
Ferrigno easily fit the bill, and, at 6 5," he beat out the other contender, Schwarzenegger, who was three inches shorter. When the first choice to play the Hulk, actor Ted Cassidy (famous for his roles in James Bond films), was deemed unconvincing, a more muscular actor was sought. The show already had star Bill Bixby signed to play the Hulk's alter ego, David (Bruce) Banner. Captured on film talking about his desire to be the Hulk, he caught the attention of television producer Kenneth Johnson, who was looking to fill the role of the temperamental behemoth in his new action-adventure television series, "The Incredible Hulk" (CBS, 1978-1982). Ferrigno also played in the Canadian Football League, and eventually moved to California in 1976 to pursue bodybuilding as a career.įerrigno began to draw widespread attention after appearing in the popular bodybuilding documentary, "Pumping Iron" (1977), which also featured an up-and-coming Arnold Schwarzenegger. Universe, and won again the following year. At just 21, he became the youngest person to hold the title of Mr. Drawing on his continued inspiration from the Hulk, Ferrigno took weight training very seriously.


Feeling like an outcast while living in an isolated world of silence, the teenager chose to focus his energies on weightlifting. Little did he know that one day he would actually play the larger-than-life character - along with his other adolescent hero, Hercules. He fell in love with The Incredible Hulk the moment he laid eyes on the superhero, seeing in the tortured, misunderstood character a kindred spirit. This contraption never failed to illicit cruel taunts of fellow children, so young "Louie" coped the best way he knew how: by immersing himself in the worlds of fantasy literature, motion pictures, and most particularly, comic books. The significant hearing loss forced him to wear a bulky hearing aid with a battery strapped across his chest. During his childhood, he developed a severe ear infection that would forever change his life.

9, 1952, "Lou" was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.

#Carla ferrigno adventures of hercules series#
Even 30 years after the premiere of the series that made him famous, cameos in films like "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) and "I Love You, Man" (2009) proved the fans still loved the perpetually bulked actor, with or without the green makeup.īorn Louis Jude Ferrigno on Nov. Further iterations of The Hulk in made-for-TV movies and animated series, as well as non-Hulk work on television shows like "The King of Queens" (CBS, 1998-2007) kept him in the public eye. The success of the series soon led to work in feature films playing similarly rippled superheroes, such as "Hercules" (1983) and "Sinbad of the Seven Seas" (1989). Seen opposite future megastar-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger in the documentary "Pumping Iron" (1977), the record-setting muscleman caught the attention of the producers of "The Incredible Hulk," who were in desperate need of a suitably gigantic performer to play the green-skinned behemoth.
#Carla ferrigno adventures of hercules professional#
One of the most recognizable faces - and physiques - to emerge from the sport of professional bodybuilding in the 1970s, Lou Ferrigno went on to become an actor and beloved pop-culture icon for his personification of "The Incredible Hulk" (CBS, 1978-1982).
