Lou ferrigno (born november 9, 1951) is an american actor, motivational speaker, fitness trainer/consultant and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, lou won the ifbb mr. America title and two consecutive ifbb mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary pumping iron.
As an actor, he is best known for his role as the lead hulk in the cbs tv series the hulk. He has also appeared in several european produced fantasy/adventure films such as sinbad of the seven seas and hercules. His most recent roles include the 2009 feature film 'i love you' and the fifth season of the reality show 'celebrity apprentice'.
Lou ferrigno was born in brooklyn, new york to parents victoria and police officer matt ferrigno. He is of italian descent. Ferrigno said that shortly after his birth he experienced a series of ear infections and lost between 75 and 80 per cent of his hearing, although he was not diagnosed with the condition until he was three years old. The loss of hearing led to ferrigno being bullied by his peers during his childhood: "They used to call me 'louis the deaf, the deaf-mute' because of my hearing and the way i spoke."
Ferrigno, who has been training to lift weights since he was 13, cites bodybuilder and 'hercules' actor steve reeves as one of his role models. He is also a fan of the hercules film series starring reeves. Ferrigno's favourite superheroes as a child were spider-man and the hulk. Ferrigno lou attended st. Athanasius grammar school and brooklyn technical high school, where he studied mechanical engineering.
In 1973, lou received his first major titles - ifbb mr. America and ifbb mr. Universe. Lou won his first mr universe title at the age of 21, a guinness world record that still stands today. 1974 saw him compete for the first time in the mr olympia competition, where he came second. The following year he came third, as documented in the 1975 documentary 'hitting the iron'.
Lou spent the early part of his fitness career working as a sheet metal worker in a factory in brooklyn. He did not like the dangerous job and left after a friend and colleague accidentally cut off his hand.
After this, lou was away from the game for many years, during which time he played as a defensive end for the toronto argonauts in the canadian football league. He played and was cut after two games.
In 1977, the release of the iconic fitness documentary pumping iron caught the attention of television producer kenneth johnson, who was looking for the right man to play the comic book superhero "The hulk". Standing at 6ft 5in, 285lbs, lou was the biggest professional bodybuilder of his time. He auditioned for the role of the hulk, beating out fellow bodybuilder arnold schwarzenegger.
Lou plays opposite bill bixby in the title role, who plays his meek scientist/alternate self. Although lou and bixby were not in front of the camera at the same time (except for one episode, king of the beach), they were friends, with lou describing bixby as both mentor and friend. Although the last two episodes did not air until may 1982, lou played the role of the hulk until 1981. The hulk hulk was a huge ratings success, and after the first series aired and several tv series were made, lou was still very busy.
His later films include hercules (1983), sinbad of the seven seas (1989) and cage (1989).
In the early 1990s, lou returned to bodybuilding, competing in the 1992 and 1993 mr olympia competitions. After finishing 12th and 10th respectively, he moved on to the 1994 masters olympia. The 1996 documentary 'stand up' featured him beating robbie robinson and boyelko. After that, he withdrew from the tournament.
In competition, ferrigno was 6ft 5in (1.96m) tall and weighed 268lbs (130kg) in 1975 and 315lbs (142kg) in 1992
In 1977 ferrigno competed in the first world's strongest man competition, placing fourth out of eight competitors.
Lou's recent credits include guest appearances on the cbs sitcom queen (since 2000 2007, where he and his wife carla were portrayed as the protagonist's next-door neighbours), the hulk (2003), the hulk (2008), the avengers (2012), and celebrity apprentice: Season 5 (2012).
Personal life
On 3 may 1980, he married psychotherapist carla greene. Green also started working as his manager and later became a personal trainer herself. They have three children:Shana (1981), louis (1984) and brent (1990).
In february 2006, lou was sworn in as a deputy sheriff of the los angeles county, california reserve. In november 2010, lou was sworn in as a volunteer with the maricopa county, arizona state police, which also includes actor peter steven seeger, working to help control illegal immigration in the phoenix valley area.
More recently, he and his family founded ferrigno fit - an organisation that focuses on positive habits, lifestyles and ideas.
Lou ferrigno's illustrious bodybuilding and acting career is long gone, but it is he who will always be the hulk.