she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, who was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular scene, background in the Japanese martial art of aikido. Mike Bohn. Mike Massa, Congratulations Gene!! LeBell died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, his trustee and business manager, Kellie Cunningham, told The Hollywood Reporter. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. Gene LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. This scene is loosely based on world class Judoka Gene LeBell . LeBell passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, just two months shy of being a nonagenarian. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman Judo Gene LeBell would have turned 90. ( Aubrey Sitterson, rondarousey.com, 2018). if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. Each speaker spoke fondly of the larger-than-life LeBell, recounting stories and memories of how he inspired them and the love they felt for him. Youre not only a legend to me but a great, great friend. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. [25], LeBell has earned himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "the Godfather of Grappling" and also "the toughest man alive" for his participation in combat sports. A video shown at the memorial featured many of his accomplishments from the stunt and martial arts world, evoking smiles, laughter and tears that had many in the crowd wiping their eyes. In addition to Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, LeBell also tutored the likes of Roddy Piper (who claimed in his autobiography to have received a black belt in judo from LeBell, though this is likely as spurious as the impossible-to-verify Golden Gloves championship he was sometimes reported as having won), Olympic bronze medalist judoka and future UFC and WWE star Ronda Rousey (who always cited him as an important mentor), American judo champion and instructor Gokor Chivichyan, and Chivichyans Armenian American judo student Karo Parisyan, one of the first notable judo practitioners in the UFC. He worked in. His second best fight was probably his back and forth battle with 80's and 90's martial arts action star Steven Seagal. Ed Lewis. Sandra Brumfield Avo, Gene is as it has been said amongst the fight world..is the Toughest Man. For a time, he took on a role as "policeman" for the organization, helping to maintain order. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), The late Judo Gene LeBells 90th birthday is celebrated by 200 friends, students, family, Year after the slap, Chris Rock punches back in new special, At least 5 hurt, suspect at large in San Pedro shooting, Snowed-in Crestline residents make the best of it with volunteers, booze, San Bernardino mountain residents grow worried as they cant access medicine, supplies, Gene LeBell, iconic martial arts pioneer, dies at the age of 89, How Victor Henry found himself making his UFC debut Saturday at age 34, She will hurt you: Ronda Rousey, 24, owns it in MMA ring, UFC 199: Mauro Ranallo, Bas Rutten offer Inside MMA perspectives, UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett looks to keep climbing ranks, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Deep Dive, The Biggest Questions About the Seasons Stretch Run, KDs Suns Debut, Load Management, and Five-Year Anniversary of the Rockets-Clippers Tunnel Debacle. A notable one was the 'Hot Rod' himself, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. Nick Plantico, Congrats Gene!! Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Along the way, he trained scores of future greats in a variety of disciplines, from Rowdy Roddy Piper in wrestling to Rowdy Ronda Rousey in judo (she, too, eventually wound up in the wrestling business), and even managed to extricate himself from being convicted in the 1976 murder of a private detective who had been digging up dirt on a host of California notables. Scott Wilder, Thank you Sensei for paving the way for martial artists in this biz! G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . Inside Hall's residence police discovered hours of wire-tapped recordings, some of which led to the resignation of the Beverly Hills police department chief of police. Congratulations very well deserved! He is the author of 12 martial arts books. I was driving a weenie mobile and Gene was driving a truck and they wanted a near miss, so we did the take and they said we werent close enough we showed em the paint scraped off the sides of the cars and they said, Okay, I guess youre right. I get his patches every year, got em all right here. Influential combat sports icon "Judo" Gene LeBell has died at 89. "My name is Gene LeBell. He worked on over 1,000 movies and wrote a dozen books. "My . He was a man that no endeavor was too tall for him to accomplish, Josh Barnett said of LeBell. Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. However, he had one last sports achievement on the horizon: an actual mixed martial arts boutsaid by some to be the first of its kind, though there were boxer-versus-wrestler antecedents in prior decadesin 1963 against middleweight boxing gatekeeper Milo Savage, whose lengthy career was winding down. Brad Curran June 8, 2018 Interviews. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), Gene started training in judo at a young age, and at the age of 20 in 1954, he won National AAU Heavyweight Judo Championship and the USA Overall Judo Championship title. To succeed in the NFL, hell need to be an outlier among outliers. The pink gi was inspired by a trip LeBell took to Japan where a pair of his red socks or shorts made their way into the laundry, turning his white uniform to pink. So happy for you. He taught me how to fight, taught me how to ride. [13] He also continued to work in professional wrestling intermittently, wrestling his final match on August 29, 1981, against Peter Maivia for NWA Hollywood Wrestling. As a stuntman, Gene has worked on more than 1000 film and television projects during a career that has spanned over 50 years. LeBell's longtime friend Bas Rutten first revealed the news on Facebook. This award is only given to a select few. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. You are a true living legend! Hardcover - January 1, 2004. LeBell even awarded Piper a legitimate Black Belt in Judo . He popularized grappling in pro-fighting circles and had a famous run-in with Steven Seagal. The Hollywood Reporter: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and Godfather of Grappling, Dies at 89, Deadline: Gene LeBell Dies: Stuntman, Actor And Wrestling Legend Who Fought Bruce Lee & Chuck Norris Onscreen Was 89, MMA Fighting: Toughest man I know: Pros react to pioneer Judo Gene LeBells death, The Huffington Post: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman, Martial Artist And Bruce Lees Teacher Dies At 89. He would also occasionally wrestle in a disguise as The Hangman. Could James Harden Potentially Return to Houston After the Season? Seventeen years before the UFC debuted, though, LeBell refereed arguably the most notable mixed martial arts clash of the era, serving as the third man in the ring for the Muhammad AliAntonio Inoki superfight in Tokyo. Gene LeBell would become involved in a challenge match proposed by boxer and writer Jim Beck to all practitioners of Japanese martial arts. Those are just some of the names that Gene LeBell has trained with, not to mention the countless other celebrities and luminaries hes worked alongside during his decades-long careers as a pioneering mixed martial artist, a professional wrestler, and a stuntman. The godfather of modern grappling and a legitimate tough guy in his own right, LeBell. Roddy Piper. 'The Godfather of Grappling' evolved to be a popular figure in the martial arts world after he extended to various other forms of sports, including judo and mixed martial arts. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . Why Are American Teens So Unhappy? Love ya Gene. Cheers! ", "Gene LeBell and Ronda Rousey's golden lineage", "Killer's Impending Parole Scuttled by Extortion Plot", "Los Angeles Stirred by Detective's Mysterious Death", "Judo legend Gene LeBell passes away aged 89 years old", "Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89", "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced", "North American Heavyweight Title (W. Texas)", Seagal vs LeBell resolved Fact, Fiction & Eye-Witness Testimony on the Urban Legend, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gene_LeBell&oldid=1141444745, NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champions, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from May 2021, All articles needing additional references, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 02:59. After his competitive career, Gene LeBell would go on to become a martial arts instructor, a professional wrestler, stunt performer and actor in Los Angeles. Gene was an actor and stuntman in Hollywood productions for over fifty years with more than 150 acting credits and 250 stunt credits. Christian Fletcher, Congratulations Gene! He judged UFC 74 (Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga) plus he had a highly popular website visited by martial arts and film fans all over the globe. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. Present-day UFC fans probably best remember him from his time spent wielding a stopwatch in the corner of his protege, Ronda Rousey, while wrestling fans might know his name from when Daniel Bryan used to call his finisher the LeBell Lock. But despite that, the MMA pioneer isnt a household name, which is a shame, because if youre a fan of combat sports, he absolutely should be. It must be said at this stage that . He is currently the head grappling coach at Jaco Hybrid Training Center.He is the former head grappling coach at both . Best Hugh Aodh OBrien, All Rights Reserved.Web design by My Life at Speed Digital Services, Stan Barrett, Paul Newman, and Breaking Land Speed Records, Annual Stunts Unlimited Directory Membership Payment, The Stunts Unlimited Directory Membership 20% Off Promotion, actor and stuntman in Hollywood productions, https://stuntsunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jon-Boucher-One-of-my-personal-favorite-Gene-Lebell-television-appearances-as-Tarzan-McGirk-taking-on-the-mysterious-Masked-Marvel-on-an-episode-of-The-Munsters..mp4, In Loving Memory of Judo Gene LeBell, 1932-2022. It was a fascinating collection of people mourning too, from the world of pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, acting, and beyond. Gene LeBell died in his sleep on August 9 th 22, at age 89, two months to the day shy of his 90 th birthday. UFC 285 Preview: Can Jon Jones Turn Back the Clock? Enjoyed reading about Gene Lebell? Michael Hughes, Thank you for being such an influence and inspiration to MANY! You are an inspiration!! If you saw Quentin Tarantino's . Whats different about the Sixers this year? Genes feature film appearances include Blue Hawaii (1965), Planet of the Apes (1968), Raging Bull (1980), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Bad Guys (1986), Hard to Kill (1990), Die Hard 2 (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Ed Wood (1994), L.A. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially us. This set the Japanese crowd livid, as it was considered very insulting, but they somewhat calmed down after LeBell went on to win his division. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Love you brother congratulations! You truly are a one-off, a living legend. [21] He was quoted as saying: "When we had a little altercation or difference of opinion, there were thirty stuntmen and cameramen that were watching. Roberts, Nobody in the world more respected!! LeBells years of stunt work and fight choreography also introduced grappling to the world of action movies, where it is now commonplace to see fighters turned actors such as Randy Couture and Gina Carano using submission holds in their action sequences. All my love and respect Pat Romano, Ya ya Uncle Gene , to one of the Gilberts favorite people . Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. Michael Nesbitt, Congratulations, judo Gene LeBell Tony Epperson, Congratulations! In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. [citation needed], While serving as stunt coordinator for the film Out for Justice, starring Steven Seagal, Seagal stated that due to his aikido training he was 'immune' to being choked unconscious. J.N. He was 89. His mother, Aileen Eaton, was a promoter at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where she promoted boxing and wrestling events and raised Gene and his brother Mike all by her lonesome. [7] Despite his pedigree, he did not get over immediately with audiences but gradually became known for his martial arts background. It has been alleged that at some point LeBell heard about the claim and gave Seagal the opportunity to prove it. If I have seen further it has been by standing on the shoulders of giants like you!! He is there to help you any time any where. Freddie Blassie, who starred for Aileen Eaton and Mike LeBell for decades, wrote in his autobiography Legends of Wrestling: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks that LeBells believability in the ring wasnt what mattered to Mike and Aileenit was his credibility: When the family needed an enforcer to step into the ring with a wrestler who didnt want to go along with the program, all they had to do was open Genes bedroom door and tell him to get into his wrestling gear.. Steven Seagal was a highly trained aikido expert and because of this, he would proclaim to the world that he was immune to choking. This is very much deserved. To start academies, and then have a lineage of students that he brought up, not just martial arts but also film., Barnett said of his accomplishments, Its really just incredible to see someone be able to tip the scales of the world with just his own hands like that. However, Tarantino disputes this claim. People called him the Toughest Man Alive. . You always got the cool moves to Choke em Out .. stay healthy my friend .. Love, Troy Gilbert, Unreal. For LeBell, one martial art naturally flowed into another; they were already mixing together in his curious mind. God bless. Big hug and a kiss! [4] LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley. This match could be argued to be the first televised MMA match in history. A large frame surrounded a pink gi his signature judo uniform hung above a doorway leading to the training area. Im proud to be a friend of yours for over 50 years. Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 1932. Long overdue! [7][8] In return, Savage offered to wear a judogi. Ill toast you from Texas! Confused by William Beaudines direction, LeBell ended up being chomped by a 700-pound bear named Victor. Ya big goofball!!! Congrats to the amazing living legend John Stoneham, Jr. Congratulations Gene, you know I love you, and Im so very very proud of you. Muhammad Ali. Lee was especially interested in exploring grappling with help from him and exchanged ideas[19] on various fighting techniques. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI agent daughter Monica LeBell Pandis. [7][8], Following his combat sports career, LeBell, along with his brother Mike, ran the National Wrestling Alliance's Los Angeles territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, from 1968 to 1982. Best to You Gene !! It was LeBells first movieland lesson: Always let the star win. Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 A martial artist and judo champion, he taught Bruce Lee, fought in an early mixed martial arts fight and served as an. So, congratulation Gene LeBell from the Winburn families for receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. 2005, Learn how and when to remove this template message, contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki, Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3, NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship, George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, "IBK International Kyokushin Budokai Blak Belts", "Roots of Fight Brings Us the Story of "Judo" Gene LeBell MMA Pioneer and Terrifying Old Man", "Could Gene LeBell beat up Bruce Lee? He is the greatest!! Working with Gene on many television and films, I learned how to take judo and marital art punches and kicks and fly through the air, crazing through various objects to the ground . At 12 LeBell took up judo. When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. And later on, there is discussion of whether or not double-dipping is an acceptable way to eat! Congrats Rick Avery, Congratulations Uncle Gene! Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. He was set to compete the following day and being a Saturday evening when he received the now colored uniform, he had to compete in the pink uniform. . What are you doing? LeBell remembers the helmer lamenting. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. You may have seen his name in the credits of countless movies and television shows dating back to the late 1960's. You may have caught the "Godfather of Grappling" in one of his matches in the world of professional wrestling, you may know him as the "toughest man on the . A student of catch wrestling titans Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, LeBell's notable students include Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ronda Rousey. Interview with Gene LeBell. [8] Gene also wrestled under a black mask as The Hangman, teaming up with Roy Staggs. Please enter a valid email and try again. And Thank You for all those Decals and Patches you sent Charlotte and I each Christmas. Love and Respect John C Meier, Gene, I first met you at the Olympic Auditorium many years ago, i cant believe how fast time has past, As a Great stuntman, Actor, Olympian and Teacher being Prolific to this Business you have planted many many seeds in Future Stunt men and stunt women, because of your thoughtful and kind hart this business will be Blessed with talent worthy of calling you Teacher and Friend, Your Long Lost, Brother From Another Mother, and Friend, Love You, Henry Kingi, Uncle GeneI can remember taking your class when I was a young stunt grunt. Gene LeBell, who died on August 9 at age 89, led a life so expansive that any mere retelling of it would come across like a tall tale, the stuff of Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyanif all of it werent true. Seagal, a towering man who had a background in the Japanese martial art of aikido, has long battled with stunt choreographers and fight trainers on setin Shooters, Jonathan Snowden quotes Pride announcer Stephen Quadross story of engaging in an uncomfortable series of wristlock exchanges with Seagal on the set of the 2001 film Exit Woundsbut by most accounts (and there are many), his encounter with LeBell went poorly. His talent in his field was known worldwide and those that got to know him knew he had a heart that matched that talent, the groups statement added. LeBell demonstrated the choke hold by putting it on Seagal. Stuntman Gene LeBell might not have been around since Hollywood's first fist fight, but his skill has transformed the genre. whose residence contained hours of phone recordings, was acquitted on a murder charge but convicted and sentenced to probation as an accessory, Bryan Danielson Is the Best Hes Ever Been According to Bryan Danielson, Jon Joness Last Stand, Wembys Ceiling, Jokic Backlash, and UFOs With Ariel Helwani and Chuck Klosterman. Judo Gene!!! LeBell, who spent much of his later years overseeing the National Wrestling Alliance in Los Angeles, was even charged with murder when private investigator Robert Duke Hall was killed in 1976. The grappling club master . Judo is wrestling with handles, he told Black Belt magazine in 1994. [6], Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles, California. Gene LeBell is currently married to Wendy LeBell whom he married in 1977. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. The only thing that is different is that judo has strangleholds, which arent done in pro wrestling., Although LeBell considered full-time careers as a boxer and a judoka, the lure of better money in pro wrestling and Hollywood stunt productionsas well as connections to both industriesled him into those fields. I love ya man. Stunts Unlimited Member Gene LeBell was presented with the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 for his outstanding contribution to the world of action feature films. Gregg Smrz, So well deserved! LeBells wrestling fortunes variedhis brother Mike told Sports Illustrated in 1995 that he had fired Gene on several occasions, noting that sometimes even I thought he was crazybut his career continued its upward trajectory as he moved into the Hollywood stunt work that would see him participating in thousands of projects over the years. However, Gene LeBell was a 10th degree judo black belt and one of the toughest men on the planet, so the director knew this wouldn't happen to him. LeBells top student, Gokor Chivichyan, hosted the event at his martial arts academy to celebrate the life of his mentor and close friend. There he found quick success. Wrestlers & MMA stars pay tribute to Gene LeBell. Voters will soon get a say, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Little Mo and Lou, Uncle Gene has been a trusted mentor, ardent Sensei and dear friend to me and countless other stunt people throughout the years. Gene is survived by his wife Midge, his children Monica and David; stepchildren Danny and Stacey; and grandchildren Daniel, Tyler and Nicholas. He learnt that the hard way when he came face to face with 'Judo' Gene Lebell and boasted that he was able to escape any hold that the human body could throw at him. You were a better reference than SAG! He deserves this award. Melanson specializes in catch wrestling, while drawing elements from judo, and focuses his coaching specifically on grappling in mixed martial arts.He is especially known for his guard work, leg locks and triangle chokes. Thank you for all you have done for those of us blessed to learn from you. His death was announced by Kellie Cunningham, his trustee and business manager, who did not. "LeBell parlayed his pain-inducing skills into careers in martial arts, professional wrestling and Hollywood stunt work, making him the ultimate a**-kicking Renaissance man. The program featured several other martial artists including Graciela Casilas, Karen Sheperd, Victor Ledbetter, Steve Sanders, brothers Benny and Reuben Urquidez, and Dave Vaden. "[21], When Seagal was asked about the incident, he denied the incident took place, calling LeBell a "sick, pathological scumbag liar" and offered the name of a witness who could discredit the other account. LeBell recalled throwing Lee over his shoulder and running around set as Lee screamed, Put me down or Ill kill you. The pair became friends, and LeBell taught Lee judo and wrestling moves, many of which Lee used in his movies, The Way of The Dragon and Enter the Dragon., He was the best martial artist of his time, LeBell recalled in Black Belt Magazine. It goes to a great man of strength, integrity and honor. All the best! A pioneer of martial arts, he lived a long and fascinating life. In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. The award couldnt be given to a better or greater person, that trained many motion pictures stuntmen in and out of the motion picture Industry. He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth.