Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) is an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and former professional wrestler. 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. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books.
In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted LeBell to 10th Degree and in February 2005, he was promoted to 9th Dan in Traditional Judo by the USJJF.
LeBell served as an inspiration for the character of Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Known For
Batman & Robin
(1997)
Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
Rush Hour
(1998)
Taxi Driver
Raging Bull
(1980)
Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)
Ed Wood
(1994)
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Airplane!
(1980)
Religious Zealot (uncredited)
Men in Black II
(2002)
Subway Passenger (uncredited)
The Golden Child
(1986)
Drunken Biker (uncredited)
Rat Race
(2001)
Veteran with Gun
Cellular
(2004)
Driving Instructor (uncredited)
Double Tap
(1997)
Wallace
Every Which Way but Loose
(1978)
Biker
Man on the Moon
(1999)
Foxy Jackson Referee
Walking Tall
(1973)
2nd Bouncer
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
(1995)
Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
Jackass: The Movie
(2002)
Self
The Big Brawl
(1980)
Stroke (as Gene La Bell)
Full Filmography
Acting
Blue Hawaii
(1961)
(uncredited)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
(1966)
The Challenge
(1970)
Karate Instructor
Melinda
(1972)
Hood
Hammer
(1972)
Referee
Slaughter's Big Rip Off
(1973)
Leo (uncredited)
Cleopatra Jones
(1973)
Mommy's Henchman (uncredited)
Walking Tall
(1973)
2nd Bouncer
Black Samson
(1974)
Nappa's Gang (as Gene LaBell)
No Way Back
(1976)
Every Which Way but Loose
(1978)
Biker
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Theatre Cop: Reese
The One and Only
(1978)
Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited)
Almost Summer
(1978)
Football Coach
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
(1978)
Mean Bones' Manager
The Jerk
(1979)
Con Man
Flesh & Blood
(1979)
2nd Fat Guy
Marciano
(1979)
Ring Announcer
Goldie and the Boxer
(1979)
Vinnie
The Big Brawl
(1980)
Stroke (as Gene La Bell)
Raging Bull
(1980)
Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight)
Airplane!
(1980)
Religious Zealot (uncredited)
Smokey Bites the Dust
(1981)
Turk
Going Ape!
(1981)
Faraday
Heartbeeps
(1981)
Forklift Driver Robot
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
(1982)
Hood
Micki + Maude
(1984)
Wrestling Referee
The Golden Child
(1986)
Drunken Biker (uncredited)
Bad Guys
(1986)
Terrible Turk Mc Gurk
Number One with a Bullet
(1987)
Referee
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
(1987)
Cannery Guard
Dead Heat
(1988)
Loose Cannons
(1990)
Grimmer's Man
Eyes of an Angel
(1991)
Pit Bull Handler
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back
(1991)
Referee
Alligator 2: The Mutation
(1991)
Referee (uncredited)
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying
(1992)
Burly
Rapid Fire
(1992)
Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited)
Ed Wood
(1994)
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Ring of Steel
(1994)
MiB Bodyguard
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
(1995)
Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited)
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
(1996)
NYC bouncer
Double Tap
(1997)
Wallace
Batman & Robin
(1997)
Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard
Hard Time
(1998)
Eddie
Rush Hour
(1998)
Taxi Driver
Man on the Moon
(1999)
Foxy Jackson Referee
Running Red
(1999)
Mercier's Bodyguard
Rat Race
(2001)
Veteran with Gun
Men in Black II
(2002)
Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Jackass: The Movie
(2002)
Self
Cellular
(2004)
Driving Instructor (uncredited)
From Mexico With Love
(2009)
Referee
I Am Bruce Lee
(2012)
Self
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
(2018)
The Boss
The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyes
(2019)
Crew
4 for Texas
(1963)
Stunts
7 Women
(1966)
Stunts
Three on a Couch
(1966)
Stunts
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
(1966)
Stunts
The Happiest Millionaire
(1967)
Stunt Coordinator
Planet of the Apes
(1968)
Stunts
Don't Just Stand There
(1968)
Stunt Coordinator
The Split
(1968)
Stunts
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
(1970)
Stunts
There Was a Crooked Man...
(1970)
Stunts
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
(1972)
Stunts
Blacula
(1972)
Stunts
Cleopatra Jones
(1973)
Stunts
Walking Tall
(1973)
Stunts
Hell Up In Harlem
(1973)
Stunts
99 and 44/100% Dead
(1974)
Stunts
California Split
(1974)
Stunts
The Towering Inferno
(1974)
Stunts
Earthquake
(1974)
Stunts
Busting
(1974)
Stunts
Black Samson
(1974)
Stunts
The Gambler
(1974)
Stunts
Freebie and the Bean
(1974)
Stunts
The Day of the Locust
(1975)
Stunts
Let's Do It Again
(1975)
Stunts
King Kong
(1976)
Stunts
The Big Bus
(1976)
Stunts
Rocky
(1976)
Stunts
Black Sunday
(1977)
Stunts
Every Which Way but Loose
(1978)
Stunts
The One and Only
(1978)
Stunt Coordinator
Almost Summer
(1978)
Stunts
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Stunts
The Fifth Floor
(1978)
Stunts
The Prize Fighter
(1979)
Stunts
The Fantastic Seven
(1979)
Stunts
Americathon
(1979)
Stunts
Bronco Billy
(1980)
Stunts
Airplane!
(1980)
Stunts
Inside Moves
(1980)
Stunts
Smokey Bites the Dust
(1981)
Stunts
White Dog
(1982)
Stunts
The Beastmaster
(1982)
Stunts
Losin' It
(1982)
Stunts
They Call Me Bruce?
(1982)
Stunts
Heart Like a Wheel
(1983)
Stunts
Johnny Dangerously
(1984)
Stunts
Rocky IV
(1985)
Stunts
Fletch
(1985)
Stunts
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
(1985)
Stunts
D.A.R.Y.L.
(1985)
Stunts
Runaway Train
(1985)
Stunts
City Limits
(1986)
Stunts
A Fine Mess
(1986)
Stunts
Eye of the Tiger
(1986)
Stunts
The Golden Child
(1986)
Stunts
The Morning After
(1986)
Stunts
The Lost Boys
(1987)
Stunts
Number One with a Bullet
(1987)
Stunts
Nightforce
(1987)
Stunts
Blind Date
(1987)
Stunts
RoboCop
(1987)
Stunts
The Running Man
(1987)
Stunts
Code Name: Zebra
(1987)
Stunts
Dead Heat
(1988)
Stunts
Mac and Me
(1988)
Stunts
Fletch Lives
(1989)
Stunts
No Holds Barred
(1989)
Stunts
Tango & Cash
(1989)
Stunts
RoboCop 2
(1990)
Stunts
Die Hard 2
(1990)
Stunts
Internal Affairs
(1990)
Stunts
Hard to Kill
(1990)
Stunts
Total Recall
(1990)
Stunts
Dick Tracy
(1990)
Stunts
Problem Child
(1990)
Stunts
Darkman
(1990)
Stunts
Men at Work
(1990)
Stunts
Death Warrant
(1990)
Stunts
Marked for Death
(1990)
Stunts
Almost an Angel
(1990)
Stunts
Out for Justice
(1991)
Stunts
Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth
(1991)
Stunts
Alligator 2: The Mutation
(1991)
Stunts
Write to Kill
(1991)
Stunts
Dutch
(1991)
Stunts
Hook
(1991)
Stunts
The Last Boy Scout
(1991)
Stunts
Patriot Games
(1992)
Stunts
Rapid Fire
(1992)
Stunts
Army of Darkness
(1992)
Stunts
Night and the City
(1992)
Stunts
CIA II: Target Alexa
(1993)
Stunts
Conflict of Interest
(1993)
Stunts
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
(1994)
Stunts
Blown Away
(1994)
Stunts
Steel Frontier
(1995)
Stunts
Ballistic
(1995)
Stunts
Waterworld
(1995)
Stunts
Jury Duty
(1995)
Stunts
Strange Days
(1995)
Stunts
Money Train
(1995)
Stunts
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
(1995)
Stunts
Independence Day
(1996)
Stunts
Jingle All the Way
(1996)
Stunts
Dante's Peak
(1997)
Stunts
L.A. Confidential
(1997)
Stunts
Judge and Jury
(1997)
Stunts
Vegas Vacation
(1997)
Stunts
Liar Liar
(1997)
Stunts
The Brave
(1997)
Stunts
Gone Fishin'
(1997)
Stunts
Trial and Error
(1997)
Stunts
Batman & Robin
(1997)
Stunts
Bean
(1997)
Stunts
Double Tap
(1997)
Stunts
As Good as It Gets
(1997)
Stunts
U.S. Marshals
(1998)
Stunts
Running Red
(1999)
Stunts
The Hunter's Moon
(1999)
Stunts
Mystery Men
(1999)
Stunts
End of Days
(1999)
Utility Stunts
Man on the Moon
(1999)
Stunts
Dude, Where's My Car?
(2000)
Stunts
The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave
(2000)
Stunts
The Last Castle
(2001)
Stunts
Bandits
(2001)
Stunts
Deuces Wild
(2002)
Stunts
Bruce Almighty
(2003)
Stunts
Starsky & Hutch
(2004)
Stunts
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(2005)
Utility Stunts
Beerfest
(2006)
Stunts
Bottoms Up
(2006)
Stunts
Smokin' Aces
(2006)
Stunts
Reno 911!: Miami
(2007)
Stunts