Aloha, Brian Keaulana, Congratulations Gene! On the set of The Green Hornet, LeBell struck up a friendship with martial arts icon Bruce Lee, and they began cross-training, with LeBell showing Lee his pain-inflicting holds, locks and throws, and Lee demonstrating his lightning-quick kicks and strikes. Written by James C. Udel, a member of IATSEs Local 80 Grips since 1993 and author of The Film Crew of Hollywood, these stories will profile retired or semiretired artisans whose work has left an enduring impact on the history of the movies. David Burton, Congrats Gene LeBell great job well done Grover Gay, Congrats Gene LeBell! ; The Apprentice: To Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Karl Gotch and Lou Thesz, among other guys. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Its no wonder LeBell flocked to combat sports and martial arts. Will the Ravens Be Contending for the AFC Crown? It has been an honor to work with you ,and see how much you have done, over the years. A teacher to many of the sports greats, his Lee and LeBell had a rocky start to their friendship after LeBell hoisted Lee on his back in a firemans carry without Lees cooperation. Gene LeBell was a legendary stuntman and martial artist known for pioneering mixed martial arts who trained Bruce Lee. You truly are a one-off, a living legend. He started learning judo at 12 (although his mother told The Los Angeles Times in 1955 that he had been inspired a little later, in high school, when he was beaten up by a smaller teenager who knew judo), and by 1954 his proficiency had grown to an elite level: He won both the heavyweight class and the overall title in that years national American Amateur Union championships. Gene LeBell remained a towering figure in the history and expansion of mixed martial arts and sports entertainment. The pictures above are from the TV show Fall Guy and I told Gene I didnt want to hit him on the bike and he said I dont want you to hit me eitheryou may hurt yourself. Congratulations Gene, you earned this award and no one in this world is taking it away from the Toughest man Alive. Jack Gill. Now I get beat up by every wimp in Hollywood and make thousands of dollars. Plus, Ringer Wrestling Show Draft Results Are In! Congratulations! This is my bedroom, my kitchen, my garage and my front room, LeBell continued. TOUGH GUYS WEAR PINK IN ANY COLOR, JUDO MASTER AND (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), Gene started training in judo at a young age, and at the age of 20 in 1954, he won National AAU Heavyweight Judo Championship and the USA Overall Judo Championship title. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. (Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News), Gene LeBell teaches grappling at Hayastan MMA Academy. Watched by more than a billion people worldwide, the fight ended in a draw, with LeBells score (71-71) determining the outcome after one judge scored it for Ali and the other for Inoki. Blessed if you know him, crazy fun guy. Some of his vast television credits includeThe Jack Benny Program (1962), The Man from U.N.C.L.E (1965) The Green Hornet (1965), Mission: Impossible (1966), I Spy (1965), The Wild Wild West (1965), Bonanza (1968), Kung Fu (1972), Beretta (1975), Starsky and Hutch (1975), Fantasy Island (1979), The Greatest American Hero (1981), Married with Children (1987), Baywatch (1989), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992), Walker Texas Ranger (1993), That 70s Show (1998), The X-Files (2000), The Shield (2002), Reno 911 (2003), 24 (2010) and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Rest in Peace. Every star in Hollywood has beaten me up, Mr. LeBell told AARP magazine in 2015. The Internet Pays Tribute to Late Martial Arts Legend Gene LeBell Wall and Norris were co-owners of a karate school, and Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. The two became close friends, but the actors untimely death stymied LeBells chance for future speaking parts. Find out who should. One day in 1966, the stuntman Gene LeBell was called to the set of the television series The Green Hornet to deal with Bruce Lee, the future martial arts superstar, who played Kato, the crime-fighting Hornets sidekick. Lance Gilbert, Gene , you are surely deserving of this achievement even though your humility wont allow you to agree with us. It was declared a draw. Karl Gotch. Judo Gene LeBell passes away at 89 years old https://t.co/v6pieyfChp via @@br26 Rest In Peace Master, TitusWelliver (@welliver_titus) August 10, 2022, With the heaviest of hearts I say goodbye to one of my favorite men in the world. So Ive had a lot of fun doing stunts.. Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. (Gene LeBell Biography), Born in Los Angeles in 1932, LeBell was shipped off to a military school at age 6 by his full-time working mom after his father died in a surfing accident. He taught me how to fight, taught me how to ride. It was LeBells first movieland lesson: Always let the star win. Heffay Cadiente, Big congrats Uncle Gene! Uncle Gene let him (Browne) know all about me before we met. After his mom remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. He had a big heart. Over his career, LeBell was bludgeoned, shot, run over, karate-chopped (he became friends with Bruce Lee) and drowned for $2,000 per week earning more than most lawyers during those days. LeBells career wasnt without controversy of its own, thoughnot long after refereeing the Ali-Inoki fight in 1976, he was arrested for his role in the murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall, whose residence contained hours of phone recordings connected to powerful local figures and even the 1972 presidential campaign of Richard Nixon. WebGene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932 and is 90 years old now. Howard Beck on How Much Longer the Warriors Can Keep Winning, LeBron James Vs. Stephen Curry, and the 76ers Without Joel Embiid. Gene, I appreciate the things youve accomplished in life, and acknowledge your generosity to those you have helped to achieve theirs. The two became close friends, but the actors untimely death stymied LeBells chance for future speaking parts. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, who was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular scene, background in the Japanese martial art of aikido. As in Seagal went out, and went #1 and #2, in his pants. Born Ivan Gene LeBell on Oct. 9, 1932, in Los Angeles, LeBell grew up at the famed Olympic Auditorium, where his mother, Aileen Eaton, was a boxing and wrestling promoter from 1942 to 1980. Oops. Way to go Uncle Gene!!! Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? I want to thank everybody in the world who has said such wonderful things about him and all the prayers that were said for him. He believed in me which made me believe in myself. He put me over to my future husband before we ever met, Rousey said. Mr. Lee, it seems, was hurting the other stuntmen. Do you want to do freestyle? A fight scene on the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet earned LeBell his SAG card. Well deserved !!! Gene LeBell, Hollywood Stuntman and Martial Artist, Dies at 89 Here are our grades for all 32 squads. Judo Gene Lebell passed in his sleep, a warrior in every way to the very end. He is, and always has been, a perfect example of what a professional stuntman should be and continues to teach and hand down his vast knowledge to all young and old who want to learn. Known as the toughest man alive, real life Hollywood hard man, two-time national judo champion and master of grappling Gene LeBell worked with Lee as a In any case, LeBell was back to work in the movies almost immediately, adding to the movie residuals and Screen Actors Guildbacked retirement that sustained him in his later years. Congratulations very well deserved! GENE LEBELL OBITUARY Gene LeBell was a legendary stuntman and martial artist known for pioneering mixed martial arts who trained Bruce Lee. As Rousey rose to prominence in the UFC as the first woman on its roster and its first female champion, LeBell was always in her corner, often seen with a stopwatch to record her first-round finishes. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. With only one uniform, he wore it and beat the competition. Well deserved my friend, and sensei! (Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News). How much can Joel Embiid give the Sixers against the Celtics? LeBells roots in combat sports ran deep. God Bless you Gene and your lovely wife and thanks you for all the things you taught me. Your positivity and generosity knows no limit. As a stuntman, Gene has worked on more than 1000 film and television projects during a career that has spanned over 50 years. We are incredibly sad to report that our hero, dear friend and Stunts Unlimited brother passed away yesterday, August 9th, 2022 at the age of 89. Still, he continued to get regular stunt work on TV. I have always been inspired by this quality in you Uncle Gene and I cherish the memories of the many great experiences we have had together. Known by Superman fans as Mr. Mahalo Christopher Chabriel, Congratulations MEAN GENE!!! Ill always remember the special times we shared together. So happy for you. Days later, they came out with more questions than answers. He then embarked on his professional wrestling career, implementing his years of judo and catch wrestling and helping popularize the holds and submission attempts that remain in the sports entertainment industry to this day. Steve Boyum, Absolutely couldnt go to a better candidate. He is there to help you any time any where. I made very good money, and it led me into a career in stunt work.. His brother, Mike, a wrestling promoter, died in 2009. Nine years later, he was kicked by Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii.. Scott Wilder, Thank you Sensei for paving the way for martial artists in this biz! Stunts Unlimited Member Gene LeBell was presented with the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 for his outstanding contribution to the world of action feature films. Gene LeBell We cant have blood! Gaffer tape stanched the bleeding, and LeBell managed six more takes. According to this telling, when the then 58-year-old LeBell heard about the claim, he gave Seagal the opportunity to test it. All my love and respect Matt Taylor, Aloha Uncle Gene, Mahalo for sharing your secret Hawaiian Hug mahalo for all your knowledge & advice that youve given. "Is he still Rick Seaman, Well Geno, they said it couldnt be done but youve done it again. I have been with him for so many years. In the end, LeBell had appeared in more than 1,000 films, shows and commercials. You have been a legend for over 60 years and Im honored each month that I get to see you!!!! Lou Thesz. You have given so much to our community and film business! The belt was immediately seized from the shocked Gene, which in later years would cause him to comment, Well, at least I was the champ for 12 seconds and I retired as champion. (Gene LeBell Biography), Gene went on to fight numerous opponents over the years including practitioners from other fighting arts that scoffed at Genes prowess, however they learned the hard way that Genes superb grappling skills were the real deal. His work as a stuntman began in earnest in the 1960s and continued on TV series like Route 66, I Spy, The Incredible Hulk and The Fall Guy, in which Lee Majors starred as a film stuntman. The Eagles won, the Falcons and Patriots made some interesting decisions (for better or worse), and late-round quarterbacks are coming out of the woodwork. whose residence contained hours of phone recordings, was acquitted on a murder charge but convicted and sentenced to probation as an accessory, WWE Draft Night 1 Recap, Plus Trinity Fatu Debuts in Impact Wrestling, The Cheap Heat Friday Something: Career Advice for Roman Reigns, the NBA Version of CM Punk, and the Global Superstar Debate, Diggin in the Crates: Litas Next Chapter Takes Her Through WWEs Legendary Past. Chuck Norris. For years, he taught martial arts in Southern California. He subsequently dominated auditions for the role of Mr. Kryptonite in the Superman TV series, which ran from 1952 to 1958; actor George Reeves, who played the Man of Steel, hired him on the spot after seeing his high-flying judo rolls and flips. Seventeen years before the UFC debuted, though, LeBell refereed arguably the most notable mixed martial arts clash of the era, serving as the third man in the ring for the Muhammad AliAntonio Inoki superfight in Tokyo.