Lou Ferrigno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Ferrigno
Ferrigno in 2018
Born	Louis Jude Ferrigno (1951-11-09) November 9, 1951 (age 73) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Bodybuilder actor personal trainer
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Susan Groff ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1979)​ Carla Green ​ ​ (m. 1980; separated 2023)​
Children	3, including Lou Jr.
Bodybuilder
Personal info
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight	315 lb (143 kg)
Professional career
Pro-debut	NABBA Mr. Universe, 1972
Best win	IFBB Mr. Universe, 1973–1974
Active	Retired 1996

Louis Jude Ferrigno, born on November 9, 1951, is a famous American bodybuilder and actor. He is well-known for winning important bodybuilding titles like Mr. America and Mr. Universe. Many people also know him for playing the Hulk in the TV show The Incredible Hulk. He also voiced the Hulk in later movies. Besides the Hulk, he appeared in fantasy movies like Hercules and in TV shows like The King of Queens.

Early Life and Challenges

Lou Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York. His dad, Matt Ferrigno, was a police officer. When Lou was very young, he had ear infections. These infections caused him to lose most of his hearing, about 75% to 80%. Doctors didn't find out about his hearing loss until he was three years old.

Because of his hearing loss and trouble speaking clearly, other kids sometimes made fun of him. They called him "deaf" or "mute." During this time, Lou started reading comic books about heroes like the Hulk and Spider-Man. He later said he wanted to be strong enough to defend himself. He also felt that his father didn't accept him, which made him dream of being like the Hulk. This dream led him to start bodybuilding.

Lou began lifting weights when he was 13. He looked up to bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves, who played Hercules in movies. Since he couldn't afford weights, he made his own using a broomstick and buckets filled with cement. He went to St. Athanasius Grammar School and Brooklyn Technical High School.

Becoming a Bodybuilding Champion

After finishing high school in 1969, Lou Ferrigno won his first big bodybuilding award, the IFBB Mr. America title. Four years later, he won the IFBB Mr. Universe title. Early in his career, he trained with another famous bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In 1974, Lou tried to win the Mr. Olympia competition for the first time and came in second. The next year, he placed third. His efforts to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger were shown in the 1977 documentary movie Pumping Iron. This movie helped make Lou Ferrigno famous.

Even with his wins, bodybuilding didn't pay enough for him to live on at first. His first job was working with sheet metal in a factory in Brooklyn. He worked there for three years but didn't like the dangerous work. He left after a friend at the factory accidentally cut off his hand.

After this, Lou stopped competing in bodybuilding for a while. He even tried playing football for a short time with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He had never played football before and was cut from the team after two games.

Lou Ferrigno is very tall, about 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters). When he competed in 1975, he weighed about 285 pounds (129 kg). In 1992, he weighed about 316 pounds (143 kg).

In 1977, Lou also competed in the first-ever World's Strongest Man competition. He finished fourth out of eight strong competitors.

In the early 1990s, Lou Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding. He competed in the Mr. Olympia contests in 1992 and 1993. He finished 12th and 10th. Then, in 1994, he competed in the Masters Olympia. His attempt to win was shown in the 1996 documentary Stand Tall. After this, he officially retired from competing.

Acting Career Highlights

Playing the Hulk

In 1977, Lou Ferrigno was chosen to play the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk TV series. He worked closely with Bill Bixby, who played the Hulk's normal self, Bruce Banner. Lou and Bill became good friends. Lou said Bill was like a "mentor" and "father figure" to him. Lou continued to play the Hulk until 1981. He and Bill Bixby also starred in three Incredible Hulk TV movies later on.

Lou Ferrigno also made guest appearances on the TV show The King of Queens from 2000 to 2007. He played himself, living next door to the main characters. They often made jokes about him being the Hulk.

He made small appearances as a security guard in the movies Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008). In the 2008 movie, he also provided the voice for the Hulk. He continued to voice the Hulk in other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies until Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. After that, Mark Ruffalo took over voicing the Hulk.

Other Roles and Appearances

In 1983, Lou Ferrigno played the main character in the fantasy adventure movie Hercules. Critics had mixed feelings about his acting, but many praised his strong and impressive physical appearance in the role. One film critic said he was a "massive and thoroughly convincing Hercules."

Lou also trained Michael Jackson off and on starting in the early 1990s. In 2009, he helped Michael Jackson get ready for a series of concerts in London, but these concerts were canceled because Michael Jackson passed away.

Lou Ferrigno has his own line of fitness equipment called Ferrigno Fitness. He even showed off his equipment on the game show The Price Is Right in 2009.

In 2016, Lou Ferrigno appeared as a playable Lego version of himself in the video game Lego Marvel's Avengers.

Other Activities

Lou Ferrigno has also worked as a reserve sheriff's deputy in different places. In 2006, he became a reserve deputy in Los Angeles County, California. In 2012, he became a reserve deputy in San Luis Obispo County, California, and completed training to be a full peace officer. In 2013, he became a special deputy in Delaware County, Ohio.

In 2012, Lou Ferrigno was a contestant on the TV show The Celebrity Apprentice. He was on the show to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a charity that helps people with muscle diseases. His team won $50,000 for the charity in one task where he danced while mopping for a commercial.

In 2017, Lou Ferrigno was honored by being added to the International Sports Hall of Fame. In 2018, President Donald Trump appointed him to be a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

Personal Life

Lou Ferrigno has used hearing aids since he was five years old because of his hearing loss. He believes that his hearing loss actually helped him become more determined in life. He said it gave him a "certain strength of character." Later in life, he received a cochlear implant, which helped him hear much better.

Lou Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978, but they divorced a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married Carla Green, who is a therapist and also became his manager and personal trainer. They have three children: Shanna (born 1981), Louis Jr. (born 1984), and Brent (born 1990). Both Shanna and Louis Jr. have become actors.

Competitions

• 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, Heavyweight 3rd place
• 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th
• 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th
• 1994: Olympia Masters, 2nd

Filmography

Ferrigno's handprints at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Roles

See also

In Spanish: Lou Ferrigno para niños

• List of male professional bodybuilders