Gene LeBell

Gene LeBell

Date of Birth:

Oct 09, 1932

Place of Birth:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) 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.

filmography:

Rat Race Rat Race

2001

Men in Black II Men in Black II

2002

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982

Melinda Melinda

1972

Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii

1961

The Jerk The Jerk

1979

Every Which Way but Loose Every Which Way but Loose

1978

I Am Bruce Lee I Am Bruce Lee

2012

The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes

2019

Jury Duty Jury Duty

1995

Rush Hour Rush Hour

1998

Number One with a Bullet Number One with a Bullet

1987

Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece

2018

Rapid Fire Rapid Fire

1992

The Golden Child The Golden Child

1986

Hammer Hammer

1972

Black Samson Black Samson

1974

Kickboxer 2: The Road Back Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

1991

The Challenge The Challenge

1970

Cellular Cellular

2004

Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

2021

Alligator 2: The Mutation Alligator 2: The Mutation

1991

Double Tap Double Tap

1997

Almost Summer Almost Summer

1978

I Wanna Hold Your Hand I Wanna Hold Your Hand

1978

Going Ape! Going Ape!

1981

Slaughter's Big Rip Off Slaughter's Big Rip Off

1973

The One and Only The One and Only

1978

The Big Brawl The Big Brawl

1980

Bloodfist IV: Die Trying Bloodfist IV: Die Trying

1992

The Search for Count Dante The Search for Count Dante

2020

Hard Time Hard Time

1998

Cleopatra Jones Cleopatra Jones

1973

Ring of Steel Ring of Steel

1994

Walking Tall Walking Tall

1973

No Way Back No Way Back

1976

Heartbeeps Heartbeeps

1981

Running Red Running Red

1999

From Mexico With Love From Mexico With Love

2009

Smokey Bites the Dust Smokey Bites the Dust

1981

Loose Cannons Loose Cannons

1990

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

1996

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978

Eyes of an Angel Eyes of an Angel

1991

Dead Heat Dead Heat

1988

Airplane! Airplane!

1980

Marciano Marciano

1979

Goldie and the Boxer Goldie and the Boxer

1979

Ed Wood Ed Wood

1994

Bad Guys Bad Guys

1986

Spider-Man 2 Spider-Man 2

2004

Raging Bull Raging Bull

1980

Flesh & Blood Flesh & Blood

1979

Man on the Moon Man on the Moon

1999

Paradise, Hawaiian Style Paradise, Hawaiian Style

1966

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

1987

Batman & Robin Batman & Robin

1997

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

1995

Micki + Maude Micki + Maude

1984

Jackass: The Movie Jackass: The Movie

2002

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