Lou Ferrigno

Louis Jude Ferrigno Sr. (born November 9, 1951) is an American actor and retired professional bodybuilder.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Ferrigno won his first major title, IFBB Mr. America.

Four years later, he won the title IFBB Mr. Universe.

Early in his career he lived in Columbus, Ohio and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition.

Ferrigno, who stands at almost 6 ft, weighed in during competition at 268 lb (130 kg) in 1975 and 315 lb (142 kg) in 1992.

As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles; and appeared in the documentary film Pumping Iron (1977).

As an actor, he is best known for his title role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) and vocally reprising the role in subsequent animated and computer-generated incarnations.

He came in third the following year, and his attempt to Beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron.

The documentary made Ferrigno famous.

These victories, however, did not provide enough income for him to earn a living.

His first paying job was as a $10-an-hour sheet metal worker in a Brooklyn factory, where he worked for three years.

He did not enjoy the dangerous work, and left after a friend and co-worker accidentally cut off his own hand.

Following this, Ferrigno left the competition circuit for many years, a period that included a brief stint as a defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.

He had never played football, and was cut after two games.

Ferrigno left the world of Canadian football after he broke the legs of a fellow player during a scrimmage.

Ferrigno competed in the first annual World's Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.

In 1977, Ferrigno was cast as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk.

Though they were rarely on camera together, Ferrigno and Bill Bixby—who played the Hulk's "normal" alter ego—became friends; Ferrigno has described Bixby as a "mentor" and "father figure" who took him under his wing.

Ferrigno also singles out the instances in which Bixby directed Ferrigno in some episodes as particularly memorable.

In November 1978 and again in May 1979 Ferrigno appeared in Battle of the Network Stars.

Ferrigno continued playing the Hulk role until 1981, although the last two episodes were not broadcast until May 1982.

Later, he and Bixby co-starred in three The Incredible Hulk TV movies.

He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Hercules (1983) and Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989), and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.

Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, a police lieutenant.

He is of Italian descent.

Soon after he was born, Ferrigno says he believes he had a series of ear infections and lost 75% to 80% of his hearing, though his condition was not diagnosed until he was three years old.

Hearing loss and his speech impediment caused Ferrigno to be bullied by peers during his childhood who called him "deaf" and "mute".

He began reading comic books such as Hulk and Spider-Man at this time, later saying "I was obsessed with power", and "I wanted to be strong enough so that I could be able to defend myself".

Ferrigno started weight training at the age of 13, citing bodybuilder and Hercules star Steve Reeves as one of his role models.

Because he could not afford to buy weights, he made his own using a broomstick and pails which he partially filled with cement.

He was also a fan of the Hercules films that starred Reeves.

Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School and Brooklyn Technical High School, where he learned metal working.

He portrayed the titular character in the 1983 science fantasy adventure film Hercules, and received mixed-to-negative reviews for his performance.

He was, however, praised by Marylynn Uricchio, a film critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Andy Brack of Charleston City Paper.

In 1983, Ferrigno appeared as John Six in the short-lived medical drama Trauma Center.

In the early 1990s Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding, competing for the 1992 and 1993 Mr. Olympia titles.

Finishing 12th and 10th, respectively, he then turned to the 1994 Masters Olympia, where his attempt to beat Robbie Robinson and Boyer Coe was the subject of the 1996 documentary Stand Tall.

After this, he retired from competition.

Gary Allen Smith, author of the book Epic Films, complimented Ferrigno's physical strength and aesthetics in the film: "At 6'5" and 262 pounds, he is a massive and thoroughly convincing Hercules". In 2014, Decider named Ferrigno the tenth "hottest onscreen Hercules ever".