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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

233

Gender

Male

Birthday

1932-10-09

Day of Death

2022-08-09 (90 years old)

Place of Birth

Los Angeles, California, USA

Also Known As

Gene Le Bell

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

Acting

Loose Cannons

1990

Loose Cannons

as

Grimmer's Man

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

as

Mean Bones' Manager

Eyes of an Angel

1991

Eyes of an Angel

as

Pit Bull Handler

Running Red

1999

Running Red

as

Mercier's Bodyguard

Cleopatra Jones

1973

Cleopatra Jones

as

Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)

Hard Time

1998

Hard Time

as

Eddie

Ring of Steel

1994

Ring of Steel

as

MiB Bodyguard

Walking Tall

1973

Walking Tall

as

2nd Bouncer

Heartbeeps

1981

Heartbeeps

as

Forklift Driver Robot

Dead Heat

1988

Dead Heat

as

Airplane!

1980

Airplane!

as

Religious Zealot (uncredited)

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

1987

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

as

Cannery Guard

Batman & Robin

1997

Batman & Robin

as

Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

1995

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

as

Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)

Micki & Maude

1984

Micki & Maude

as

Wrestling Referee

Man on the Moon

1999

Man on the Moon

as

Foxy Jackson Referee

Flesh & Blood

1979

Flesh & Blood

as

2nd Fat Guy

Marciano

1979

Marciano

as

Ring Announcer

Ed Wood

1994

Ed Wood

as

Ring Announcer

Bad Guys

1986

Bad Guys

as

Terrible Turk Mc Gurk

Raging Bull

1980

Raging Bull

as

Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)

Spider-Man 2

2004

Spider-Man 2

as

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Jury Duty

1995

Jury Duty

as

Security Guard (uncredited)

Rush Hour

1998

Rush Hour

as

Taxi Driver

Rapid Fire

1992

Rapid Fire

as

Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)

I Am Bruce Lee

2012

I Am Bruce Lee

as

Self

Men in Black II

2002

Men in Black II

as

Subway Passenger (uncredited)

Rat Race

2001

Rat Race

as

Veteran with Gun

Hammer

1972

Hammer

as

Referee

Blue Hawaii

1961

Blue Hawaii

as

(uncredited)

Melinda

1972

Melinda

as

Hood

The Jerk

1979

The Jerk

as

Con Man

The Golden Child

1986

The Golden Child

as

Drunken Biker (uncredited)

Going Ape!

1981

Going Ape!

as

Faraday

Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

1973

Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

as

Leo (uncredited)

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

1978

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

as

Theatre Cop: Reese

The One and Only

1978

The One and Only

as

Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)

The Big Brawl

1980

The Big Brawl

as

Stroke (as Gene La Bell)

Black Samson

1974

Black Samson

as

Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell)

Double Tap

1997

Double Tap

as

Wallace

Almost Summer

1978

Almost Summer

as

Football Coach

The Challenge

1970

The Challenge

as

Karate Instructor

Cellular

2004

Cellular

as

Driving Instructor (uncredited)

Redbelt

2008

Redbelt

as

Old Stuntman

M.A.N.T.I.S.

1994

M.A.N.T.I.S.

as

Rioter (uncredited)

Americathon

1979

Americathon

as

Referee

Foolin' Around

1980

Foolin' Around

as

Paul

Blacula

1972

Blacula

as

Second Dracula Henchman

Bottoms Up

2006

Bottoms Up

as

Milt

Welcome to 18

1986

Welcome to 18

as

Motorcycle Cop

Falcon Crest

Falcon Crest

as

Union Guy

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

as

Wrestler

T. J. Hooker

T. J. Hooker

as

James Wallace

The Munsters

The Munsters

as

Tarzan McGirk

Knight Rider

Knight Rider

as

Junior

Reno 911!

Reno 911!

as

Old Man on Scooter

Land of the Giants

Land of the Giants

as

Mezron's Brother

The X-Files

The X-Files

as

Bartender

Sledge Hammer!

Sledge Hammer!

as

Archbishop

Taxi

Taxi

as

Referee

Taxi

Taxi

as

The Referee

Dinah!

Dinah!

as

Self

MacGyver

MacGyver

as

Murph

Reno 911!

Reno 911!

as

Grandpa

Production

Crew

Rocky IV

1985

Rocky IV

as

RoboCop 2

1990

RoboCop 2

as

Beerfest

2006

Beerfest

as

Fletch

1985

Fletch

as

Busting

1974

Busting

as

Blacula

1972

Blacula

as

King Kong

1976

King Kong

as

Liar Liar

1997

Liar Liar

as

Darkman

1990

Darkman

as

Ballistic

1995

Ballistic

as

Jury Duty

1995

Jury Duty

as

Rocky

1976

Rocky

as

7 Women

1965

7 Women

as

Airplane!

1980

Airplane!

as

RoboCop

1987

RoboCop

as

Bandits

2001

Bandits

as

The Split

1968

The Split

as

White Dog

1982

White Dog

as

Hook

1991

Hook

as

Bean

1997

Bean

as

Losin' It

1983

Losin' It

as

Dutch

1991

Dutch

as

The Brave

1997

The Brave

as

Dead Heat

1988

Dead Heat

as

Directing