Geschatte leestijd: 4 minutenLou Ferrigno was the rival of Schwarzenegger in the classic “Pumping Iron.” He lost that Mr. Olympia to Arnold but did win the role of “The Hulk.”
Lou Ferrigno grew up in an Italian-American family. His father was Matthew Ferrigno, a police officer with the NYPD, and his mother was named Victoria. Since the age of three, Lou has been 80% deaf after contracting an infection. “…If I hadn’t lost my hearing, I wouldn’t be here now. It prompted me to maximize my self-potential. I had to be better than average to succeed.
As a child, he certainly didn’t have weak role models. Steve Reeves, who played Hercules, but also the characters from the Marvel comics Spiderman and The Hulk. As a child, he could not have dreamed that he would play the roles of both Hercules, The Hulk, and many other roles himself.
The Hulk
Where a scientist makes a mistake with gamma radiation to turn into a bizarrely muscular green monster, Lou only needed makeup. His body was chosen as the epitome of superhuman strength in this popular TV series from the 70s and 80s of the last century.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was still considered for the role of the Hulk. However, he was found to be too small (in height)! In Pumping Iron, a classic that mainly follows Arnold Schwarzenegger in his (preparation for the) battle for a sixth Mr. Olympia title, Lou Ferrigno is the young eager challenger who wants to dethrone Arnold.
Louis Jude Ferrigno was born on November 9, 1951, in Brooklyn New York, and began weight training at the age of 13. As a child, he certainly didn’t have weak role models. Steve Reeves, who played Hercules, but also the characters from the Marvel comics Spiderman and The Hulk. As a child, he could not have dreamed that he would play the roles of both Hercules, The Hulk, and many other roles himself.
Lou Ferrigno Biography
Lou started training when he was 13 years old. After completing his education at the Brooklyn Technical High School, he won his first major title, Mr. America (IFBB), in 1969, at the age of 18. Four years later, he became the youngest Mr. Universe ever. A record that still stands. He trained in his early years in Columbus, Ohio, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 1974, he made his first attempt at the title of titles, Mr. Olympia. He came second behind Arnold. The following year, he came third in a battle immortalized by documentary makers Charles Gaines and Robert Fiore in the classic Pumping Iron.
After this, he left the competition stage for many years and tried, among other things, an American Football career in Canada (which was over after only 2 games). He also participated in the first Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished 4th (out of 8 participants).
It wasn’t until 1992 that he returned to the competition stage. That year and the following year, he finished 12th and 10th, respectively, at the Mr. Olympia. In 1994, he participated in the Masters Olympia, a kind of seniors’ version of former IFBB champions. A documentary was also made about this, called Stand Tall (1996). After this, he definitively stopped competing.
During the height of his career, he was 1.95m tall, weighed 125 kg, and was the biggest bodybuilder of his time.
Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978; they separated a year later. On May 30, 1980, he married Carla Green, a psychotherapist, who then became his manager and later his personal trainer. They have three children, Shanna (born in 1981), Louis Jr. (born in 1984), and Brent (born in 1990). In the summer of 2005, his daughter had a role in the E! reality TV series Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive.
Since 2000, Lou has made periodic guest appearances as himself on the CBS television show, The King of Queens, where he plays Heffernan’s neighbor.
Lou the Bodybuilder
In 1969, at the age of 18, Ferrigno won his first major title, Mr. America (IFBB). Four years later, he became the youngest Mr. Universe ever. A record that still stands. He trained in his early years in Columbus, Ohio, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 1974, he made his first attempt at the title of titles, Mr. Olympia. He came second behind Arnold. The following year, he came third in a battle immortalized by documentary makers Charles Gaines and Robert Fiore in the classic Pumping Iron.
After this, he left the competition stage for many years and tried, among other things, an American Football career in Canada (which was over after only 2 games). He also participated in the first Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished 4th (out of 8 participants).
It wasn’t until 1992 that he returned to the competition stage. That year and the following year, he finished 12th and 10th, respectively, at the Mr. Olympia. In 1994, he participated in the Masters Olympia, a kind of seniors’ version of former IFBB champions. A documentary was also made about this, called Stand Tall (1996). After this, he definitively stopped competing.
Today, he is a personal instructor/coach, has his own line of fitness equipment, and sometimes has small roles in films (including a cameo as a guard in the last Hulk film from 2008). He is also a reserve deputy sheriff.
Stats
Name: Louis Jude Ferrigno
Date of Birth: November 9, 1951
Height: 1.96m
Competition Weight: 130kg in 1975, 143kg in 1992
Results
- 1971 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, Teen 1st
- 1971 Teen Mr. America — AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
- 1972 Pro Mr. America — WBBG, 2nd
- 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
- 1973 IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner
- 1973 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
- 1974 IFBB Mr. International
- 1974 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
- 1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
- 1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place
- 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th
- 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th
- 1994 Olympia Masters, 2nd
