LeBell authored at least twelve books, including: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. LeBell has worked on over 1000 TV Show and Film projects. Gene LeBell - IMDb Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 Not long after, he began training judo. May we all continue to learn from you and strive to reach the heights youve reached. However, no context is provided for the encounterup until the fight, Booths martial arts credentials, unlike LeBells, are completely unknown, and he defeats Lee on the feet rather than with wrestling techniques. Gene LeBell had thousands of students over the years. Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. [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. His very first match was against John Osako, one of the highest ranked judokas at the national level. 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. Others awarded have been James Cagney, Kirk Douglas, Karl Malden, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, and Sylvester Stallone (movie stars that also did boxing and wrestling). In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. [23] LeBell's trainee Ronda Rousey, assured Seagal was the one lying and said: "If [Seagal] says anything bad about Gene to my face, I'd have to make him crap his pants a second time. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018). With respect, Missy OMalley-Reynolds, Uncle Gene, Thanks for never burning our house down. [27] He also did interviews for magazines, newspapers, and radio. [7] LeBell took up catch wrestling under Ed "Strangler" Lewis at age 7, and later moved to train in judo. Video: Gene LeBell in boxing vs. judo fight in 1963 Gene LeBell, iconic martial arts pioneer, dies at the age of 89 - Daily When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. LeBell was 89 years old. Martial arts legend 'Judo' Gene LeBell dies at 89 - MMA Fighting People gather to celebrate the life of Judo Gene LeBell on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman "Judo" Gene LeBell would have turned 90. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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 LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. It wasnt exactly an elite-level boxer facing down a grappler, but it did offer a variation on the Ultimate Fighting Championship model that LeBells long-time acquaintances, the Gracie family, would partner with Bob Meyrowitz to launch in 1993right down to the initial audience confusion and cautious feeling-out process between the athletes. Love, Greg & Barbie Barnett, Youve been my hero my entire career. The pictures above are from the TV show Fall Guy and I told Gene I didnt want to hit him on the bike and he said I dont want you to hit me eitheryou may hurt yourself. Congratulations Gene, you earned this award and no one in this world is taking it away from the Toughest man Alive. Jack Gill. Freddie Blassie. Gene LeBell, a renowned stuntman who trained Bruce Lee and inspired the likes of Quentin Tarantino, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. AEW Revolution Preview, and Whats Going on With Brock, Bray, Bobby, and Omos? Congratulations Uncle Gene! Osu J.J. Perry, Gene, Ill never forget the time on set, when you let me try and choke you out. LeBell earned the upset win via an osaekomi. Congratulations brother Gene!!! Congrats to the amazing living legend John Stoneham, Jr. Congratulations Gene, you know I love you, and Im so very very proud of you. . Erik Stabenau, Congratulations Gene. FLASH SALE - Buy 1 video get 40% OFF - COUPON40, Buy 2 videos get 43% OFF - COUPON43, Buy 3 or more videos get 45% OFF - COUPON45. [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. He was 89. However, the writing was on the wall for Savage: LeBell threw and then mounted the boxer in the second round, although he couldnt secure a finish, then hip-tossed him in the fourth round before using a gi choke to render his foe unconsciousmuch to the displeasure of the crowd, which was unused to seeing people choked in this way. Proud to know you, much love Brent Fletcher, Very proud to have been your student for so many years There is no one prettier than you Sensai You are truly a legend and I can not think of anyone more deserving for this award!!! 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. He deserves this award. Stuntman Gene LeBell might not have been around since Hollywood's first fist fight, but his skill has transformed the genre. Sugar Ray Robinson. Besides being a boxer, Milo Savage also had a background in wrestling. A lot of fighters are broke. [4] LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley. It has been an honor to work with you ,and see how much you have done, over the years. Theres way too much to say to even begin to scratch the surface of the career and life Gene lived, wrote the Stuntmans Association of Motion Pictures in a statement to Variety. Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. It was agreed that the match would last five 3 three minute rounds. A professional stuntman and actor, LeBell appeared in over 1,000 films and TV shows, and authored 12 books. Love ya Gene. In February 2005, the USJJF made him 9th dan in judo. . Gene LeBell - MMA & Wrestling Pioneer - Passes Away At 89 - TheMix.net He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. Remembering Gene LeBell - The Ringer He started training in catch wrestling and boxing from his early childhood, influenced by his mother, "Red Head" Aileen Eaton, a promoter of both sports who owned the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. [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. Challenge coins, decorated with an image of LeBell, were sold for donations, which raised more than $2,000. Here's an attempt to share some of those posts and tweets from the cross . You are a true living legend! Tough Guys Wear Pink in Any Color, Judo Master and Film Stuntman Gene With love and affection, Sandy Gimpel, Congrats on your big nite!! You truly are a one-off, a living legend. Wrestling, MMA, movie worlds pay tribute to Judo Gene LeBell The late 'Judo' Gene LeBell's 90th birthday is celebrated by 200 Hardcover - January 1, 2004. If I could get my arms around you I would hug you. Tarantino, whose portrayal of an overconfident Lee by actor Mike Moh in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spurred backlash drew heavily from LeBell when he crafted Brad Pitts character in the film as stuntman Cliff Booth, as LeBell had trained in Japan and studied judo years before Lee became a master. Bruce and I had a bond with the martial arts, and we would get together frequently. He was known by many as the "Godfather of Grappling," and influenced fighters around the world. "I learned the [LeBell Lock] from a guy named Neil Melanson," Danielson told the WWE website in 2010. The seeds that Gene LeBell helped plant have grown into the modern landscape of mixed martial arts that we know today. Grand Master Gi Grappling by Gokor Chivichyan. LeBell also gained notoriety for the way he dealt with the notoriously eccentric and aggressive Steven Seagal on the set of the 1991 film Out for Justice. Extant fight footage shows a stocky LeBell, probably 60 to 70 pounds heavier than he was when he debuted in judo, cautiously circling and then struggling to throw the much smaller man, who exhibited sound wrestling defense. [20], LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy where he taught grappling classes. The loss by the hometown boxer nearly caused a riot to breakout and despite the promotions attempt to calm the violence, Gene LeBell was nearly stabbed on the way out of the venue. 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. For a time, he took on a role as "policeman" for the organization, helping to maintain order. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. Well deserved.- Bonnie Happy, Well deserved. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. Mike Smith, Congratulations on this most deserving award for a really great guy. Rick Seaman, Well Geno, they said it couldnt be done but youve done it again. Love ya !!! Contents Roddy Piper Talks MMA and Judo Gene LeBell Gene LeBell Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award [7] According to fellow BJJ artist Royce Gracie, LeBell was invited to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship in early 1995, after Gracie stopped participating in its tournaments. Matt and Craig talk Oscar tactics and more, then later end the show with a prediction about Chris Rocks live comedy special on Netflix, Rachel and Callie also talk all the Bravo news of the week, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Some have pointed out that LeBell making easy work of Lee on set may have inspired the scene in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in which Brad Pitt, playing veteran stuntman Cliff Booth, has his way with Bruce Lee (played by actor and martial artist Mike Moh) in an on-set sparring match. Neil Melanson is an American submission grappling coach. I tried to get your son some work but hes always at the beach. 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. LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. 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. His students in those fields included Roddy Piper, Ronda Rousey, and many others. In one scene, Brad Pitt plays a stuntman (Cliff Booth) and beats up Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. ", "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. I feel really fortunate to have had him as a part of my life as it is, and really glad to also been able to tell him what an amazing human being, and what an amazing martial artist, he was straight to his face.. David would look at me glassy eyed and say No you dont! Love ya, Buddy Joe Hooker, My dear friend Gene. 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. Thank you, Mr. LeBell! Gene LeBell - Wikipedia Gene LeBell, 89, Judo Champion, Wrestler and Star Stuntman, Dies LeBell later mentored world-class athletes and silver screen legends. Gene LeBell talks about Bruce Lee. The two became close friends, but the actors untimely death stymied LeBells chance for future speaking parts. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. Something went wrong. The legendary story of Steven Seagal and 'Judo' Gene Lebell Here's What Really Happened When Bruce Lee Fought A - TheThings Ron DeSantis presidential prospects, Taft football coach Jeff Kearin steps down in support of school faculty member, Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack, Snow collapses roof of Goodwin and Sons, Crestlines only grocery store, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, Ex-sheriffs deputy gets 100 hours of community service for shooting hoax, $31 million goes to San Fernando Valley light-rail line and to engage community, Who will replace ex-LA councilmember Nury Martinez? After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. [29], LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall. The program featured several other martial artists including Graciela Casilas, Karen Sheperd, Victor Ledbetter, Steve Sanders, brothers Benny and Reuben Urquidez, and Dave Vaden. Jimmy Halty, Congratulations Gene. Two hundred of his friends, students, and family gathered at Hayastan MMA Academy in North. He was known by many as the Godfather of Grappling, and influenced fighters around the world. Gene LeBell, iconic martial arts pioneer, dies at the age of 89 [10], The loss by Savage, the hometown favorite, caused the crowd to react violently. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. Meet the real life Cliff Booth from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', "Gene LeBell vs Milo Savage: Gene LeBell Saved Martial Arts", "Matches Gene LeBell Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database", "TOUGH GUYS WEAR PINK IN ANY COLOR, JUDO MASTER AND FILM STUNTMAN GENE LEBELL IS ONE HARD HOMBRE", Gene LeBell talks Steven Seagal s-ing himself, https://www.mmafighting.com/strikeforce/2012/3/11/2858055/judo-gene-lebell-ronda-rousey-mma-judging-choking-out-steven-segal, Steven Seagal denies Gene LeBell made him poop his pants, "Ronda Rousey: 'If Steven Seagal says anything about Gene LeBell to my face, I'll make him crap his pants', "Truth Finally Revealed on Seagal and LeBell According to Actual Eyewitness Steven Lambert Testimony! Lewis, Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: What! LeBells Rolodex is not just one hall of fame roster, but multiple, as hes played integral roles in the worlds of boxing, judo, wrestling, and Hollywood stunt-work. Brandon Recor, Congratulations!!! More embellished versions include details about Seagal defecating himself. I thought I was the only one. Seems like yesterday, lifes crazy like that, huh? LeBell helped Seagal up. Gene is survived by his wife Midge, his children Monica and David; stepchildren Danny and Stacey; and grandchildren Daniel, Tyler and Nicholas. Instead of being hit first, it was LeBell who would put Bruce Lee in a headlock and carry him around the set. Im proud to be a friend of yours for over 50 years.