Gene LeBell

Known for ActingBorn 1932-10-09Died 2022-08-09Los Angeles, California, USA

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. 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.Read more

Movies & web series

The X-Files

The Human Factor

That '70s Show

Bad Guys

Sledge Hammer!

L.A. Confidential

I Am Bruce Lee

Raging Bull

Married... with Children

The Munsters

MacGyver

Rocky

Ed Wood

Strong Medicine

As Good as It Gets

Knight Rider

Spider-Man 2

Planet of the Apes

Quincy, M.E.

RoboCop

The Wild Wild West

Man on the Moon

Reno 911!

Total Recall

Army of Darkness

The Last Castle

Magnum, P.I.

Airplane!

Taxi

Rush Hour

The Incredible Hulk

The Lost Boys

Strange Days

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

Eyes of an Angel

The Green Hornet

Rocky IV

Die Hard 2

Independence Day

Runaway Train

Marciano

The Towering Inferno

Hook

The Last Boy Scout

Let's Do It Again

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Dinah!

Bruce Almighty