Gene LeBell worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books.
34 Facts About Gene LeBell
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Gene LeBell has been reported as the inspiration for the character of Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
3.
Gene LeBell 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.
4.
Gene LeBell took up catch wrestling under Ed "Strangler" Lewis at age 7, and later moved to train in judo.
5.
Gene LeBell eventually adopted the role as "policeman" for the promotion, maintaining law and order, especially during matches involving his brother Mike LeBell.
6.
Gene LeBell wrestled under a black mask as The Hangman, teaming up with Roy Staggs.
7.
In 1963, Gene LeBell became involved with a challenge by boxer and writer Jim Beck to the practitioners of Japanese martial arts.
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The boxer's side demanded a stipulation in which the smaller and older Savage could use any type of punch, while the judoka could not kick, in the apparent belief Gene LeBell was a karateka.
9.
An additional stipulation prevented Gene LeBell from attempting tackles or takedowns under the waist.
10.
The combatants were initially cautious, with Gene LeBell being the first in pressing the action by attempting to throw Savage down.
11.
Gene LeBell tried several techniques through the second and third rounds and was finally successful in taking Savage down, but Savage kept defending both standing and on the ground in a very technical manner, seemingly confirming Gene LeBell's theory about his opponent's grappling training.
12.
Nevertheless, Gene LeBell got mount and found the opportunity to execute an armbar, but he opted instead to seek a choke, concluding that Savage would not surrender to a broken arm.
13.
In June 1976, Gene LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan.
14.
Gene LeBell was selected from over 200 other applicants to referee the bout.
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Gene LeBell continued to work in professional wrestling intermittently, wrestling his final match on August 29,1981, against Peter Maivia for NWA Hollywood Wrestling.
16.
Gene LeBell has opened two martial art schools in cooperation with others and has touted his 1963 match with Milo Savage as the first televised MMA fight in America.
17.
In 1994, Gene LeBell counted kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners the Machado brothers among his training partners.
18.
On March 18,1995, the Cauliflower Alley Club again honored Gene LeBell by presenting him with the "Iron Mike Mazurki" award; presented by one of his teachers, legendary professional wrestling champion Lou Thesz.
19.
Gene LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films, TV shows and commercials as a stuntman or as an actor.
20.
Gene LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley.
21.
On March 23,1991, Gene LeBell was awarded the Honorary "Reel" Membership by the Ring of Friendship of the Cauliflower Alley Club.
22.
Gene 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.
23.
The popularity of this incident led Gene LeBell to be counted in 1992 as a potential additional member of Robert Wall's controversial "Dirty Dozen," a group of martial artists willing to answer to a public challenge made by Seagal.
24.
Gene LeBell was requested to confirm the story publicly in an interview with Ariel Helwani in 2012, but he avoided answering the question, albeit implying that the incident was true.
25.
Gene LeBell demonstrated the choke hold by putting it on Seagal.
26.
Gene LeBell has trained with or taught grappling skills to many well-known wrestlers and martial artists, such as Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Bob Wall, Chuck Norris, Ed Parker, Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Mando Guerrero, Manny Gamburyan.
27.
The pink colored judo gi became a trademark of Gene LeBell and was a result of a laundry mixup while preparing for a competition in Japan.
28.
Gene LeBell 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.
29.
Gene LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy where he taught grappling classes.
30.
Gene LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs Ortiz 3 on November 24,2018.
31.
Gene LeBell was friends with world champion judoka AnnMaria De Mars, and had known her daughter, Olympic judoka, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler Ronda Rousey since her birth.
32.
Gene LeBell was seen in Rousey's corner during matches and celebrated her victories with her.
33.
Gene LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall.
34.
Gene LeBell was acquitted of the murder charge but convicted as an accessory for driving the convicted murderer, pornographer Jack Ginsburgs, to and from the murder scene.