Louis Jude Ferrigno

Louis "Lou" Jude Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American bodybuilder. A regular participant in various American television shows of the 1980s and 1990s.

He played the main role in the TV series "The Incredible Hulk" (1978-1982), and also voiced the Hulk in all subsequent films. He starred in one of the main roles in the films "Sinbad beyond the Seven Seas", "Hercules", "The Magnificent Seven Gladiators" and in a number of other films and TV series. Multiple winner of American and international bodybuilding competitions.

Early years.

Lou Ferrigno was born on November 9, 1951 in Brooklyn (New York) in an Italian-American family of a policeman. At the age of 3, he suffered from an infection that got into his ear, as a result of which he lost 80% of his hearing. At the age of 13, he began to work with iron, taking an example from the eponymous hero of the film "Hercules", where the main role was played by Steve Reeves — the main icon of bodybuilders of those times.

As a result of hearing loss, Louis developed a love for reading, and later for bodybuilding, as he describes it: "... if I hadn't lost my hearing, I wouldn't be where I am now. Hearing loss made me increase my own capabilities."

As a child, he took an example from the comic book heroes Spider-Man and the Hulk, whom he later played in the TV series of the same name.

In 1969 he graduated from high Technical School in Brooklyn.

Bodybuilding career.

Since 1971, he began to perform (and receive prizes) in the all-American youth bodybuilding competitions, and already in 1973, 1974 he became the absolute champion of "Mr. Universe" (IFBB organizer) and "Mr. America". His height then was 194 cm, weight - 130 kg). After the successes in 1974-1975, his career slowly declined. After participating in the contest "Mr. Olympia 1975", reflected in the film "Pumping Iron", Ferrigno retired from competitive bodybuilding, despite the fact that he had serious chances to become the next winner of this competition after Arnold Schwarzenegger left the stage. The reason was that he was offered the role of the Hulk in the television series "The Incredible Hulk", filming of which began in 1976. It was impossible to combine long-term filming and preparation for competitions, while Ferrigno saw a career in television as more promising. Lu also took part in the competition "The strongest man in the world", where he took 4th place.

After an unsuccessful return to big bodybuilding in the early 1990s, he ended his career in 1994.

Personal life.

He married Susan Groff in 1978, divorced a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married psychotherapist Carla Green, who at that time had a personal trainer. Ferrigno has three children: Anna, born in 1981; Louis Jr., born in 1984, and Brent, born in 1990.

Daughter Jeanne stars in cameo roles in TV series. Louis Jr. is an American football varsity player and actor.

Currently, Lou Ferrigno lives in California, USA. He still trains daily and also sells his own line of fitness equipment through the company Ferrigno Fitness.