Gene LeBell

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

99

Gender

Male

Birthday

1932-10-09

Day of death

2022-08-09 (89 years old)

Place of Birth

Los Angeles, California, USA

Gene LeBell

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

  • The X-Files

    The X-Files

  • Married... with Children

    Married... with Children

  • Married... with Children

    Married... with Children

  • Married... with Children

    Married... with Children

  • That '70s Show

    That '70s Show

  • MacGyver

    MacGyver

  • Knight Rider

    Knight Rider

  • Ironside

    Ironside

  • Falcon Crest

    Falcon Crest

  • Quincy, M.E.

    Quincy, M.E.

  • Strong Medicine

    Strong Medicine

  • The Beverly Hillbillies

    The Beverly Hillbillies

  • Family Matters

    Family Matters

  • Reno 911!

    Reno 911!

  • Reno 911!

    Reno 911!

  • The Wild Wild West

    The Wild Wild West

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • Taxi

    Taxi

  • Taxi

    Taxi

  • T. J. Hooker

    T. J. Hooker

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • The Munsters

    The Munsters

  • Burke's Law

    Burke's Law

  • Baretta

    Baretta

  • Rush Hour

    Rush Hour

  • Men in Black II

    Men in Black II

  • Batman & Robin

    Batman & Robin

  • Land of the Giants

    Land of the Giants

  • Spider-Man 2

    Spider-Man 2

  • Airplane!

    Airplane!

  • The Sarah Silverman Program.

    The Sarah Silverman Program.

  • Sledge Hammer!

    Sledge Hammer!

  • The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

    The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

  • The Green Hornet

    The Green Hornet

  • Rat Race

    Rat Race

  • Blue Hawaii

    Blue Hawaii

  • Walking Tall

    Walking Tall

  • Dead Heat

    Dead Heat

  • Blacula

    Blacula

  • Ed Wood

    Ed Wood

  • Raging Bull

    Raging Bull

  • Rapid Fire

    Rapid Fire

  • The Jerk

    The Jerk

  • Bad Guys

    Bad Guys

  • Black Samson

    Black Samson

  • The Golden Child

    The Golden Child

  • Going Ape!

    Going Ape!

  • Jury Duty

    Jury Duty

  • The Master

    The Master

  • Heartbeeps

    Heartbeeps

  • Loose Cannons

    Loose Cannons

  • Bottoms Up

    Bottoms Up

  • Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

    Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

  • Almost Summer

    Almost Summer

  • Jackass: The Movie

    Jackass: The Movie

  • Americathon

    Americathon

  • Double Tap

    Double Tap

  • Every Which Way but Loose

    Every Which Way but Loose

  • 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

    3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

  • Melinda

    Melinda

  • Cellular

    Cellular

  • Marciano

    Marciano

  • Micki & Maude

    Micki & Maude

  • The Big Brawl

    The Big Brawl

  • I Am Bruce Lee

    I Am Bruce Lee

  • Foolin' Around

    Foolin' Around

  • I Wanna Hold Your Hand

    I Wanna Hold Your Hand

  • Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

    Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

  • On the Edge of Innocence

    On the Edge of Innocence

  • Redbelt

    Redbelt

  • Eyes of an Angel

    Eyes of an Angel

  • Man on the Moon

    Man on the Moon

  • Hammer

    Hammer

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

    Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

  • Alligator 2: The Mutation

    Alligator 2: The Mutation

  • Paradise, Hawaiian Style

    Paradise, Hawaiian Style

  • Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece

    Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece

  • Running Red

    Running Red

  • Bloodfist IV: Die Trying

    Bloodfist IV: Die Trying

  • Flesh & Blood

    Flesh & Blood

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

    The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes

  • Number One with a Bullet

    Number One with a Bullet

  • From Mexico With Love

    From Mexico With Love

  • Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

    Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

  • M.A.N.T.I.S.

    M.A.N.T.I.S.

  • No Way Back

    No Way Back

  • The Human Factor

    The Human Factor

  • Smokey Bites the Dust

    Smokey Bites the Dust

  • Ring of Steel

    Ring of Steel

  • The One and Only

    The One and Only

  • Cleopatra Jones

    Cleopatra Jones

  • Goldie and the Boxer

    Goldie and the Boxer

  • The Challenge

    The Challenge

  • Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

    Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

  • Hard Time

    Hard Time

  • Welcome to 18

    Welcome to 18

  • The Search for Count Dante

    The Search for Count Dante