Gene LeBell

Gene LeBell

Acting
Born 1932-10-09 - Died 2022-08-09Los Angeles, California, USA

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.

Movies (69)

Rush Hour
7.1

Rush Hour

1998Movie7.1
Men in Black II
6.4

Men in Black II

2002Movie6.4
Spider-Man 2
7.3

Spider-Man 2

2004Movie7.3
Airplane!
7.3

Airplane!

1980Movie7.3
Batman & Robin
4.4

Batman & Robin

1997Movie4.4
Raging Bull
7.9

Raging Bull

1980Movie7.9
Blood and Bone
7.4

Blood and Bone

2009Movie7.4
Every Which Way but Loose
6.1

Every Which Way but Loose

1978Movie6.1
Cellular
6.4

Cellular

2004Movie6.4
Jackass: The Movie
6.3

Jackass: The Movie

2002Movie6.3
Man on the Moon
7.2

Man on the Moon

1999Movie7.2
Ed Wood
7.5

Ed Wood

1994Movie7.5
Rat Race
6.3

Rat Race

2001Movie6.3
The Golden Child
5.9

The Golden Child

1986Movie5.9
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
6.6

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982Movie6.6
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
5.7

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

1987Movie5.7
I Am Bruce Lee
7.6

I Am Bruce Lee

2012Movie7.6
The Jerk
6.9

The Jerk

1979Movie6.9
Dead Heat
6.2

Dead Heat

1988Movie6.2
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back
5.6

Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

1991Movie5.6
Redbelt
6.4

Redbelt

2008Movie6.4
Walking Tall
6.6

Walking Tall

1973Movie6.6
The Big Brawl
5.9

The Big Brawl

1980Movie5.9
Rapid Fire
6.4

Rapid Fire

1992Movie6.4
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
5.2

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

1995Movie5.2
Foolin' Around
6.2

Foolin' Around

1980Movie6.2
City Heat
5.5

City Heat

1984Movie5.5
Jury Duty
4.4

Jury Duty

1995Movie4.4
Blue Hawaii
6.1

Blue Hawaii

1961Movie6.1
Double Tap
5.1

Double Tap

1997Movie5.1
Blacula
5.5

Blacula

1972Movie5.5
Flesh & Blood
5.9

Flesh & Blood

1979Movie5.9
Running Red
5.5

Running Red

1999Movie5.5
Cleopatra Jones
5.7

Cleopatra Jones

1973Movie5.7
Loose Cannons
5.0

Loose Cannons

1990Movie5.0
Micki & Maude
5.7

Micki & Maude

1984Movie5.7
Eyes of an Angel
7.2

Eyes of an Angel

1991Movie7.2
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
6.3

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

1978Movie6.3
Americathon
3.6

Americathon

1979Movie3.6
M.A.N.T.I.S.
5.2

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

1994Movie5.2
Bottoms Up
3.1

Bottoms Up

2006Movie3.1
The Challenge
7.0

The Challenge

1970Movie7.0
Alligator 2: The Mutation
4.9

Alligator 2: The Mutation

1991Movie4.9
On the Edge of Innocence
5.3

On the Edge of Innocence

1997Movie5.3
The One and Only
6.1

The One and Only

1978Movie6.1
Heartbeeps
4.5

Heartbeeps

1981Movie4.5
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
4.8

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978Movie4.8
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
4.8

Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

1973Movie4.8
Going Ape!
4.5

Going Ape!

1981Movie4.5
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
5.2

Paradise, Hawaiian Style

1966Movie5.2
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying
5.3

Bloodfist IV: Die Trying

1992Movie5.3
From Mexico With Love
5.8

From Mexico With Love

2009Movie5.8
Smokey Bites the Dust
2.8

Smokey Bites the Dust

1981Movie2.8
Goldie and the Boxer
5.6

Goldie and the Boxer

1979Movie5.6
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
7.0

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

1996Movie7.0
Ring of Steel
4.9

Ring of Steel

1994Movie4.9
Black Samson
5.0

Black Samson

1974Movie5.0
Almost Summer
5.3

Almost Summer

1978Movie5.3
Hard Time
5.9

Hard Time

1998Movie5.9
The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes
5.7

The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes

2019Movie5.7
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
3.9

Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece

2018Movie3.9
Welcome to 18
3.3

Welcome to 18

1986Movie3.3
Number One with a Bullet
4.6

Number One with a Bullet

1987Movie4.6
Hammer
5.4

Hammer

1972Movie5.4
Marciano
7.0

Marciano

1979Movie7.0
Melinda
4.8

Melinda

1972Movie4.8
Bad Guys
8.0

Bad Guys

1986Movie8.0
The Search for Count Dante

The Search for Count Dante

2020Movie
No Way Back
5.2

No Way Back

1976Movie5.2

TV Shows (29)

Married... with Children
7.7

Married... with Children

1987Series7.7
The X-Files
8.4

The X-Files

1993Series8.4
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
Knight Rider
7.5

Knight Rider

1982Series7.5
Falcon Crest
5.5

Falcon Crest

1981Series5.5
The Incredible Hulk
7.2

The Incredible Hulk

1977Series7.2
Reno 911!
7.2

Reno 911!

2003Series7.2
That '70s Show
7.9

That '70s Show

1998Series7.9
Fantasy Island
6.5

Fantasy Island

1978Series6.5
The Wild Wild West
7.5

The Wild Wild West

1965Series7.5
Simon & Simon
6.7

Simon & Simon

1981Series6.7
The Beverly Hillbillies
6.9

The Beverly Hillbillies

1962Series6.9
Family Matters
6.7

Family Matters

1989Series6.7
MacGyver
7.7

MacGyver

1985Series7.7
Strong Medicine
7.4

Strong Medicine

2000Series7.4
Taxi
7.3

Taxi

1978Series7.3
Hart to Hart
6.9

Hart to Hart

1979Series6.9
T. J. Hooker
6.5

T. J. Hooker

1982Series6.5
Land of the Giants
6.8

Land of the Giants

1968Series6.8
Quincy, M.E.
7.5

Quincy, M.E.

1976Series7.5
The Munsters
7.9

The Munsters

1964Series7.9
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
Burke's Law
6.3

Burke's Law

1963Series6.3
The Green Hornet
7.4

The Green Hornet

1966Series7.4
Sledge Hammer!
8.0

Sledge Hammer!

1986Series8.0
The Sarah Silverman Program
6.3

The Sarah Silverman Program

2007Series6.3
The Master
5.4

The Master

1984Series5.4
Flesh & Blood
7.0

Flesh & Blood

1979Series7.0
The Human Factor
8.0

The Human Factor

1992Series8.0