Gene LeBell
Acting
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.
As actor 98
The X-Files
1993
Married... with Children
1987
Ironside
1967
Knight Rider
1982
MacGyver
1985
Fantasy Island
1978
That '70s Show
1998
Falcon Crest
1981
Taxi
1978
Reno 911!
2003
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Family Matters
1989
Strong Medicine
2000
The Wild Wild West
1965
The Incredible Hulk
1977
Simon & Simon
1981
T. J. Hooker
1982
Hart to Hart
1979
Quincy, M.E.
1976
The Munsters
1964
Rush Hour
1998
Burke's Law
1963
Land of the Giants
1968
Spider-Man 2
2004
Men in Black II
2002
Batman & Robin
1997
Airplane!
1980
Dinah!
1974
Sledge Hammer!
1986
The Sarah Silverman Program
2007
The Green Hornet
1966
Raging Bull
1980
Blood and Bone
2009
Rat Race
2001
Cellular
2004
Jackass: The Movie
2002
Every Which Way but Loose
1978
The Golden Child
1986
Man on the Moon
1999
The Big Brawl
1980
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
1987
Ed Wood
1994
The Master
1984
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back
1991
City Heat
1984
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
Double Tap
1997
The Jerk
1979
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
1995
Walking Tall
1973
Redbelt
2008
Rapid Fire
1992
Blue Hawaii
1961
Dead Heat
1988
I Am Bruce Lee
2012
M.A.N.T.I.S.
1994
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
1978
Flesh & Blood
1979
Loose Cannons
1990
Blacula
1972
Jury Duty
1995
Running Red
1999
Micki & Maude
1984
The Challenge
1970
Eyes of an Angel
1991
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
1978
Alligator 2: The Mutation
1991
Americathon
1979
Cleopatra Jones
1973
Flesh & Blood
1979
Bottoms Up
2006
Foolin' Around
1980
The One and Only
1978
Going Ape!
1981
The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes
2019
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
1973
On the Edge of Innocence
1997
Heartbeeps
1981
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
1966
The Human Factor
1992
Almost Summer
1978
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying
1992
From Mexico With Love
2009
Melinda
1972
Welcome to 18
1986
Black Samson
1974
Bad Guys
1986
Hard Time
1998
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981
Goldie and the Boxer
1979
Number One with a Bullet
1987
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
2018
No Way Back
1976
Ring of Steel
1994
Hammer
1972
Marciano
1979
The Search for Count Dante
2020
On the crew 136
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Total Recall
1990
Bruce Almighty
2003
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
2005
Independence Day
1996
Rocky
1976
Batman & Robin
1997
Airplane!
1980
Die Hard 2
1990
Planet of the Apes
1968
RoboCop
1987
Liar Liar
1997
Waterworld
1995
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
Patriot Games
1992
Hook
1991
Army of Darkness
1992
Rocky IV
1985
End of Days
1999
Dante's Peak
1997
The Running Man
1987
The Last Castle
2001
L.A. Confidential
1997
Tango & Cash
1989
The Last Boy Scout
1991
U.S. Marshals
1998
The Lost Boys
1987
RoboCop 2
1990
Starsky & Hutch
2004
Smokin' Aces
2006
Bean
1997
As Good as It Gets
1997
Jingle All the Way
1996
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
1970
Strange Days
1995
Money Train
1995
King Kong
1976
Dude, Where's My Car?
2000
The Towering Inferno
1974
Blown Away
1994
Death Warrant
1990
Hard to Kill
1990
Every Which Way but Loose
1978
The Golden Child
1986
Man on the Moon
1999
Problem Child
1990
Out for Justice
1991
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
1972
Men at Work
1990
Mystery Men
1999
Bandits
2001
Darkman
1990
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
1985
Dick Tracy
1990
Marked for Death
1990
Vegas Vacation
1997
D.A.R.Y.L.
1985
Internal Affairs
1990
The Beastmaster
1982
Runaway Train
1985
Fletch
1985
Blind Date
1987
Beerfest
2006
The Gambler
1974
Reno 911!: Miami
2007
Fletch Lives
1989
Earthquake
1974
Deuces Wild
2002
Bronco Billy
1980
Trancers II
1991
Double Tap
1997
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
1995
Walking Tall
1973
Almost an Angel
1990
Losin' It
1983
Rapid Fire
1992
Mac and Me
1988
Gone Fishin'
1997
4 for Texas
1963
Dead Heat
1988
The Big Bus
1976
White Dog
1982
Black Sunday
1977
The Morning After
1986
Dutch
1991
For the Boys
1991
There Was a Crooked Man...
1970
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1966
Blacula
1972
7 Women
1965
Jury Duty
1995
Running Red
1999
The Split
1968
They Call Me Bruce?
1982
Nightforce
1987
Inside Moves
1980
California Split
1974
Trial and Error
1997
The Brave
1997
Johnny Dangerously
1984
The Day of the Locust
1975
The Fifth Floor
1978
The Happiest Millionaire
1967
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
1978
Busting
1974
No Holds Barred
1989
Americathon
1979
Night and the City
1992
Cleopatra Jones
1973
A Fine Mess
1986
Steel Frontier
1995
Eye of the Tiger
1986
Bottoms Up
2006
Freebie and the Bean
1974
The One and Only
1978
Ballistic
1995
C.I.A. II: Target Alexa
1993
Three on a Couch
1966
99 and 44/100% Dead
1974
Heart Like a Wheel
1983
Hell Up In Harlem
1973
The Fantastic Seven
1979
Almost Summer
1978
Let's Do It Again
1975
The Hunter's Moon
1999
Black Samson
1974
The Prize Fighter
1979
Write to Kill
1991
Conflict of Interest
1993
Code Name: Zebra
1987
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981
Number One with a Bullet
1987
The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave
2000
Judge and Jury
1997
City Limits
1985
Don't Just Stand There
1968