Gene LeBell
- Acting
- October 9, 1932 · Los Angeles, California, USA
- August 9, 2022
Biography
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.
Known for
Filmography
- The Search for Count Dante
- The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes · Self
- Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece · The Boss
- I Am Bruce Lee · Self
- From Mexico With Love · Referee
- Blood and Bone · Attendant
- Redbelt · Old Stuntman
- Reno 911!: Miami · Stunts
- The Sarah Silverman Program · Carl
- Smokin' Aces · Stunts
- Bottoms Up · Milt, Stunts
- Beerfest · Stunts
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith · Utility Stunts
- Cellular · Driving Instructor (uncredited)
- Spider-Man 2 · Train Passenger (uncredited)
- Starsky & Hutch · Stunts
- Reno 911! · Old Man on Scooter, Grandpa
- Bruce Almighty · Stunts
- Jackass: The Movie · Self
- Men in Black II · Subway Passenger (uncredited)
- Deuces Wild · Stunts
- The Last Castle · Stunts
- Bandits · Stunts
- Rat Race · Veteran with Gun
- Dude, Where's My Car? · Stunts
- Strong Medicine · Referee
- The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave · Stunts
- Man on the Moon · Foxy Jackson Referee, Stunts
- End of Days · Utility Stunts
- The Hunter's Moon · Stunts
- Mystery Men · Stunts
- Running Red · Mercier's Bodyguard, Stunts
- Hard Time · Eddie
- Rush Hour · Taxi Driver
- That '70s Show · Referee
- U.S. Marshals · Stunts
- As Good as It Gets · Stunts
- L.A. Confidential · Stunts
- Double Tap · Wallace, Stunts
- The Brave · Stunts
- Bean · Stunts
- Batman & Robin · Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard, Stunts
- Gone Fishin' · Stunts
- Trial and Error · Stunts
- On the Edge of Innocence · Security Guard
- Liar Liar · Stunts
- Judge and Jury · Stunts
- Vegas Vacation · Stunts
- Dante's Peak · Stunts
- Jingle All the Way · Stunts
- Independence Day · Stunts
- Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal · NYC bouncer
- Money Train · Stunts
- Strange Days · Stunts
- Waterworld · Stunts
- Jury Duty · Security Guard (uncredited), Stunts
- 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up · Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited), Stunts
- Steel Frontier · Stunts
- Ballistic · Stunts
- Ed Wood · Ring Announcer
- Blown Away · Stunts
- Ring of Steel · MiB Bodyguard
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult · Stunts
- M.A.N.T.I.S. · Rioter (uncredited)
- C.I.A. II: Target Alexa · Stunts
- The X-Files · Bartender
- Conflict of Interest · Stunts
- Bloodfist IV: Die Trying · Burly
- Army of Darkness · Stunts
- Night and the City · Stunts
- Rapid Fire · Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited), Stunts
- Patriot Games · Stunts
- The Human Factor · Referee
- The Last Boy Scout · Stunts
- For the Boys · Stunts
- Write to Kill · Stunts
- Trancers II · Stunts
- Eyes of an Angel · Pit Bull Handler
- Dutch · Stunts
- Alligator 2: The Mutation · Referee