LA
Louis Albano
Actor
Born July 29, 1933Died October 14, 2009 (76 years)
Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995. Throughout his 42-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and four singles competitors to championship gold. Albano was part of the "Triumvirate of Terror," a threesome of nefarious WWF managers that also included The Grand Wizard of Wrestling and Freddie Blassie. The trio would be fixtures in the company for a decade, until the Grand Wizard's death in 1983. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, Albano was the forefather of the 1980s Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling's crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, he later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects. He became well-known to a new generation of fans as the actor and voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! In 1953, Albano married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Tango. The marriage lasted 56 years, until his death. Albano has been noted by several others for his faithfulness to his wife, a rare characteristic in the on-the-road world of 1970s and 1980s professional wrestling.
Albano released his autobiography, Often Imitated, Never Duplicated, on July 20, 2008 through his website. The book includes a foreword by Cyndi Lauper.
The other Albano siblings are Vincent, George, Eleanor, and Carl, all of whom became teachers. Albano's brother, Carl, taught health for 32 years at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was head of the Ridgewood High health department from 1974 until 2001. Carl's students have noted that he used his brother Lou as an example of the difference between crazy and unique. George served as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Vernon, New York and often brought Lou in to delight the school's students during their lunch hour. Vincent was an art teacher and lived part-time in a lake house in Connecticut. Eleanor was a music teacher for preschool students in Connecticut and impacts the lives of countless students through music.
Albano's son, Carl Albano, has been a member of the Putnam County Legislature since 2011.
During the 1990s, Albano shed 150 pounds (70 kg) following a health scare. In May 2005, Albano suffered a heart attack, but later recovered. Albano was sent home from the hospital and again began watching his health.
The song "Captain Lou" by Kimya Dawson is dedicated to him.
In 1983 the band NRBQ wrote a song about Albano called "Captain Lou." Albano was featured as a singer on that song as well on another called "Boardin' House Pie." Both of these songs appear on NRBQ's Tap Dancin' Bats compilation, their Lou and Q spoken-word comedy record, as well as their out-of-print, hard-to-find single which Albano used to sell at his wrestling matches.
Albano died on October 14, 2009 of a heart attack while residing in hospice care.He was 76 years old.
Albano released his autobiography, Often Imitated, Never Duplicated, on July 20, 2008 through his website. The book includes a foreword by Cyndi Lauper.
The other Albano siblings are Vincent, George, Eleanor, and Carl, all of whom became teachers. Albano's brother, Carl, taught health for 32 years at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was head of the Ridgewood High health department from 1974 until 2001. Carl's students have noted that he used his brother Lou as an example of the difference between crazy and unique. George served as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Vernon, New York and often brought Lou in to delight the school's students during their lunch hour. Vincent was an art teacher and lived part-time in a lake house in Connecticut. Eleanor was a music teacher for preschool students in Connecticut and impacts the lives of countless students through music.
Albano's son, Carl Albano, has been a member of the Putnam County Legislature since 2011.
During the 1990s, Albano shed 150 pounds (70 kg) following a health scare. In May 2005, Albano suffered a heart attack, but later recovered. Albano was sent home from the hospital and again began watching his health.
The song "Captain Lou" by Kimya Dawson is dedicated to him.
In 1983 the band NRBQ wrote a song about Albano called "Captain Lou." Albano was featured as a singer on that song as well on another called "Boardin' House Pie." Both of these songs appear on NRBQ's Tap Dancin' Bats compilation, their Lou and Q spoken-word comedy record, as well as their out-of-print, hard-to-find single which Albano used to sell at his wrestling matches.
Albano died on October 14, 2009 of a heart attack while residing in hospice care.He was 76 years old.
Filmography
| 2019 | Dark Side of the Ring (TV Series) |
| 2015 | WWE: The Kliq Rules · as Lou Albano |
| 2014 | WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 2013 | WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2011 | The True Story of WrestleMania · as Captain Lou Albano (archive Footage) |
| 2010 | WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2009 | WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2007 | The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak and Triumph · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2007 | WWE Draft Special · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2007 | The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2006 | Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2006 | Summerslam · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2006 | WWE: McMahon · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2006 | The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2005 | The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2005 | 13th Grade · as Lou Albano |
| 2004 | Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses: A Life in Wrestling · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 2001 | Mafioso: The Father, the Son · as Doc |
| 1998 | WWE Heat (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1997 | WrestleMania 13 · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1996 | Survivor Series · as Capt. Lou Albano (appearance) |
| 1995 | Royal Rumble · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1994 | Survivor Series · as Capt. Lou Albano (manager) |
| 1994 | Summerslam · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1994 | King of the Ring · as Capt. Lou Albano (manager) |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | WrestleMania X · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1993 | WWE Raw (TV Series) · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1992 | Ghostwriter (1992) (TV Series) · as Cabbie |
| 1992 | Stay Tuned · as Ring Announcer |
| 1991 | Complex World · as Boris Lee |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (TV Series) · as Mario |
| 1989 | The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (TV Series) · as Mario |
| 1989 | Hey Dude (TV Series) · as Captain Lou |
| 1986 | Body Slam · as Capt. Lou Murano |
| 1986 | The British Bulldogs · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1986 | WWF Wrestling Challenge (TV Series) · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1986 | WWF Superstars (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1986 | WWF: The Big Event · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1986 | Wise Guys · as Frank "the Fixer" Acavano |
| 1986 | WrestleMania 2 · as Capt. Lou Albano (manager) |
| 1985 | Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1985 | 227 (TV Series) |
| 1985 | WrestleMania I · as Capt. Lou Albano (manager) |
| 1985 | The War to Settle the Score · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1985 | WWE Prime Time Wrestling (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1985 | Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough (Part 2) · as Cyndi's Father |
| 1985 | Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough · as Cyndi's Father |
| 1984 | Miami Vice (TV Series) · as Henchman #1 |
| 1984 | Tuesday Night Titans (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1984 | Cyndi Lauper: Time After Time · as Cook |
| 1984 | Cyndi Lauper: She Bop · as Guard |
| 1983 | |
| 1980 | Below the Belt · as Wrestler |
| 1973 | Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (TV Series) · as Capt. Lou Albano |
| 1972 | WWF All-Star Wrestling (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1972 | WWF Championship Wrestling (TV Series) · as Captain Lou Albano |
| 1962 | Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine (TV Series) · as Sandpaper Sam Staccato |