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Gene LeBell

Actor

Gene LeBell

Born October 9, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USADied August 9, 202265 films

Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) 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.

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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.

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The best way into Gene LeBell's work
Spider-Man 2 posterFirst watchSpider-Man 220047.3as Train Passenger (uncredited)Peter Parker is going through a major identity crisis. Burned out from being Spider-Man, he decides to shelve his superhero alter ego, which leaves the city suffering in the wake of…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Raging Bull poster7.9Raging Bull1980Airplane! poster7.3Airplane!1980Rush Hour poster7.1Rush Hour1998Men in Black II poster6.4Men in Black II2002Ed Wood poster7.5Ed Wood1994Man on the Moon poster7.2Man on the Moon1999Blood and Bone poster7.4Blood and Bone2009Cellular poster6.4Cellular2004

Filmography

65 films as actor
  1. 2018Fury of the Fist and the Golden FleeceThe Boss
  2. 2009From Mexico With LoveReferee
  3. 2009Blood and BoneAttendant
  4. 2008RedbeltOld Stuntman
  5. 2006Bottoms UpMilt
  6. 2004CellularDriving Instructor (uncredited)
  7. 2004Spider-Man 2Train Passenger (uncredited)
  8. 2002Men in Black IISubway Passenger (uncredited)
  9. 2001Rat RaceVeteran with Gun
  10. 1999Man on the MoonFoxy Jackson Referee
  11. 1999Running RedMercier's Bodyguard
  12. 1998Hard TimeEddie
  13. 1998Rush HourTaxi Driver
  14. 1997Double TapWallace
  15. 1997Batman & RobinArkham Asylum Property Room Guard
  16. 1997On the Edge of InnocenceSecurity Guard
  17. 1996Shaughnessy: The Iron MarshalNYC bouncer
  18. 1995Jury DutySecurity Guard (uncredited)
  19. 19953 Ninjas Knuckle UpRed-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
  20. 1994Ed WoodRing Announcer
  21. 1994Ring of SteelMiB Bodyguard
  22. 1994M.A.N.T.I.S.Rioter (uncredited)
  23. 1992Bloodfist IV: Die TryingBurly
  24. 1992Rapid FireRed Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)
  25. 1991Eyes of an AngelPit Bull Handler
  26. 1991Alligator 2: The MutationReferee
  27. 1991Kickboxer 2: The Road BackReferee
  28. 1990Loose CannonsGrimmer's Man
  29. 1988Dead Heat
  30. 1987Death Wish 4: The CrackdownCannery Guard
  31. 1987Number One with a BulletReferee
  32. 1986The Golden ChildDrunken Biker (uncredited)
  33. 1986Welcome to 18Motorcycle Cop
  34. 1986Bad GuysTerrible Turk Mc Gurk
  35. 1984Micki & MaudeWrestling Referee
  36. 1984City HeatGarage Soldier
  37. 1982Dead Men Don't Wear PlaidHood
  38. 1981HeartbeepsForklift Driver Robot
  39. 1981Smokey Bites the DustTurk
  40. 1981Going Ape!Faraday
  41. 1980Raging BullRing Announcer (Reeves Fight)
  42. 1980Foolin' AroundPaul
  43. 1980The Big BrawlStroke
  44. 1980Airplane!Religious Zealot (uncredited)
  45. 1979Goldie and the BoxerVinnie
  46. 1979The JerkCon Man
  47. 1979MarcianoRing Announcer
  48. 1979Flesh & Blood2nd Fat Guy
  49. 1979AmericathonReferee
  50. 1978Every Which Way but LooseBiker
  51. 1978The Bad News Bears Go to JapanMean Bones' Manager
  52. 1978Almost SummerFootball Coach
  53. 1978I Wanna Hold Your HandTheatre Cop: Reese
  54. 1978The One and OnlyReigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
  55. 1976No Way Back
  56. 1974Black SamsonNappa's Gang
  57. 1973Slaughter's Big Rip-OffLeo (uncredited)
  58. 1973Cleopatra JonesMommy's Henchman (uncredited)
  59. 1973Walking Tall2nd Bouncer
  60. 1972BlaculaSecond Dracula Henchman
  61. 1972MelindaHood
  62. 1972HammerReferee
  63. 1970The ChallengeKarate Instructor
  64. 1966Paradise, Hawaiian Style
  65. 1961Blue Hawaii(uncredited)