Louis Lou Ferrigno is a well-known star in the world of bodybuilding, but for the mass audience, what remains behind the scenes is that he is also a distinguished actor and participant in a television show. Ferrigno made physical training his highlight, securing the status of Hercules and just a strong strongman for several years. Later, he tried himself in the role of the Hulk, forever leaving the privilege of voicing this hero in subsequent films. He was able to build a career as a bodybuilder and actor, despite the fact that he practically lost his hearing in childhood. As a boy, he took an example from the icons of the world of bodybuilding and his own father, who served in the police. Now he is 65 years old, and the man still retained not only his form, but also the desire to pursue both iron and his career in the world of big cinema.
The early years and the formation of a bodybuilder
As Louis Ferrigno himself declares directly, the future bodybuilder was born in an ordinary American family. The birthday of the future actor is November 9, 1951. The boy grew up in a mixed Italian-American family in Brooklyn, where the actor still lives. At the age of 3, due to an infectious disease, he partially lost his hearing. The loss of one of the senses stimulated the future actor to engage in reading and bodybuilding. Louis Ferrigno himself talks about this in a positive way, noting that hearing loss did him a great service, and otherwise he would not have become what he is now. Stunningly, but already at the age of 5, the boy tried to seriously engage in weightlifting and supported his father's desire to maintain physical fitness.
Inspiration and ideals
According to the actor, he was always inspired by the hero Hulk from the comic book of the same name. Later, Lou would become famous for just playing the role of this character, but then, in childhood, a huge green hero took all the attention of the future actor and he readily imitated the hero. Later, the bodybuilder's range of preferences was also replenished with comic books about The Incredible Spider-Man and films about Hercules (late 50s), whose role was played by Steve Reeves.
This actor has inspired many bodybuilders. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would later become Louis Ferrigno’s main competitor in the world of bodybuilding, also stated that the desire to raise iron came to him after the actor found out about Reeves. In 1969, Louis Ferigno graduated from a technical school in Brooklyn, after which he was engaged in a career as a bodybuilder.
Bodybuilder career
Interesting fact: Louis Ferrigno won the title “Mr. Universe” at the age of 21, which to this day remains an absolute record recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. At the age of 22, he repeated this achievement and is the only person in the world to have won two related titles (“Mr. America”). The height of Louis Ferrigno is 194 centimeters, weight - 130 kilograms, with these parameters, he was a favorite of many international competitions for the period from 1971 (beginning of career) to 1975.
In 1975, Louis Ferrigno again took part in the fight for the title “Mr. Olympia” and had to win in the following, as his main rival Arnold Schwarzenegger left the sport, but left his career to participate in the filming of “The Incredible Hulk”, a series of 70s . Later, he tried to return to big sport, but could no longer repeat the stunning result of his youth and finally left bodybuilding in 1994.
Filmography and television
In the first place, Louis Ferrigno is known precisely for his role as the Hulk in the 1979 series and film of the same name. In the world of bodybuilding, he is also remembered as an athlete who starred in a documentary. The picture "Pumping Iron" in 1975 captured the competition of Ferigno for the title "Mr. Olympia."
The films of Louis Ferrigno are largely aimed precisely at displaying his physical parameters, including the career of a bodybuilder. Both Hercules and The Incredible Hulk, even the role of Lorenzo in the sequels of the Godfather project, which did not reach the world level, demonstrated Louis as strong, physically trained people. In addition, Louis Ferrigno played the role of Sinbad the Sailor in the 1989 film of the same name.
The actor has repeatedly noted that he always considered a career in television more promising than in the field of bodybuilding. Now Louis Ferrigno is announced as the voice of the Hulk in the movie “Thor: Ragnarok”, the athlete continues his acting career, but he does not give up sports.
Personal trainer and fitness product line
In 2009, Louis Ferrigno, whose photo is presented above, was hired by Michael Jackson as a personal trainer. He still does not leave sports and is promoting his own brand, which received the name of the athlete as a name. In 2012, he met with Arnold Schwarzenegger, as both men were invited to the bodybuilders contest as examples of success and inspiration. Athletes shook hands and marked the days when they competed side-by-side. According to Ferrigno himself, many Hollywood stars still resort to his services. He leads his own classes and promotes a healthy lifestyle among young people. It is known that his son, Louis Ferrigno Jr., is involved in American football and is very proud of his father's career.
Personal life
Louis Ferrigno brings up three children: Shannu (1981), Louis Jr. (1984) and Brent (1990). The youngest son has practically no contact with the press, preferring to pursue his own career. Ferrigno’s first marriage with Sozan Groff broke up a year after the wedding, in 1979. On May 3, 1980, he married his client, psychotherapist Karl Green, with whom he is still married. Shanna Ferrigno followed in the footsteps of her father and tries to pursue a career as an actress, periodically appearing in episodic roles in TV shows.
Today, Louis Ferrigno lives in Boston, in his own mansion and carefully avoids the attention of the press, as he retired and devoted himself to his family.
Despite the fact that Louis Ferrigno is almost unknown to the general public outside the United States, he remains one of the examples of the successful formation of personality, despite the presence of physical defects. The hearing never returned fully to the athlete. At the same time, Ferrigno does not at all cite fate, but stoically admits that the defect helped him in the process of development as an actor and bodybuilder, as he forced him to change for the better. Now he preaches a healthy lifestyle and encourages his clients to fight for a full life, regardless of the presence of any restrictions and defects.