Lou Ferrigno

Although Lou played "The Hulk" in the TV series, the growls and snarls heard in it aren't his. They were made by actor Ted Cassidy (Lurch in "The Addams Family" (1964)) until 1979 (first two seasons). Then, after Cassidy's death in that year, the Hulk was voiced by actor Charles Napier for the remaining three seasons and the three movies made in later years.

1970: Won the bodybuilding title, "Teenage Mr. America".

He stood 6' 5" and he was the tallest professional body builder of the 1970s.

1973: Won the bodybuilding title, "Mr. America".

1973: Won the bodybuilding title, "Mr. Universe".

1974: Won the bodybuilding title, "Mr. Universe".

His parents, Matty Ferrigno and Victoria Ferrigno, appeared with him in the documentary Pumping Iron (1977).

Declares "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) episode "King of the Beach" (in which he played a bodybuilder, in addition to the Hulk) his favorite episode of the series.

Beat out Arnold Schwarzenegger for the role of the Hulk on the TV series "The Incredible Hulk" (1978). Ferrigno won reportedly because Arnold, at 6' 2", was deemed not tall enough, while Lou was 6' 5".

In his book "My Incredible Life As The Hulk", he stated that he has never been compensated for any merchandising related to "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) TV series. He said it was because no such deals existed for him during the show's prime-time run.

Best known by the public for his starring role as "The Incredible Hulk" (1978).

With the death of Jack Colvin on December 1, 2005, he is the only surviving star of "The Incredible Hulk" (1978). Bill Bixby died on November 21, 1993.

Has appeared in four different adaptations of "The Incredible Hulk". The first was the live-action television series of the late 1970s and early 1980s ("The Incredible Hulk" (1978)), in which he played the Hulk--and does not speak. In the 1990s he played the role again in an animated series for the UPN network, "The Incredible Hulk" (1996) -- this time providing the creature's voice. In Ang Lee's 2003 film Hulk (2003) the Hulk is computer-generated, so Lou plays a completely different part - that of a security guard (along with Stan Lee) at the lab where Bruce Banner works. In the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk (2008), he plays a security guard again, this time one who allows Bruce Banner to enter with a pizza -- and also, once again, voices the Hulk.

Has three children with Carla Ferrigno: Shanna Ferrigno (b. 1981), Louis Ferrigno Jr. (b. 1984) and Brent Ferrigno (b. 1990).

In October 1981 he was in Egypt, scheduled to be one of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's personal guests at a public event. However, at the last minute Sadat canceled his appearance. A few days later Muslim fundamentalists killed Sadat, along with 12 others, at an annual military parade. It was later discovered that Sadat's killers had originally planned to assassinate him at the event where Ferrigno would have been seated next to him. Ferrigno believes that he would have been killed along with Sadat if Sadat had not canceled his appearance.

There was supposed to be another TV movie after The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) (TV) showing the Hulk's return, but the death of Lou's co-star Bill Bixby ended that possibility.

Was originally cast as 'Tigris of Gaul' in Gladiator (2000), but was replaced during production by Sven-Ole Thorsen who had been trying hard for over a year to get the part.

Along with Stan Lee, he is one of only two actors to appear in both Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008).