Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Gene LeBell obit

 

Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and “Godfather of Grappling,” Dies at 89

A martial artist and judo champion, he taught Bruce Lee, fought in an early mixed martial arts fight and served as an inspiration for a Tarantino character.

He was not on the list.


Gene LeBell, the colorful judo champion, wrestler and stuntman who trained Bruce Lee, fought Elvis Presley and John Wayne in the movies and was an inspiration for Brad Pitt’s character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has died. He was 89.

LeBell died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, his trustee and business manager, Kellie Cunningham, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Affectionately known as the “Godfather of Grappling” and “Judo” Gene LeBell, he was a two-time AAU national judo champion early in his career. Later, he taught his masterful submission techniques to Lee, Chuck Norris, pro wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, MMA fighter Ronda Rousey and many, many others.

With his legendary strong handshake, red hair, weathered face and battered nose, LeBell was universally admired by fighters and wrestlers around the world.

By his own admission, “every star in Hollywood beat me up” when he was a stuntman and actor. Wayne punched him square in the face in Big Jim McLain (1952), Presley karate-kicked him between the eyes in Blue Hawaii (1961), Gene Hackman went toe-to-toe with him in Loose Cannon (1990), and Burt Reynolds kicked him where it hurts in Hard Time (1998).

Even Steve Martin roughed him up and threw him into a swimming pool in The Jerk (1979).

“The more you get hit in the nose, the richer you are,” LeBell liked to say.

On ABC’s The Green Hornet, he met Lee for the first time and forged a friendship with the Hong Kong martial arts star despite a rocky introduction.

During taping, it was reported that Lee was beating up on the stuntmen, prompting stunt coordinator Bennie Dobbins to bring in LeBell to help set the actor straight by “putting him in a headlock or something.”

In his 2005 autobiography The Godfather of Grappling, LeBell remembered grabbing Lee, who then “started making all those noises that he became famous for … but he didn’t try to counter me, so I think he was more surprised than anything else.”

He then hoisted Lee over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and ran around the set as Lee shouted, “Put me down or I’ll kill you.”

To LeBell, the altercation revealed that Lee’s repertoire was without submission maneuvers, armbars and takedowns. “He came to my school and worked out for over a year, privately,” LeBell said, “and I went and worked out with him at his school.

“I taught him judo and wrestling and … finishing holds that he later worked into some movies. And he showed me a lot of his kicks and striking.”

In The Way of the Dragon (1972), Lee polished off Norris with a chokehold, and in Enter the Dragon (1973), he employed an armbar finish to submit Sammo Hung.

When Quentin Tarantino made Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), he used LeBell as an influence for the character of stunt double Cliff Booth (Oscar winner Pitt) and adapted the LeBell/Lee confrontation into a much-debated fight scene between Booth and Lee (Mike Moh in the movie).

Booth also had an accusation of murder hovering over his head, which might have been a veiled reference to LeBell being charged in the murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall in 1976. LeBell was acquitted of that charge, and his conviction as an accessory to the crime was later overturned.

Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 1932. His mother, Aileen Eaton, promoted fights at the Olympic Auditorium and was the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

LeBell moved to Japan to study judo and won U.S. titles in the 1950s before segueing to pro wrestling, learning the art of catch wrestling (a grappling style) from Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Lou Thesz and Karl Gotch. 

From 1962-82, he ran the Los Angeles territory of the National Wrestling Alliance with his brother Mike.

The combat sport pioneer participated in what some credit as the first televised sanctioned mixed martial arts match on Dec. 2, 1963, in Salt Lake City when he took on light heavyweight boxer Milo Savage.

The impetus for the bout came from an article written in Rogue magazine by Jim Beck.

Under the headline “The Judo Bums,” Beck wrote that “judo … is a complete fraud … Every judo man I’ve ever met was a braggart and a show-off … Any boxer can beat a judo man.” Beck put up $1,000 to prove it.

LeBell said he was chosen by his peers because “you’re the most sadistic bastard we know,” and was put up against Beck’s choice of opponent — Savage.At a TV interview the day before the bout, LeBell choked out the interviewer, then screamed into the camera, “Come to the arena tomorrow night and watch me annihilate, mutilate and assassinate your local hero because one martial artist can beat any 10 boxers.”

The bout lasted four rounds and ended when LeBell submitted Savage to a rear naked chokehold. The crowd threw debris and chairs into the ring, and Savage had to be revived by LeBell’s cornermen.

“It sounds like I’m blowing my own horn, and I don’t mean to — I represented all the martial arts. I never said I was doing only judo or karate or kenpo,” he said. “I never said one art is better than the others. They’re all good. You should learn everything. You’re not a complete martial artist unless you do everything.”

He was rewarded when he fought Elvis in Blue Hawaii. The King was so happy with his work, he gave him a $100 bill. “I didn’t have any money then,” he said. “I used to eat every other day. So, I went out and I had the biggest fillet mignon and even tipped the waiter.”

He also did stunts for Presley’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style five years later.

While serving as the stunt coordinator on The Munsters, he appeared on a 1964 episode as grappler Tarzan McGirk in a bout against “The Masked Marvel” (Fred Gwynne’s Herman Munster in disguise).

As a stuntman across five decades on the small screen, LeBell popped up in everything from Gomer Pyle: USMC, Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Batman and The Beverly Hillbillies in the 1960s to The Six Million Dollar Man and Starsky & Hutch in the 1970s, Taxi, The Fall Guy and Married … With Children in the 1980s and even Reno 911! in the 2000s.

On the big screen, he did stunts, often uncredited, for the original Planet of the Apes movies, the 1974 disaster films Earthquake and The Towering Inferno and the Naked Gun flicks, plus King Kong (1976), Airplane! (1980), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), RoboCop (1987), Total Recall (1990), Independence Day (1996), Bruce Almighty (2003) and Smoking Aces (2006).

Stunts (252 credits)

 2012/I A Thousand Words (stunts)

 2010 24 (TV Series) (stunt performer - 1 episode)

- Day 8: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (2010) ... (stunt performer - uncredited)

 2007 Half Past Dead 2 (Video) (stunts)

 2007 Reno 911! Miami (stunts)

 2006 Smokin' Aces (stunt performer)

 2006 Bottoms Up (Video) (stunt performer - uncredited)

 2006 Beerfest (stunts)

 2006 Entourage (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- One Day in the Valley (2006) ... (stunts)

 2006 General Hospital (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Episode #1.10967 (2006) ... (stunts)

 2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (utility stunts)

 2004 Spider-Man 2 (stunts - uncredited)

 2004 Starsky & Hutch (stunts)

 2004 Along Came Polly (stunts)

 2003 Reno 911! (TV Series) (stunts - 6 episodes)

- Halloween (2003) ... (stunts)

- Terrorist Training: Part 2 (2003) ... (stunts)

- Clementine's Pregnant (2003) ... (stunts)

- Execution Tickets (2003) ... (stunts)

- Fireworks (2003) ... (stunts)

Show all 6 episodes

 2003 Bruce Almighty (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 2002 The 4th Tenor (stunts)

 2002 Deuces Wild (stunts - uncredited)

 2002 The Shield (TV Series) (stunts)

 2001 The Last Castle (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 2001 Bandits (stunts - uncredited)

 2000 Dude, Where's My Car? (stunts)

 2000 Down 'n Dirty (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 2000 More Dogs Than Bones (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 2000 Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 1 episode)

- Salem's Daughter (2000) ... (stunt coordinator)

 2000 The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (Video) (stunts)

 1999 Man on the Moon (stunts)

 1999 End of Days (utility stunts)

 1999 The Strip (TV Series) (stunts)

 1999 All the Rage (stunts)

 1999 Mystery Men (stunts)

 1999 The Hunter's Moon (Video) (stunts)

 1999 Running Red (Video) (stunts)

 1999 P.U.N.K.S. (stunts)

 1998 My Giant (utility stunts)

 1998 U.S. Marshals (stunts)

 1997 As Good as It Gets (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 1997 Double Tap (stunts)

 1997 Bean (stunts)

 1997 Batman & Robin (stunt actor: Arkham Asylum guard - as Gene Lebell) / (stunts)

 1997 Gone Fishin' (stunts)

 1997 Trial and Error (stunts)

 1997 L.A. Confidential (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 1997 The Brave (stunt performer - as Gene Le Bell)

 1997 Liar Liar (stunts - uncredited)

 1997 Vegas Vacation (stunts)

 1997 Dante's Peak (stunts)

 1997 Meet Wally Sparks (stunt double: Mr. Dangerfield - uncredited)

 1996 Judge and Jury (stunts)

 1996 Jingle All the Way (stunts)

 1996 The Pretender (TV Series) (stunts)

 1996 Independence Day (stunts - uncredited)

 1995 Money Train (stunts)

 1995 JAG (TV Series) (stunts)

 1995 Strange Days (stunts)

 1995 Waterworld (stunts - uncredited)

 1995 Tyson (TV Movie) (assistant stunt coordinator)

 1995 Jury Duty (stunts)

 1995 Major Payne (stunts)

 1995 For Better or Worse (stunts)

 1995 Steel Frontier (Video) (stunts)

 1995 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up (stunts)

 1995 Ballistic (stunts)

 1994 Camp Nowhere (stunts)

 1994 Blown Away (stunts)

 1994 The Stand (TV Mini Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- The Stand (1994) ... (stunts)

 1994 Surviving the Game (stunts)

 1994 Every Breath (stunts)

 1994 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 1993 CIA II: Target Alexa (stunts)

 1993 Bitter Harvest (stunts)

 1993 The John Larroquette Show (TV Series) (stunts)

 1993 Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) (stunts)

 1993 The Sandlot (stunts)

 1993 Best of the Best II (stunts)

 1993 Conflict of Interest (stunts)

  Married... with Children (TV Series) (stunt performer - 1 episode, 1993) (stunts - 1 episode, 1992)

- Peggy and the Pirates (1993) ... (stunt performer - uncredited)

- Rites of Passage (1992) ... (stunts)

  FBI: The Untold Stories (TV Series) (assistant stunt coordinator - 1 episode, 1993) (stunts - 1 episode, 1992)

- Loomis (1993) ... (assistant stunt coordinator)

- The Sultan of Smut (1992) ... (stunts)

 1992 Night and the City (stunts)

 1992 Army of Darkness (stunts)

 1992 The Nutt House (stunts)

 1992 Rapid Fire (stunts)

 1992 Mom and Dad Save the World (stunts)

 1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (stunts - uncredited)

 1992 Patriot Games (stunts)

 1992 Live Wire (stunts)

 1992 Newsies (stunts)

 1991 The Last Boy Scout (stunts)

 1991 Hook (stunts - uncredited)

 1991 For the Boys (stunts)

 1991 Write to Kill (Video) (stunts)

 1991/I Paradise (stunts)

 1991 And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird (stunt double)

 1991 Shakes the Clown (additional stunts)

 1991 Another You (stunts)

 1991 Dutch (stunts)

 1991 Alligator II: The Mutation (stunts - uncredited)

 1991 Problem Child 2 (stunts)

 1991 Trancers II (stunts)

 1991 Out for Justice (stunts - uncredited)

 1990 Almost an Angel (stunts)

 1990 They Came from Outer Space (TV Series) (stunts)

 1990 Marked for Death (stunts - uncredited)

 1990 Death Warrant (stunt player)

 1990 Darkman (stunts)

 1990 Men at Work (stunts)

 1990 Problem Child (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 1990 Die Hard 2 (stunts)

 1990 RoboCop 2 (stunts)

 1990 Dick Tracy (stunts - uncredited)

 1990 Total Recall (stunts)

 1990 Hard to Kill (stunts - uncredited)

 1990 Internal Affairs (stunts - uncredited)

 1989 Tango & Cash (stunts - uncredited)

 1989 Major Dad (TV Series) (stunts)

 1989 Lock Up (stunts)

 1989 No Holds Barred (stunt player - as Gene le Bell)

 1989 She's Out of Control (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 1989 Quantum Leap (TV Series) (stunts)

 1989 Fletch Lives (stunts - uncredited)

 1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (stunts - uncredited)

 1988 Goddess of Love (TV Movie) (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 1988 Mac and Me (stunts)

 1988 The Presidio (stunts - uncredited)

 1988 Dead Heat (stunts)

 1988 Trial and Error (TV Series) (stunts)

 1988 Aloha Summer (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 1987 The Wild Pair (stunts)

 1987 The Running Man (stunts - uncredited)

 1987 The Hidden (stunt performer - uncredited)

 1987 Code Name Zebra (stunt player)

 1987 The Lost Boys (stunts - as Gene Lebell)

 1987 RoboCop (stunts - uncredited)

 1987 Million Dollar Mystery (stunts)

 1987 Nightforce (Video) (stunts)

 1987 Blind Date (stunts)

 1987 Number One with a Bullet (stunts)

 1986 The Morning After (stunts)

 1986 The Golden Child (stunts)

 1986 Eye of the Tiger (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 1986 A Fine Mess (stunts)

 1986 Perfect Strangers (TV Series) (stunts)

 1986 Matlock (TV Series) (stunts)

 1986 The Last Precinct (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Pilot (1986) ... (stunts)

 1985 Rocky IV (stunts - uncredited)

 1985 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Strangle Hold (1985) ... (stunts - uncredited)

 1985 Runaway Train (stunts - uncredited)

 1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (stunts - uncredited)

 1985 Misfits of Science (TV Series) (stunts)

 1985 Hollywood Beat (TV Series) (stunts)

 1985 D.A.R.Y.L. (stunts)

 1985 Fletch (stunts)

 1985 Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (stunts - as Gene Le Bell)

 1985 MacGruder and Loud (TV Series) (stunts)

 1984 Johnny Dangerously (stunts)

 1984 The Dukes of Hazzard (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Cale Yarborough Comes to Hazzard (1984) ... (stunts)

 1984 City Limits (stunts - uncredited)

 1984 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) (stunts)

 1984 Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)

- The Return of Luther Gillis (1984) ... (stunt double: Eugene Roche)

 1984 Riptide (TV Series) (stunts)

 1983 Dempsey (TV Movie) (stunts)

 1983 Heart Like a Wheel (stunts)

 1983 High Performance (TV Series) (stunts)

 1982 The Devlin Connection (TV Series) (stunts)

 1982 Remington Steele (TV Series) (stunts)

 1982 Matt Houston (TV Series) (stunts)

 1982 They Call Me Bruce (stunts - uncredited)

 1982 Losin' It (stunts - uncredited)

 1982 The Beastmaster (stunts - uncredited)

 1982 White Dog (stunt person)

 1982 Police Squad! (TV Series) (stunts - uncredited)

 1981 The Gangster Chronicles (TV Mini Series) (stunts - 13 episodes)

- Episode #1.12 (1981) ... (stunts)

- Episode #1.11 (1981) ... (stunts)

- Episode #1.13 (1981) ... (stunts)

- Episode #1.10 (1981) ... (stunts)

- Episode #1.9 (1981) ... (stunts)

Show all 13 episodes

 1981 Simon & Simon (TV Series) (stunts)

 1981 Skokie (TV Movie) (stunts)

 1981 The Fall Guy (TV Series) (stunts)

 1981 Smokey Bites the Dust (stunts - uncredited)

 1981 The Greatest American Hero (TV Series) (stunts)

 1980 Inside Moves (stunts)

 1980 Any Which Way You Can (stunts - uncredited)

 1980 More Wild Wild West (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)

 1980 Battle Creek Brawl (stunts)

 1980 Airplane! (stunts - uncredited)

 1980 Bronco Billy (stunts - uncredited)

 1980 When the Whistle Blows (TV Series) (stunts)

 1980 Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Pilot: Part 1 (1980) ... (stunts)

 1979 The Prize Fighter (stunts - uncredited)

 1979 Eischied (TV Series) (stunts)

 1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) (stunts)

 1979 Americathon (stunts - uncredited)

 1979 The Fantastic Seven (TV Movie) (stunts)

 1978 Every Which Way but Loose (stunts - uncredited)

 1978 The Fifth Floor (stunts - uncredited)

 1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries (TV Series) (stunts)

 1978 The New Maverick (TV Movie) (stunts)

 1978 Almost Summer (stunt performer - uncredited)

 1978 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (stunts - uncredited)

 1978 The One and Only (stunt coordinator) / (stunt technical advisor - uncredited)

 1977 Mad Bull (TV Movie) (stunts - uncredited)

 1977 The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- The Incredible Hulk (1977) ... (stunts - uncredited)

 1977 Lou Grant (TV Series) (stunts)

 1977 CHiPs (TV Series) (stunts)

 1977 Black Sunday (stunts - uncredited)

 1977 Man from Atlantis (TV Series) (stunts)

 1977 Fantasy Island (TV Series) (stunts)

 1976 Rocky (stunts - uncredited)

 1976 Quincy M.E. (TV Series) (stunts)

 1976 King Kong (stunts - uncredited)

 1976 The Big Bus (stunts - uncredited)

 1976 Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) (stunts)

 1975 The Killer Elite (martial arts advisor - uncredited) / (stunts - uncredited)

 1975 Let's Do It Again (stunts - uncredited)

 1975 The Day of the Locust (stunts - uncredited)

 1975 Joe Forrester (TV Series) (stunts)

 1975 Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) (stunts)

 1974 Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series) (stunts - 1 episode)

- Horror in the Heights (1974) ... (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 The Towering Inferno (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 Freebie and the Bean (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 Earthquake (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 The Gambler (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 99 and 44/100% Dead! (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 Black Samson (stunts)

 1974 California Split (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) (stunts)

 1974 Busting (stunts - uncredited)

 1974 Get Christie Love! (TV Series) (stunts)

 1973 Hell Up in Harlem (stunts - uncredited)

 1973 Cleopatra Jones (stunts - uncredited)

 1973 Police Story (TV Series) (stunts)

 1972 Blacula (stunts - uncredited)

 1972 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (stunts - uncredited)

 1972 Kung Fu (TV Series) (stunts)

 1970 There Was a Crooked Man... (stunts - uncredited)

 1970 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (stunts - uncredited)

 1968 The Split (stunts - uncredited)

 1968 Bonanza (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)

- To Die in Darkness (1968) ... (stunt double: James Whitmore - uncredited)

 1968 Don't Just Stand There (stunt coordinator - uncredited)

 1968 Planet of the Apes (stunts - uncredited)

 1968 Cowboy in Africa (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)

- First to Capture (1968) ... (stunt double: James Whitmore - uncredited)

 1967 The Happiest Millionaire (stunt coordinator - uncredited)

 1966 The Big Valley (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)

- A Day of Terror (1966) ... (stunt double: Ken Swofford - uncredited)

 1966 The Green Hornet (TV Series) (stunt performer - 1 episode)

- The Hunters and the Hunted (1966) ... (stunt performer: henchman - uncredited)

 1966 What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (stunts - uncredited)

 1966 The Cat (stunts)

 1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style (stunts - uncredited)

 1966 Three on a Couch (stunts - uncredited)

 1966 7 Women (stunts - uncredited)

 1965 Honey West (TV Series) (stunt coordinator)

 1965 The F.B.I. (TV Series) (stunts)

 1965 I Spy (TV Series) (stunts - uncredited)

 1965 Love & Kisses (stunts - uncredited)

 1964 The Munsters (TV Series) (stunt coordinator)

 1963 4 for Texas (stunts - uncredited)

 1962 Route 66 (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)

- A Feat of Strength (1962) ... (stunt double: Jack Warden - uncredited)

Hide Hide Actor (156 credits)

 2018 Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece

The Chinese Boss

 2017 Kingdom (TV Series)

- Lie Down in the Light (2017) ... (as Gene Lebell)

 2010 Changing Hands

The Angry Neighbor

 2010/III The Key (Short)

Head Biker

 2010 24 (TV Series)

Elderly worker

- Day 8: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (2010) ... Elderly worker (uncredited)

 2010 The Sarah Silverman Program. (TV Series)

Carl

- A Slip Slope (2010) ... Carl

 2009 Blood and Bone

Attendant

 2003-2009 Reno 911! (TV Series)

Grandpa / Old Man on Motorized Wheelchair / Old Man on Scooter

- Viacom Grinch (2009) ... Grandpa

- Dangle's Murder Mystery: Part 1 (2009) ... Grandpa

- Digging with the Murderer (2009) ... Grandpa

- Revenge of Mike Powers (2005) ... Old Man on Motorized Wheelchair (as Gene Lebell)

- Garcia's Anniversary (2003) ... Old Man on Scooter (as Gene Lebell)

 2009 From Mexico with Love

Referee

 2008 Redbelt

Old Stuntman

 2007 Las Vegas (TV Series)

Gambling Patron

- My Uncle's a Gas (2007) ... Gambling Patron (uncredited)

 2006 Bottoms Up (Video)

Milt (as Gene Lebell)

 2004 Cellular

Driving Instructor (uncredited)

 2003 Strong Medicine (TV Series)

Referee

- Speculum for a Heavyweight (2003) ... Referee

 2002 Men in Black II

Subway Passenger (uncredited)

 2001 Rat Race

Veteran with Gun

 2000 Down 'n Dirty

Henchman (uncredited)

 2000 The X-Files (TV Series)

Bartender

- Fight Club (2000) ... Bartender

 1999 Man on the Moon

Foxy Jackson Referee

 1999 Running Red (Video)

Mercier's Bodyguard (uncredited)

 1999 That '70s Show (TV Series)

Referee

- That Wrestling Show (1999) ... Referee

 1998 Hard Time (TV Movie)

Eddie

 1998 Buddy Faro (TV Series)

Henchman

- Pilot (1998) ... Henchman

 1998 Rush Hour

Taxi Driver (as Jean Lebell)

 1997 Double Tap

Wallace

 1987-1997 Married... with Children (TV Series)

Brutus / Black Ben / Referee / ...

- Damn Bundys (1997) ... Brutus (uncredited)

- Peggy and the Pirates (1993) ... Black Ben

- You Gotta Know When to Fold Them: Part 2 (1990) ... Referee

- Earth Angel (1987) ... Larry (as Gene Le Bell)

 1997 On the Edge of Innocence (TV Movie)

Security Guard (uncredited)

 1996 Shaughnessy (TV Movie)

NYC bouncer

 1996 The Real Thing

Proprietor (uncredited)

 1995 Jury Duty

Security Guard (uncredited)

 1995 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up

Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)

 1995 Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series)

Thug

- Trust No One (1995) ... Thug (uncredited)

 1994 Ed Wood

Ring Announcer

 1994 Ring of Steel

MiB Bodyguard

 1994 Family Matters (TV Series)

Referee

- Psycho Twins (1994) ... Referee

 1994 M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV Movie)

Rioter (uncredited)

 1993 Prize Fighter (Video Game)

Judo Gene LeBell (as Referee Gene LeBell)

 1993 Baywatch (TV Series)

Referee

- Kicks (1993) ... Referee

 1993 Nowhere to Run

Bulldozer Man

 1992 Bloodfist IV: Die Trying (Video)

Burly

 1992 Rapid Fire

Red-Haired Gunman at Serrano's Place (uncredited)

 1992 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series)

Various Characters

 1992 The Human Factor (TV Series)

Referee

- Pilot (1992) ... Referee

 1991 MacGyver (TV Series)

Murph

- Split Decision (1991) ... Murph

 1991 Alligator II: The Mutation

Referee (uncredited)

 1991 Eyes of an Angel

Pit Bull Handler

 1991 Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

Referee

 1990 Loose Cannons

Grimmer's Man

 1989 Amen (TV Series)

Referee

- The Boxer (1989) ... Referee

 1988 Freeway

CHP officer (as Gene LaBelle)

 1988 Dead Heat

Guard (uncredited)

 1988 Falcon Crest (TV Series)

Union Guy

- Dirty Tricks (1988) ... Union Guy (as Gene Le Bell)

 1987 Sledge Hammer! (TV Series)

Archbishop

- Icebreaker (1987) ... Archbishop

 1987 Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

Cannery Guard

 1987 Perfect Strangers (TV Series)

Security Guard #1

- Taking Stock (1987) ... Security Guard #1

 1987 Blind Date

Bartender (uncredited)

 1987 Number One with a Bullet

Referee

 1987 P.K. and the Kid

Big Mac

 1986 The Golden Child

Drunken Biker (uncredited)

 1986 Eye of the Tiger

Biker Goon (uncredited)

 1986 Streets of Gold

Reporter (uncredited)

 1986 Welcome to 18

Motorcycle Cop

 1984-1986 Riptide (TV Series)

Biker / Tough Guy / Thug

- Dead Men Don't Floss (1986) ... Biker (uncredited)

- Polly Want an Explanation (1985) ... Tough Guy (uncredited)

- Double Your Pleasure (1984) ... Thug (uncredited)

 1982-1986 The Fall Guy (TV Series)

Referee #1 / Thug / Biker / ...

- Tag Team (1986) ... Referee #1 (uncredited)

- To the Finish (1983) ... Thug (uncredited)

- Hollywood Shorties (1983) ... Biker (uncredited)

- TKO (1983) ... Referee (uncredited)

- Ladies on the Ropes (1982) ... Wrestler (uncredited)

 1986 Bad Guys

Terrible Turk McGurk (as Gene Le Bell)

 1986 Misfits of Science (TV Series)

Headsman

- The Avenging Angel (1986) ... Headsman

 1982-1985 Simon & Simon (TV Series)

Thug / James T. Reedy

- Down-Home Country Blues (1985) ... Thug (uncredited)

- Tanks for the Memories (1982) ... James T. Reedy

 1985 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series)

Referee

- Strangle Hold (1985) ... Referee

 1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Red

 1985 Gotcha!

KGB #1 (as Gene Le Bell)

 1984 Micki + Maude

Wrestling Referee (as Gene Le Bell)

 1984 City Heat

Garage Soldier

 1984 Cover Up (TV Series)

Deputy

- Golden Opportunity (1984) ... Deputy

 1984 City Limits

Border Guard (uncredited)

 1984 Knight Rider (TV Series)

Junior

- Big Iron (1984) ... Junior

 1984 The Master (TV Series)

Brawler

- Max (1984) ... Brawler (uncredited)

 1983 Masquerade (TV Series)

- Diamonds (1983)

 1983 Automan (TV Series)

3rd Gang Member

- Automan (1983) ... 3rd Gang Member (uncredited)

 1979-1983 Taxi (TV Series)

Referee / The Referee

- Tony's Baby (1983) ... Referee

- Tony's Comeback (1982) ... The Referee

- Of Mice and Tony (1981) ... Referee

- The Reluctant Fighter (1979) ... Referee (as Gene Le Bell)

 1982 Fantasy Island (TV Series)

The Referee

- Dancing Lady/The Final Round (1982) ... The Referee

 1982 Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

Hood (as Gene Labell)

 1982 Bret Maverick (TV Series)

Wrestler

- Faith, Hope and Clarity: Part 2 (1982) ... Wrestler (uncredited)

 1982 T.J. Hooker (TV Series)

James Wallace

- The Witness (1982) ... James Wallace

 1981-1982 The Greatest American Hero (TV Series)

Yuri Ivanovich / Thug

- Just Another Three-Ring Circus (1982) ... Yuri Ivanovich (as Gene Lebell)

- The Best Desk Scenario (1981) ... Thug (uncredited)

 1981 Magnum Thrust

 1981 Smokey Bites the Dust

Turk (as Gene Le Bell)

 1978-1981 The Incredible Hulk (TV Series)

Referee

- Half Nelson (1981) ... Referee (uncredited)

- Final Round (1978) ... Referee (uncredited)

 1981 Going Ape!

Faraday

 1981 Dynasty (TV Series)

Oil Worker

- Oil: Part 1 (1981) ... Oil Worker (uncredited)

 1980 Raging Bull

Ring Announcer - Reeves Fight (as Gene Lebell)

 1980 Foolin' Around

Paul

 1980 Battle Creek Brawl

Stroke (as Gene La Bell)

 1980 Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series)

Van Cott's Henchman / Security Guard

- Diamonds Aren't Forever (1980) ... Van Cott's Henchman (uncredited)

- Loose Larry's List of Losers (1980) ... Security Guard (uncredited)

 1980 Hart to Hart (TV Series)

Heavy #2

- Does She or Doesn't She? (1980) ... Heavy #2

 1979 Goldie and the Boxer (TV Movie)

Vinnie

 1979 The Jerk

Con Man (as Gene Lebell)

 1979 Marciano (TV Movie)

Ring announcer

 1979 Americathon

Referee (as Gene Le Bell)

 1978 Every Which Way but Loose

Biker

 1978 Almost Summer

Football Coach

 1978 The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

Mean Bones' Manager

 1978 I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Theatre Cop: Reese

 1978 The One and Only

Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)

 1975-1978 Starsky and Hutch (TV Series)

Hillard thug / Lemke / Judo Partner

- The Action (1978) ... Hillard thug (uncredited)

- Losing Streak (1976) ... Lemke (as Gene LaBell)

- The Deadly Imposter (1975) ... Judo Partner (uncredited)

 1977 Man from Atlantis (TV Series)

Ditcher

- Giant (1977) ... Ditcher (uncredited)

 1977 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Art

- A Blow to the Head... A Blow to the Heart (1977) ... Art

 1977 Switch (TV Series)

Thug #2

- Net Loss (1977) ... Thug #2 (uncredited)

 1977 Future Cop (TV Series)

Referee #2

- Fighting O'Haven (1977) ... Referee #2 (as Gene Le Bell)

 1975-1977 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series)

Thug #1 / Sparring Partner / Guard / ...

- The Privacy of the Mind (1977) ... Thug #1 (uncredited)

- The Ultimate Imposter (1977) ... Sparring Partner (uncredited)

- Love Song for Tanya (1976) ... Guard (uncredited)

- Look Alike (1975) ... Thug (uncredited)

 1976 Gemini Man (TV Mini Series)

Referee

- Eight-Nine-Ten, You're Dead (1976) ... Referee

 1976 The Bionic Woman (TV Series)

Referee

- In This Corner, Jaime Sommers (1976) ... Referee (as Gene LaBell)

 1976 The Big Bus

Bus Driver in Bar (uncredited)

 1976 No Way Back

Henchman

 1976 Police Story (TV Series)

Brawler

- Officer Dooly (1976) ... Brawler (uncredited)

 1975 Kojak (TV Series)

Bartender

- A Long Way from Times Square (1975) ... Bartender (uncredited)

 1975 Barbary Coast (TV Series)

Referee

- Arson and Old Lace (1975) ... Referee

 1975 A Matter of Wife... and Death (TV Movie)

 1975 At Long Last Love

Boxer

 1975 Kung Fu (TV Series)

Fighter

- Barbary House (1975) ... Fighter (uncredited)

 1975 Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series)

Officer Tim Olson

- Legacy of Terror (1975) ... Officer Tim Olson (uncredited)

 1974 The Rockford Files (TV Series)

Thug

- This Case Is Closed (1974) ... Thug (uncredited)

 1974 Black Samson

Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell)

 1973-1974 Mannix (TV Series)

Referee

- A Question of Murder (1974) ... Referee (uncredited)

- The Man Who Wasn't There (1973) ... Referee (uncredited)

 1973 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

Leo (uncredited)

 1973 Cleopatra Jones

Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)

 1973 Walking Tall

2nd Bouncer

 1972 Hammer

Referee (as Gene Le Bell)

 1972 Melinda

Hood

 1972 Blacula

2nd Dracula henchman. (uncredited)

 1972 Cade's County (TV Series)

Wally

- The Fake (1972) ... Wally (as Gene Lebell)

 1971 Bearcats! (TV Series)

Guard

- Assault on San Saba (1971) ... Guard (uncredited)

 1970 The Challenge (TV Movie)

Karate Instructor

 1969 Bracken's World (TV Series)

Bob / Stuntman

- The Chase Sequence (1969) ... Bob

- The Stunt (1969) ... Stuntman (uncredited)

 1969 Land of the Giants (TV Series)

Mezron's Brother

- A Place Called Earth (1969) ... Mezron's Brother

 1969 Childish Things

Peanut Man (uncredited)

 1969 The Outcasts (TV Series)

Prisoner

- And Then There Was One (1969) ... Prisoner (uncredited)

 1968 The Wild Wild West (TV Series)

Felix

- The Night of the Sedgewick Curse (1968) ... Felix

 1968 The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series)

Referee

- The Great Tag-Team Match (1968) ... Referee

- The Rass'lin Clampetts (1968) ... Referee

 1968 P.J.

Fighter (uncredited)

 1968 I Spy (TV Series)

Man

- Home to Judgment (1968) ... Man

 1967 Batman (TV Series)

Cossack

- The Ogg Couple (1967) ... Cossack (uncredited)

 1967 Ironside (TV Series)

Karate Student

- Tagged for Murder (1967) ... Karate Student (uncredited)

 1967 The Happiest Millionaire

Barfly (uncredited)

 1966 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV Series)

Vulcan Crew Member

- The Lost Bomb (1966) ... Vulcan Crew Member (uncredited)

 1966 The Green Hornet (TV Series)

Barney

- The Hunters and the Hunted (1966) ... Barney

 1966 Mission: Impossible (TV Series)

Sudow

- A Spool There Was (1966) ... Sudow (uncredited)

 1966 Three on a Couch

Mr. Five by Five (uncredited)

 1965 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series)

Guard

- The Ultimate Computer Affair (1965) ... Guard (uncredited)

 1964-1965 Burke's Law (TV Series)

The Strangler / Wrestler #2

- Who Killed the Strangler? (1965) ... The Strangler (uncredited)

- Who Killed the Swinger on a Hook? (1964) ... Wrestler #2

 1964 Gomer Pyle: USMC (TV Series)

Drunk in Bar

- Gomer and the Dragon Lady (1964) ... Drunk in Bar (uncredited)

 1964 The Munsters (TV Series)

Tarzan McGirk

- Herman the Great (1964) ... Tarzan McGirk

 1963 4 for Texas

Thomas Worker (uncredited)

 1963 General Hospital (TV Series)

Harbormaster

 1962 The Jack Benny Program (TV Series)

Gene LeBell

- The Story of Jack Referees Wrestling Match (1962) ... Gene LeBell

 1961 Blue Hawaii (uncredited)

 1961 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series)

Hood

- The Manly Arts (1961) ... Hood

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