Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

Gender

Male

Birthday

1932-10-09

Deathday

2022-08-09 (89 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

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Acting

2021

Biography: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper as Self

2020

The Search for Count Dante

2019

The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes

2018

Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece as The Boss

2012

I Am Bruce Lee as Self

2009

From Mexico With Love as Referee

2008

Redbelt as Old Stuntman

2007

The Sarah Silverman Program. as Carl

2004		Cellular as Driving Instructor (uncredited)
2004		Spider-Man 2 as Train Passenger (uncredited)

2003

Reno 911! as Old Man on Scooter

2002		Jackass: The Movie as Self
2002		Men in Black II as Subway Passenger (uncredited)

2001

Rat Race as Veteran with Gun

2000

Strong Medicine as Referee

1999		Man on the Moon as Foxy Jackson Referee
1999		Running Red as Mercier's Bodyguard

1998		Hard Time as Eddie
1998		Rush Hour as Taxi Driver
1998		That '70s Show as Referee

1997		Double Tap as Wallace
1997		Batman & Robin as Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard

1996

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal as NYC bouncer

1995		Jury Duty as Security Guard (uncredited)
1995		3 Ninjas Knuckle Up as Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)

1994		Ed Wood as Ring Announcer (uncredited)
1994		Ring of Steel as MiB Bodyguard
1994		M.A.N.T.I.S. as Rioter (uncredited)

1993

The X-Files as Bartender

1992		Bloodfist IV: Die Trying as Burly
1992		Rapid Fire as Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)
1992		The Human Factor as Referee

1991		Eyes of an Angel as Pit Bull Handler
1991		Alligator 2: The Mutation as Referee
1991		Kickboxer 2: The Road Back as Referee

1990

Loose Cannons as Grimmer's Man

1988

Dead Heat

1987		Death Wish 4: The Crackdown as Cannery Guard
1987		Married... with Children as Larry
1987		Married... with Children as Referee
1987		Married... with Children as Black Ben
1987		Number One with a Bullet as Referee

1986		The Golden Child as Drunken Biker (uncredited)
1986		Sledge Hammer! as Archbishop
1986		Bad Guys as Terrible Turk Mc Gurk

1985

MacGyver as Murph

1984

Micki + Maude as Wrestling Referee

1982		Knight Rider as Junior
1982		Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid as Hood
1982		T. J. Hooker as James Wallace

1981		Heartbeeps as Forklift Driver Robot
1981		Falcon Crest as Union Guy
1981		Simon & Simon
1981		Smokey Bites the Dust as Turk
1981		Going Ape! as Faraday

1980		Raging Bull as Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)
1980		The Big Brawl as Stroke (as Gene La Bell)
1980		Airplane! as Religious Zealot (uncredited)

1979		Goldie and the Boxer as Vinnie
1979		The Jerk as Con Man
1979		Marciano as Ring Announcer
1979		Flesh & Blood as 2nd Fat Guy
1979		Hart to Hart

1978		Every Which Way but Loose as Biker
1978		Taxi as Referee
1978		Taxi as The Referee
1978		The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as Mean Bones' Manager
1978		Almost Summer as Football Coach
1978		I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Theatre Cop: Reese
1978		The One and Only as Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)

1977

The Incredible Hulk

1976		Quincy, M.E.
1976		No Way Back

1975

Baretta

1974		Dinah! as Self
1974		Black Samson as Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell)

1973		Slaughter's Big Rip-Off as Leo (uncredited)
1973		Cleopatra Jones as Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)
1973		Walking Tall as 2nd Bouncer

1972		Melinda as Hood
1972		Hammer as Referee

1970

The Challenge as Karate Instructor

1968

Land of the Giants as Mezron's Brother

1967

Ironside

1966		The Green Hornet as Barney
1966		Paradise, Hawaiian Style

1964

The Munsters as Tarzan McGirk

1963

Burke's Law as Wrestler

1962

The Beverly Hillbillies

1961

Blue Hawaii as (uncredited)

Crew

2007

Reno 911!: Miami as Stunts

2006		Smokin' Aces as Stunts
2006		Bottoms Up as Stunts
2006		Beerfest as Stunts

2005

Mr. & Mrs. Smith as Utility Stunts

2004

Starsky & Hutch as Stunts

2003

Bruce Almighty as Stunts

2002

Deuces Wild as Stunts

2001		The Last Castle as Stunts
2001		Bandits as Stunts

2000		Dude, Where's My Car? as Stunts
2000		The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave as Stunts

1999		Man on the Moon as Stunts
1999		End of Days as Utility Stunts
1999		The Hunter's Moon as Stunts
1999		Mystery Men as Stunts
1999		Running Red as Stunts

1998

U.S. Marshals as Stunts

1997		As Good as It Gets as Stunts
1997		L.A. Confidential as Stunts
1997		Double Tap as Stunts
1997		The Brave as Stunts
1997		Bean as Stunts
1997		Batman & Robin as Stunts
1997		Gone Fishin' as Stunts
1997		Trial and Error as Stunts
1997		Liar Liar as Stunts
1997		Judge and Jury as Stunts
1997		Vegas Vacation as Stunts
1997		Dante's Peak as Stunts

1996		Jingle All the Way as Stunts
1996		Independence Day as Stunts

1995		Money Train as Stunts
1995		Strange Days as Stunts
1995		Waterworld as Stunts
1995		Jury Duty as Stunts
1995		3 Ninjas Knuckle Up as Stunts
1995		Steel Frontier as Stunts
1995		Ballistic as Stunts

1994		Blown Away as Stunts
1994		Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult as Stunts

1993		C.I.A. II: Target Alexa as Stunts
1993		Conflict of Interest as Stunts

1992		Army of Darkness as Stunts
1992		Night and the City as Stunts
1992		Rapid Fire as Stunts
1992		Patriot Games as Stunts

1991		The Last Boy Scout as Stunts
1991		For the Boys as Stunts
1991		Write to Kill as Stunts
1991		Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth as Stunts
1991		Dutch as Stunts
1991		Out for Justice as Stunts
1991		Hook as Stunts

1990		Almost an Angel as Stunts
1990		Marked for Death as Stunts
1990		Death Warrant as Stunts
1990		Darkman as Stunts
1990		Men at Work as Stunts
1990		Problem Child as Stunts
1990		Die Hard 2 as Stunts
1990		RoboCop 2 as Stunts
1990		Total Recall as Stunts
1990		Dick Tracy as Stunts
1990		Hard to Kill as Stunts
1990		Internal Affairs as Stunts

1989		Tango & Cash as Stunts
1989		No Holds Barred as Stunts
1989		Fletch Lives as Stunts

1988		Mac and Me as Stunts
1988		Dead Heat as Stunts

1987		Code Name: Zebra as Stunts
1987		The Running Man as Stunts
1987		The Lost Boys as Stunts
1987		RoboCop as Stunts
1987		Nightforce as Stunts
1987		Blind Date as Stunts
1987		Number One with a Bullet as Stunts

1986		The Morning After as Stunts
1986		The Golden Child as Stunts
1986		A Fine Mess as Stunts
1986		Eye of the Tiger as Stunts

1985		Rocky IV as Stunts
1985		Runaway Train as Stunts
1985		City Limits as Stunts
1985		D.A.R.Y.L. as Stunts
1985		Fletch as Stunts
1985		Friday the 13th: A New Beginning as Stunts

1984

Johnny Dangerously as Stunts

1983		Losin' It as Stunts
1983		Heart Like a Wheel as Stunts

1982		They Call Me Bruce? as Stunts
1982		The Beastmaster as Stunts
1982		White Dog as Stunts

1981

Smokey Bites the Dust as Stunts

1980		Inside Moves as Stunts
1980		Magnum, P.I. as Stunt Double
1980		Airplane! as Stunts
1980		Bronco Billy as Stunts

1979		The Prize Fighter as Stunts
1979		Americathon as Stunts
1979		The Fantastic Seven as Stunts

1978		Every Which Way but Loose as Stunts
1978		The Fifth Floor as Stunts
1978		Almost Summer as Stunts
1978		I Wanna Hold Your Hand as Stunts
1978		The One and Only as Stunt Coordinator

1977

Black Sunday as Stunts

1976		Rocky as Stunts
1976		King Kong as Stunts
1976		The Big Bus as Stunts

1975		Let's Do It Again as Stunts
1975		The Day of the Locust as Stunts

1974		Freebie and the Bean as Stunts
1974		The Towering Inferno as Stunts
1974		Earthquake as Stunts
1974		The Gambler as Stunts
1974		99 and 44/100% Dead as Stunts
1974		Black Samson as Stunts
1974		California Split as Stunts
1974		Busting as Stunts

1973		Hell Up In Harlem as Stunts
1973		Cleopatra Jones as Stunts
1973		Walking Tall as Stunts

1972		Blacula as Stunts
1972		Conquest of the Planet of the Apes as Stunts

1970		There Was a Crooked Man... as Stunts
1970		Beneath the Planet of the Apes as Stunts

1968		The Split as Stunts
1968		Don't Just Stand There as Stunt Coordinator
1968		Planet of the Apes as Stunts

1967

The Happiest Millionaire as Stunt Coordinator

1966		What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? as Stunts
1966		Three on a Couch as Stunts

1965

7 Women as Stunts

1963

4 for Texas as Stunts