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A tough guy who got beaten up by the likes of John Wayne, he had a bottom-line view of his job: “The more you get hit in the nose, the richer you are.”
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By Richard Sandomir
One day in 1966, the stuntman Gene LeBell was called to the set of the television series “The Green Hornet” to deal with Bruce Lee, the future martial arts superstar, who played Kato, the crime-fighting Hornet’s sidekick. Mr. Lee, it seems, was hurting the other stuntmen.
The stunt coordinator asked Mr. LeBell — a former national judo champion and professional wrestler — to teach Mr. Lee a lesson, perhaps with a headlock.
Mr. LeBell would later recall in many interviews that he went further: He picked Mr. Lee up, slung him over his back and ran around the set as Mr. Lee shouted, “Put me down or I’ll kill you!” When Mr. LeBell relented, he was surprised that Mr. Lee didn’t attack him. Instead they came to appreciate their different skill sets, and Mr. LeBell became one of Mr. Lee’s favorite stuntmen.
They also trained together, with Mr. LeBell’s expertise as a grappler meeting Mr. Lee’s fist-flashing kung fu brilliance.
Mr. LeBell never became as famous as Mr. Lee, who died in 1973, but into his early 80s — when he played, among other roles, a corpse falling from a coffin in an episode of the TV series “Castle” — he remained busy as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stuntmen.
At 20, he was walloped by John Wayne in “Big Jim McLain” (1952).
Nine years later, he was kicked by Elvis Presley in “Blue Hawaii.”
And he was knocked around a few times by James Caan.
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“Every star in Hollywood has beaten me up,” Mr. LeBell told AARP magazine in 2015. “The more you get hit in the nose, the richer you are. The man who enjoys his work never goes to work. So I’ve had a lot of fun doing stunts.”
Mr. LeBell died on Aug. 9 at his home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 89. His death was announced by Kellie Cunningham, his trustee and business manager, who did not specify the cause.
Ivan Gene LeBell was born on Oct. 9, 1932, in Los Angeles. His mother, Aileen (Goldstein) LeBell, promoted boxing and wrestling matches at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles; his father, Maurice, was an osteopath and diet doctor who died after being paralyzed in a swimming accident in 1941. His mother later married Cal Eaton, with whom she promoted fights.
Gene started to learn to fight at 7, when his mother sent him to the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
“I went up to Ed ‘Strangler’ Lewis and said, ‘I want to be a wrestler,’” Mr. LeBell was quoted as saying by the Slam Wrestling website in 2005. Mr. Lewis, he recalled, asked him: “Do you want to roll? Do you want to do Greco-Roman? Do you want to do freestyle? Or do you want to grapple?”
“What’s grappling?” Gene asked.
“That’s a combination of everything,” Mr. Lewis said. “You can hit ’em, eye-gouge ’em.”
He was sold.
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He started learning judo at 12 (although his mother told The Los Angeles Times in 1955 that he had been inspired a little later, in high school, when he was beaten up by a smaller teenager who knew judo), and by 1954 his proficiency had grown to an elite level: He won both the heavyweight class and the overall title in that year’s national American Amateur Union championships. He successfully defended his title the next year at the Olympic Auditorium, in front of his mother.
During one of the bouts, he said, he heard his mother’s voice above the din of the crowd shouting: “Gene! Watch out! Choke him!”
“The announcer observed, ‘I think Gene LeBell’s mother is prejudiced,’” Mr. LeBell recalled to The Los Angeles Times. “Was I embarrassed!”
His mother’s connections to Hollywood brought Mr. LeBell early stunt work with John Wayne and a friendship with George Reeves, the star of the television show “Adventures of Superman.”
Realizing that judo was no way to make a living, he shifted to professional wrestling later in 1955.
Mr. LeBell never became a big name in the ring or even a great wrestler, either under his own name or in a mask as “the Hangman.” But he gained notice in his role as an enforcer, in which he compelled other wrestlers to stick to the script, even when they didn’t want to.
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“Gene would choke me out for saying wrestling was a performative art,” Bob Calhoun, who collaborated with Mr. LeBell on his autobiography, “The Godfather of Grappling” (2005), said in a phone interview. “But he was old school — he wouldn’t say wrestling wasn’t on the up and up.”
While not a star, Mr. LeBell was nonetheless honored in 1995 by a fraternal organization of wrestlers, the Cauliflower Alley Club, with its Iron Mike Mazurki Award, for achieving success in a field beyond wrestling, as the award’s wrestler-turned-actor namesake did. Mr. LeBell was inducted into the National Wrestling Alliance’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
His work as a stuntman began in earnest in the 1960s and continued on TV series like “Route 66,” “I Spy,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “The Fall Guy,” in which Lee Majors starred as a film stuntman. He also appeared in movies like “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “The Towering Inferno” (1974) and the Steven Seagal crime drama “Out for Justice” (1991).
Mr. LeBell had a long list of acting credits as well, mostly in bit parts. He often played referees and sometimes a thug, a henchman, a bartender or, as in “Raging Bull” (1990), a ring announcer.
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Outside of his film and television work, in 1963 he took part in a preview of today’s mixed martial arts fights when he faced a middleweight boxer, Milo Savage, and defeated him in the fourth round with a choke hold that rendered Savage unconscious. It took time to wake him up, and as the crowd grew angry, a spectator tried to stab Mr. LeBell.
“It was a tough night, but ‘Judo’ Gene had defended the honor of his sport against the boxer,” Jonathan Snowden wrote in “Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling” (2012).
In 1976, Mr. LeBell refereed a match in Tokyo between Muhammad Ali, then the heavyweight boxing champion, and the wrestler Antonio Inoki. In what was billed a “world martial arts championship,” the two ended up kicking each other for 15 rounds — Ali landed only two punches — and the fight was ruled a draw.
Mr. LeBell said Mr. Inoki would have won the bout had he not been penalized one point for a karate kick to Ali’s groin.
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Later that year, Mr. LeBell was arrested and charged with murder, along with a pornographer, Jack Ginsburgs, in the killing of a private detective. Mr. LeBell was acquitted of the murder charge but convicted of being an accessory, for driving Mr. Ginsburgs to and from the murder scene. His conviction was overturned by the California Court of Appeals.
Mr. LeBell also worked over the years with many wrestlers, including Rowdy Roddy Piper and Ronda Rousey, and trained with Chuck Norris, the martial artist and actor.
More recently the director Quentin Tarantino used Mr. LeBell’s initial encounter with Mr. Lee on the set of “The Green Hornet” as the basis for a scene in his 2019 film, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” in which Brad Pitt, as a stuntman, threw the Lee character into a car.
Mr. LeBell is survived by his wife, Eleanor (Martindale) LeBell, who is known as Midge and whom he married twice and divorced once; his son, David; his daughter, Monica Pandis; his stepson, Danny Martindale; his stepdaughter, Stacey Martindale; and four grandchildren. His brother, Mike, a wrestling promoter, died in 2009. His first marriage ended with his wife’s death; he also married and divorced two other women.
Although Mr. Calhoun said that “in any situation, with Bruce Lee or anyone else, Gene was the toughest guy in the room,” Mr. LeBell offered a pragmatic view of his reputation.
“People saying you’re the toughest guy is great,” he told Sports Illustrated in 1995, “but it still doesn’t add up to one car payment. Now I get beat up by every wimp in Hollywood and make thousands of dollars. You tell me which is better.”
A correction was made on
Aug. 20, 2022
:
An earlier version of this obituary misstated the original surname of Mr. LeBell’s mother. It was Goldstein, not Moss.
How we handle corrections
Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer. He previously wrote about sports media and sports business. He is also the author of several books, including “The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic.” @RichSandomir
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FAQs
Did Gene LeBell defeat Bruce Lee? ›
Did Gene LeBell Fight Bruce Lee? They didn't fight for real in front of the cameras, it was a stunt incident, directed by the stunt coordinator. Yet, the pro wrestling star trained with Lee, so they probably sparred from time to time.
How old was Gene LeBell when he died? › Who was the stuntman that just died? ›LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The son of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, Robbie Knievel, died on Friday morning after a cancer battle.
Is Judo Gene LeBell still alive? › Who was Bruce Lee's hardest fight? ›Wong Jack-man (born 1941 – December 26, 2018) was a Chinese martial artist and teacher. He was best known for his controversial duel with Bruce Lee in 1964.
Who is the best martial artist in history? ›It is widely accepted by fighters and other people around the world that Bruce Lee was the most influential martial artist of all time. From his famous action movies to his unique martial art of Jeet Kune Do, the legend of Bruce Lee has held strong.
Who trained Bruce Lee first? ›Bruce began his martial arts training with Wing Chun master, Yip Man (pictured), in Hong Kong, at 13. Bruce trained with Yip and Yip's top students until he left for the USA in 1959.
Has Gene LeBell ever lost? › When did Bruce Lee get paralyzed? ›Here's the story behind it and how he recovered. A back injury Bruce Lee sustained in 1970 nearly ended his acting career before it could ever really take off. For the actor, it was one of several major obstacles that stood in the way of him becoming a martial arts superstar.
Do stunt doubles get paid well? ›On average, stunt double professionals can expect to earn between $50,000 and $250,000 annually. However, some highly-skilled and sought-after stunt doubles may pull in even higher incomes.
Who is the strongest stuntman? ›
Veteran Stuntman Gene LeBell, a.k.a. the Toughest Man Alive.
Have any stunt doubles died? ›Eminem's stunt double dies after being hit by truck in devastating tragedy. Eminem's stunt double, Ryan Shepard, has tragically died after being hit by a truck while crossing the street.
Did Bruce Lee train with Gene LeBell? ›As a stuntman, LeBell reportedly endured a punch from John Wayne for the 1952 film “Big Jim McLain” and a kick in the face from Elvis Presley for “Blue Hawaii” in 1961. He taught fighters like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey how to grapple — and regularly trained Bruce Lee.
How old is LeBell? › Did Bruce Lee know judo? ›At 22, Lee received informal training from Wally Jay in the Japanese art of Jujutsu, from which come the styles of Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also practiced Judo and catch-wrestling with Gene Lebell. He began teaching a modified form of Wing Chun when he came to America at the age of 19.
Was there a better fighter than Bruce Lee? ›Bruce Lee Has Named a few people that could beat him or even kill him in a fight before, such as Muhammed ali, Stated by most to be the greatest boxer of all time, and whom he believed would kill him in a fight.
How strong was Bruce Lee's kick? ›Bruce Lee could kick 6 times in one second and his signature move “Skip Sidekick” could spring a 200 pounds guy with safeguard armour into the sky. Once, a 200 pounds guy flew 20 meters away after Bruce Lee kicked him.
Could Bruce Lee hit harder than Mike Tyson? ›Tyson, by far. Bruce Lee was an excellent, revolutionary martial artist, and was well known for his incredible speed and striking power. But, he only weighed in the 130 lb range. Tyson was at least 80–90 lbs heavier and was also explosive and had tremendous leverage.
Is Steven Seagal a real martial artist? ›Steven Frederic Seagal (/sɪˈɡɑːl/; born April 10, 1952) is an American-born actor, screenwriter, and martial artist. A 7th-dan black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan and eventually ended up running his father-in-law's dojo.
Who is the best female martial artist? ›1. Michelle Yeoh – The 2023 Oscar-winner for best actress is known for her graceful martial arts moves. Yeoh is a Malaysian actress and former Miss Malaysia has starred in numerous action-packed movies, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Supercop, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once. 2.
Who is the best fighter to ever live? ›
Muhammad Ali is the greatest fighter of all time. Some say Bruce Lee could bring down Ali. Ali is 6'3 weighing 220lbs. Lee is 5'9 weighing 150lbs. If the fight would of happen between Ali and Lee.
Was there anyone stronger than Bruce Lee? ›Bruce Lee Has Named a few people that could beat him or even kill him in a fight before, such as Muhammed ali, Stated by most to be the greatest boxer of all time, and whom he believed would kill him in a fight.
Who was the stuntman that fought Bruce Lee? ›Gene LeBell, the colorful judo champion, wrestler and stuntman who trained Bruce Lee, fought Elvis Presley and John Wayne in the movies and was an inspiration for Brad Pitt's character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has died. He was 89.
What did Chuck Norris think of Bruce Lee? ›Chuck Norris: "The truth is Lee was a formidable opponent with a chiseled physique and technique. I totally enjoyed sparring and just spending time with him. He was as charismatic and friendly in the ring and at home as he was on film. His confidence and wit were dazzling, and sometimes even debilitating to others.
Who is the strongest man in the world Bruce Lee? ›Bruce Lee isn't the strongest man but he is stronger than most men that are 3 times his size due to his insane training since he was a teenager. He also focused on generating power from his muscles which is how he can punch harder than men 3 times his size and punch and kick faster than any man alive.
Is Chuck Norris a real martial artist? ›Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do.
Was Chuck Norris trained by Bruce Lee? ›Chuck trained routinely with Bruce Lee for years in his backyard. In one sparring session, Chuck noticed that Bruce never kicks high, and Chuck asked Bruce why. Lee responded by saying a martial artist should not kick above the waist.
Who is stronger Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris? ›Chuck Norris match would be. Many feel that Lee's speed – which Norris himself has repeatedly praised – would be enough to overwhelm Norris, while others feel that the karate champion's strength and size would prevail against the kung fu legend.
Did Gene LeBell fight Steven Seagal? ›LeBell is said to have placed his arms around Seagal's neck, and once Seagal said "go", proceeded to choke him unconscious, with Seagal losing control of his bowels.
Who is Bruce Lee best friend? ›Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Takauki "Taky" Kimura (March 12, 1924 – January 7, 2021) was a Japanese American martial artist who was best known as being one of Bruce Lee's top students and closest friends - and a certified instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu, personally certified by Bruce Lee himself.
Has Bruce Lee ever fought a real fight? ›
In the early 1960s, Bruce Lee was challenged to a street fight by a kung fu master who was reportedly unhappy with Lee's teachings of Chinese martial arts to non-Chinese students. The fight was brief but intense, and it solidified Lee's reputation as a true martial arts master.
Who is the strongest human of all time? ›| Louis Cyr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cyprien - Noé CyrOctober 10, 1863 Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | November 10, 1912 (aged 49) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Other names | Canadian Samson |
| Known for | being 'The Strongest Man Who Ever Lived' |
Mike Tyson would win in a match against Bruce Lee. With not only his size behind him, Mike Tyson also has power and speed combined with experience in the ring that would advantage him greatly in a pure hypothetical fight against Bruce Lee.
How many pushups could Bruce Lee do? ›Along with his famous one-inch punch, one of Lee's most adored skills was the two-finger push-up, which he first showcased in 1964. It's reported that Lee could rep out 200 two-finger press-ups and, unbelievably, 1500 press-ups without breaking.