Discover
Ivan Gene LeBell is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, actor and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. 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.
Birth Name
Ivan Gene LeBell
Born
Sunday, 09 October 1932
Died
Tuesday, 09 August 2022
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Bruce Lee: The Way of the Warrior | Self | 2022 |
| Biography: WWE Legends | Self - Roddy's Wrestling Coach | 2021 |
| 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story | Self | 2021 |
| Stallone: Frank, That Is | Self | 2021 |
| Through My Father's Eyes | Self | 2019 |
| 350 Days - Legends. Champions. Survivors | Self | 2018 |
| Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | The Boss / The Chinese Boss | 2018 |
| Kingdom | (as Gene Lebell) | 2014 |
| Autopsy: The Last Hours of | Self | 2014 |
| I Am Bruce Lee | Self | 2012 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Bruce Lee: The Way of the Warrior | Self | 2022 |
| Biography: WWE Legends | Self - Roddy's Wrestling Coach | 2021 |
| 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story | Self | 2021 |
| Stallone: Frank, That Is | Self | 2021 |
| Through My Father's Eyes | Self | 2019 |
| 350 Days - Legends. Champions. Survivors | Self | 2018 |
| Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | The Boss / The Chinese Boss | 2018 |
| Kingdom | (as Gene Lebell) | 2014 |
| Autopsy: The Last Hours of | Self | 2014 |
| I Am Bruce Lee | Self | 2012 |
| Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal | Self - Judge | 2011 |
| UFC Ultimate Insider | Self | 2010 |
| Joe Rogan Experience | Himself | 2009 |
| From Mexico with Love | Referee | 2009 |
| Actors Reporter Interviews | Self | 2009 |
| Blood and Bone | Attendant | 2009 |
| Redbelt | Old Stuntman | 2008 |
| The Sarah Silverman Program. | Carl | 2007 |
| Bottoms Up | Milt | 2006 |
| Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story | Self | 2006 |
| Cellular | Driving Instructor | 2004 |
| Las Vegas | Gambling Patron | 2003 |
| Reno 911! | Grandpa / Old Man on Scooter / Old Man on Motorized Wheelchair | 2003 |
| Jackass: The Movie | Self | 2002 |
| Men in Black II | Subway Passenger | 2002 |
| 24 | Elderly worker | 2001 |
| Rat Race | Veteran with Gun | 2001 |
| The Hunted | Self | 2001 |
| Down 'n Dirty | Henchman | 2000 |
| Strong Medicine | Referee | 2000 |
| Man on the Moon | Foxy Jackson Referee | 1999 |
| Running Red | Mercier's Bodyguard | 1999 |
| Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On | Self | 1999 |
| Hard Time | Eddie | 1998 |
| Buddy Faro | Henchman | 1998 |
| Rush Hour | Taxi Driver | 1998 |
| That '70s Show | Referee | 1998 |
| E! Mysteries & Scandals | Self | 1998 |
| Double Tap | Wallace | 1997 |
| Batman & Robin | Arkham Asylum Property Locker Guard / Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard | 1997 |
| On the Edge of Innocence | Security Guard | 1997 |
| Shaughnessy | NYC bouncer | 1996 |
| The Real Thing | Proprietor | 1996 |
| Tyson | Referee #3 | 1995 |
| Jury Duty | Security Guard | 1995 |
| 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up | Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky | 1995 |
| Ed Wood | Ring Announcer | 1994 |
| Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult | Prisoner on Swing | 1994 |
| Ring of Steel | MiB Bodyguard | 1994 |
| The Life of Bruce Lee | Self - Stuntman | 1994 |
| The X-Files | Bartender | 1993 |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | Thug | 1993 |
| Nowhere to Run | Bulldozer Man | 1993 |
| Bloodfist IV: Die Trying | Burly | 1992 |
| Rapid Fire | Red-Haired Gunman at Serrano's Place | 1992 |
| The Human Factor | Referee | 1992 |
| Eyes of an Angel | Pit Bull Handler | 1991 |
| Alligator II: The Mutation | Referee | 1991 |
| Kickboxer 2: The Road Back | Referee | 1991 |
| Loose Cannons | Grimmer's Man | 1990 |
| Family Matters | Referee | 1989 |
| Baywatch | Referee | 1989 |
| Freeway | CHP officer | 1988 |
| Dead Heat | Guard | 1988 |
| The Law and Harry McGraw | Postal Worker | 1987 |
| Death Wish 4: The Crackdown | Cannery Guard | 1987 |
| Married... with Children | (archive footage) / Black Ben / Brutus / Larry / Referee | 1987 |
| Blind Date | Bartender | 1987 |
| Number One with a Bullet | Referee | 1987 |
| P.K. and the Kid | Big Mac | 1987 |
| The Golden Child | Drunken Biker | 1986 |
| Streets of Gold | Reporter | 1986 |
| Welcome to 18 | Motorcycle Cop | 1986 |
| Amen | Referee | 1986 |
| Sledge Hammer! | Archbishop | 1986 |
| Eye of the Tiger | Biker Goon | 1986 |
| Perfect Strangers | Security Guard #1 | 1986 |
| Bad Guys | Terrible Turk McGurk / Terrible Turk Mc Gurk | 1986 |
| Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins | Red | 1985 |
| Misfits of Science | Headsman | 1985 |
| MacGyver | Murph | 1985 |
| Gotcha! | KGB #1 | 1985 |
| Micki + Maude | Wrestling Referee | 1984 |
| City Heat | Garage Soldier | 1984 |
| Cover Up | Deputy | 1984 |
| The Master | Brawler | 1984 |
| Riptide | Biker / Thug / Tough Guy | 1984 |
| City Limits | Border Guard | 1984 |
| Automan | 3rd Gang Member | 1983 |
| Hardcastle and McCormick | Referee | 1983 |
| Knight Rider | Junior | 1982 |
| Tales of the Gold Monkey | Burly Tourist | 1982 |
| Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid | Hood | 1982 |
| T.J. Hooker | James Wallace | 1982 |
| Falcon Crest | Union Guy / Henchman | 1981 |
| Bret Maverick | Wrestler | 1981 |
| Simon & Simon | James T. Reedy / Thug | 1981 |
| The Fall Guy | Wrestler / Thug / Referee / Referee #1 / Biker | 1981 |
| Smokey Bites the Dust | Turk | 1981 |
| Going Ape! | Faraday | 1981 |
| The Greatest American Hero | Thug / Yuri Ivanovich | 1981 |
| Dynasty | Oil Worker | 1981 |
| Raging Bull | Ring Announcer - Reeves Fight | 1980 |
| Foolin' Around | Paul | 1980 |
| Battle Creek Brawl | Stroke (as Gene La Bell) / Stroke | 1980 |
| Tenspeed and Brown Shoe | Van Cott's Henchman / Security Guard | 1980 |
| Goldie and the Boxer | Vinnie | 1979 |
| The Jerk | Con Man | 1979 |
| Marciano | Ring announcer | 1979 |
| Hart to Hart | Heavy #2 | 1979 |
| Americathon | Referee | 1979 |
| Every Which Way But Loose | Biker | 1978 |
| Taxi | Referee / The Referee | 1978 |
| Almost Summer | Football Coach | 1978 |
| The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | Mean Bones' Manager | 1978 |
| I Wanna Hold Your Hand | Theatre Cop: Reese | 1978 |
| The One and Only | Reigning World Wrestling Champion | 1978 |
| The Incredible Hulk | Referee | 1977 |
| Man from Atlantis | Ditcher | 1977 |
| Fantasy Island | The Referee | 1977 |
| Quincy M.E. | Art | 1976 |
| The Big Bus | Bus Driver in Bar | 1976 |
| Gemini Man | Referee | 1976 |
| No Way Back | 1976 | |
| Future Cop | Referee #2 | 1976 |
| The Bionic Woman | Referee | 1976 |
| Barbary Coast | Referee | 1975 |
| A Matter of Wife... and Death | 1975 | |
| Starsky and Hutch | Lemke / Judo Partner / Hillard thug | 1975 |
| Switch | Thug #2 | 1975 |
| At Long Last Love | Boxer | 1975 |
| Dinah! | Self | 1974 |
| Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Officer Tim Olson | 1974 |
| Black Samson | Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell) / Nappa's Gang | 1974 |
| The Green Hornet | Barney | 1974 |
| The Six Million Dollar Man | Thug / Thug #1 / Sparring Partner / Guard | 1974 |
| Kojak | Bartender | 1973 |
| Slaughter's Big Rip-Off | Leo | 1973 |
| Cleopatra Jones | Mommy's Henchman | 1973 |
| Police Story | Brawler | 1973 |
| Walking Tall | 2nd Bouncer | 1973 |
| Hammer | Referee | 1972 |
| Melinda | Hood | 1972 |
| Kung Fu | Fighter | 1972 |
| Cade's County | Wally | 1971 |
| The Challenge | Karate Instructor | 1970 |
| Bracken's World | Bob / Stuntman | 1969 |
| Childish Things | Peanut Man | 1969 |
| The Outcasts | Prisoner | 1968 |
| Land of the Giants | Mezron's Brother | 1968 |
| P.J. | Fighter | 1968 |
| Flesh and Blood | 2nd Fat Guy | 1968 |
| The Happiest Millionaire | Barfly | 1967 |
| Mannix | Referee | 1967 |
| Ironside | Karate Student | 1967 |
| The Green Hornet | Barney | 1966 |
| Three on a Couch | Mr. Five by Five | 1966 |
| Batman | Cossack | 1966 |
| The Wild Wild West | Felix | 1965 |
| I Spy | Man | 1965 |
| Gomer Pyle: USMC | Drunk in Bar | 1964 |
| The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Guard | 1964 |
| Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Vulcan Crew Member | 1964 |
| The Munsters | Tarzan McGirk | 1964 |
| 4 for Texas | Thomas Worker | 1963 |
| Burke's Law | Wrestler #2 / The Strangler | 1963 |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | Referee | 1962 |
| The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Hood | 1952 |
| The Jack Benny Program | Gene LeBell | 1950 |
