood |
| 1950 | The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) · as Gene LeBell |