Gene LeBell
Acting
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.
Born: October 9, 1932 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Filmography (189)
The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes
2019
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
2018
I Am Bruce Lee
2012
From Mexico With Love
2009
Redbelt
2008
Reno 911!: Miami
2007
The Sarah Silverman Program.
2007
Smokin' Aces
2006
Bottoms Up
2006
Beerfest
2006
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
2005
Cellular
2004
Spider-Man 2
2004
Starsky & Hutch
2004
Reno 911!
2003
Bruce Almighty
2003
Jackass: The Movie
2002
Men in Black II
2002
Deuces Wild
2002
The Last Castle
2001
Bandits
2001
Rat Race
2001
Dude, Where's My Car?
2000
Strong Medicine
2000
The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave
2000
Man on the Moon
1999
End of Days
1999
Mystery Men
1999
Running Red
1999
Hard Time
1998
Rush Hour
1998
That '70s Show
1998
U.S. Marshals
1998
As Good as It Gets
1997
L.A. Confidential
1997
Double Tap
1997
The Brave
1997
Bean
1997
Batman & Robin
1997
Gone Fishin'
1997
Trial and Error
1997
On the Edge of Innocence
1997
Liar Liar
1997
Vegas Vacation
1997
Dante's Peak
1997
Jingle All the Way
1996
Independence Day
1996
Money Train
1995
Strange Days
1995
Waterworld
1995
Jury Duty
1995
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
1995
Steel Frontier
1995
Ballistic
1995
Ed Wood
1994
Blown Away
1994
Ring of Steel
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
C.I.A. II: Target Alexa
1993
The X-Files
1993
Conflict of Interest
1993
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying
1992
Army of Darkness
1992
Night and the City
1992
Rapid Fire
1992
Patriot Games
1992
The Last Boy Scout
1991
For the Boys
1991
Trancers II
1991
Eyes of an Angel
1991
Dutch
1991
Alligator 2: The Mutation
1991
Out for Justice
1991
Hook
1991
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back
1991
Almost an Angel
1990
Marked for Death
1990
Death Warrant
1990
Men at Work
1990
Darkman
1990
Problem Child
1990
Die Hard 2
1990
RoboCop 2
1990
Dick Tracy
1990
Total Recall
1990
Loose Cannons
1990
Hard to Kill
1990
Internal Affairs
1990
Tango & Cash
1989
Family Matters
1989
No Holds Barred
1989
Fletch Lives
1989
Mac and Me
1988
Dead Heat
1988
The Running Man
1987
The Lost Boys
1987
RoboCop
1987
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
1987
Nightforce
1987
Married... with Children
1987
Blind Date
1987
Number One with a Bullet
1987
The Morning After
1986
The Golden Child
1986
Sledge Hammer!
1986
A Fine Mess
1986
Eye of the Tiger
1986
Rocky IV
1985
Runaway Train
1985
MacGyver
1985
City Limits
1985
D.A.R.Y.L.
1985
Fletch
1985
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
1985
Micki & Maude
1984
Johnny Dangerously
1984
The Master
1984
Losin' It
1983
Heart Like a Wheel
1983
They Call Me Bruce?
1982
Knight Rider
1982
The Beastmaster
1982
White Dog
1982
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
T. J. Hooker
1982
Heartbeeps
1981
Falcon Crest
1981
Simon & Simon
1981
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981
Going Ape!
1981
Inside Moves
1980
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Raging Bull
1980
The Big Brawl
1980
Airplane!
1980
Bronco Billy
1980
The Jerk
1979
Flesh & Blood
1979
Hart to Hart
1979
Americathon
1979
Every Which Way but Loose
1978
The Fifth Floor
1978
Taxi
1978
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
1978
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
1978
The One and Only
1978
The Incredible Hulk
1977
Black Sunday
1977
Rocky
1976
Quincy, M.E.
1976
King Kong
1976
The Big Bus
1976
Let's Do It Again
1975
The Day of the Locust
1975
Baretta
1975
Freebie and the Bean
1974
The Towering Inferno
1974
Earthquake
1974
Dinah!
1974
The Gambler
1974
99 and 44/100% Dead
1974
Black Samson
1974
California Split
1974
Busting
1974
Hell Up In Harlem
1973
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
1973
Cleopatra Jones
1973
Walking Tall
1973
Blacula
1972
Hammer
1972
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
1972
There Was a Crooked Man...
1970
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
1970
The Split
1968
Land of the Giants
1968
Planet of the Apes
1968
The Happiest Millionaire
1967
Ironside
1967
The Green Hornet
1966
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1966
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
1966
Three on a Couch
1966
7 Women
1965
The Wild Wild West
1965
The Munsters
1964
4 for Texas
1963
Burke's Law
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Blue Hawaii
1961