The name Lou Ferrigno had never been heard by most people outside the bodybuilding world until the movie Pumping Iron was released and became a surprise success in 1977. He’d even go on to compete against his hero Schwarzenegger in Mr. Olympia in 1974 and ’75. Lou Ferrigno made a comeback in 1992 to the Mr. Olympia and made Dorian Yates look small in the comparison round.Subscribe for more bodybuilding. In 1975, Lou … Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding exploits are legendary, having come first in professional contests like Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia many times before retiring from the sport in 1980. Lou Ferrigno is a living Hulk, and he still looks the part.The bodybuilder turned actor burst onto the scene and out of his shirts in 1978, when The Incredible Hulk took the athlete from the gym to … There is and was always controversy over this. Add his height to his bulked up physique then you had an athlete who had the potential to truly be a great champion. I remember I got a phone call from a casting agent, and he said ‘We’re having an audition, and we’d like for you to come in for The Incredible Hulk .’ In 1971, three out of the four Mr. Olympia competitors were disqualified. Sergio Oliva's 1968 Mr. Olympia victory was uncontested. Lou Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951) plays himself on CBS-TV's The King of Queens, in a storyline where he and his wife became the Heffernan's next door neighbors in season 3's episode "Better Camera".Just as in real-life Lou is known to be the actor who portrayed "The Hulk" and people often make jokes about him "getting mad" and/or "turning green" because of it. I saw Arnold many times but in 1973 he started experimenting with Cadever glands and for 2 years sprouted 15lbs extra muscle. He'd give Lou Ferrigno a night he'd never forget. There is one thing to note, during Lou's time, there were a lot of great bodybuilders, so his career highlights mainly include his Mr. Universe wins in 1973 and 1974. The first 10 Mr. Olympia competitions never featured more than 5 competitors per contest. Lou Ferrigno. He came in third the following year, and his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. I guess I made the best decision. Shawn "Flexatron" Rhoden (Mr. Olympia 2018) Defeating seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath was what many condsider to be the greatest upset in Olympia history. Although he didn’t win, he beat the likes of Serge Nubret, only losing out to the Austrian Oak (Arnold). For years, Ferrigno trained as a bodybuilder and eventually went on to win the IFBB Mr. Universe competition (now called the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships) in 1973. ... who had managed to win a Mr. Olympia … If you need more examples then compare Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 7 Mr. Olympia titles to Lou Ferrigno’s zero. Before him, Chris Dickerson was the oldest at 43 years and 2 months. Similar Bodybuilding Threads: 1974 Mr. Olympia: Lou Ferrigno vs Arnold Schwarzenegger By age 20, he had packed on an incredible amount of muscle which let him win bodybuilding competitions like Mr. Universe with ease. Lou Ferrigno: I read Superman comics and the Hulk comics. We are talking about Flavio Baccianini who is the shortest Pro Bodybuilder on record to ever make it to the Mr. Olympia Stage. Oliva would go on to win the Mr. Olympia competition in 1967, 1968 … The film basically revolves around Arnold Schwarzenegger and his toughest rival in 1975 Mr. Olympia title-'Lou Ferrigno'. Olympia 1974 vs. 1992. You know, it’s funny, I traded my comic books as a kid for bodybuilding magazines. In 1994 Lou competed in the first ever IFBB Masters Mr. Olympia and placed second to Robby Robinson. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lou-ferrigno-4350.php "Winning Mr. Universe was like an ultimate validation for me because it was a dream of mine," Ferrigno … Also, by 1980 the number and quality of competitors had exploded. Lou Ferrigno may be the most famous bodybuilder never to win the Mr Olympia competition, he is however one of a very small number of bodybuilders to find success away from bodybuilding. DriDDeRz. “I was training for the Mr. Olympia competition, and I had just moved to California. Related: Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Didn't Return for Predator 2 He was a famed bodybuilder long before he made it into movies, and was known by the nickname "The Austrian Oak." Follow me on Instagram 2014 Top 6 Guess Game Champion. As a bodybuilder, Lou won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron. There’s no arguing it, Lou Ferrigno was a true talent. These victories, however, did not provide enough income for him to earn a living. Louis Jude Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951) is an American actor, motivational speaker, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. At this point, Lou was more determined than ever to reach the top of his game. In fact Lou Ferrigno is probably more famous for his portrayal of The Incredible Hulk than he is for his many bodybuilding accomplishments. Pumping Iron. Contrast Arnold Schwarzenegger’s twenty million dollar a movie salary to Lou Ferrigno’s $20 an autograph at comic book conventions. Schwarzenegger came out of retirement, however, to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia. I was at the 74 Olympia in NY and it was the most amazing display since 1965 when Larry won it. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Ferrigno’s height was truly towering for bodybuilding. When I first started lifting weights, it was my dream to one day compete for a Mr. Olympia title. Arnold easily out-massed and outclassed the newcomer. The Incredible Lou - Legacy Talk With Lou Ferrigno Muscular Development | February 2018. Schwarzenegger was Governor of the entire state of California. The documentary tells the story of a group of bodybuilding competitors preparing for the 1975 Mr. Olympia … That same year, Lou entered the prestigious Mr. Olympia. His legs, particularly his thighs, were not up to his previous Mr. Olympia levels. The documentary made Ferrigno famous. Shawn Rhoden is the oldest bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia title, at the age of 43 years and five months. You might know Lou from movies like “The Hulk” or “Pumping Iron”, but we’re sure you don’t know these facts about him: HE WAS MR. UNIVERSE AND MR. AMERICA DURING … Lou and Carla at Joe Weider's 90th birthday party. The 1967 Mr. Olympia, won by Sergio Oliva, heralded a new era in bodybuilding competition.At 5 ft 10 ins and 240 lbs Oliva, nicknamed "The Myth", displayed an unforeseen level of muscle mass and definition, including a "V" shape of a large and a well-formed upper-body that tapered down to a narrow waist. The 1980 Mr. Olympia contest was one of the more controversial Mr. Olympias partially due to Arnold winning the contest with less overall size than the fans were accustomed to. Lou Ferrigno VS Arnold Schwarzenegger 1974 Mr. Olympia Post Pictures and vote in the poll. Arnold’s confidence and charisma on his fifth Mr. Olympia win dominated the contest and neither Ferrigno, Columbu or Zane had a chance. The gargantuan green computer-generated Hulk that smashes cities in cinemas and Coke commercials is an impressive display of modern technology, but it is unnecessary. At a prime bodybuilding contest weight of 285 pounds - 300 pounds cut at his heaviest (in top shape) - a height of 6' 5", and with an aptitude for acting and a passion for show business, it is no surprise that when scouts began the selection process for the original Hulk series, Lou Ferrigno was a natural candidate for the Hulk role. Many people think Lou Ferrigno should have won. Ferrigno returned to the Olympia stage in 1992 and 1993, placing 10 th in the second event and coming in at what many consider the best shape of his life. 01-31-2009, 07:53 AM #9. Arnold Schwarzenegger entered his first Mr. Olympia in 1969, but was defeated by Sergio Oliva. Lou Ferrigno proved not to be a threat, and a lighter-than-usual Schwarzenegger convincingly won the 1975 Mr. Olympia. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition. It was one fateful day in 1977 that would change bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno’s life forever. When Lou began playing the title character on The … ... but once the show was out, everything changed. His last competition was the 1994 Masters Mr. Olympia, where he placed second. How far would he go? Register To Reply Register To Reply. What did Mr. Schwarzenegger mean? Arnold was out of this world and Lou looked like a sickly kid beside him. ... when he posed with Lou Ferrigno. It was a big decision for me because I wanted to win the 1977 Mr. Olympia, but I chose the Hulk. Who do you think should have won the 1974 Mr. Olympia? Although many fans felt Lou should have been the victor that day, the man himself says he was just happy to finally leave the sport he loved having accomplished his personal best conditioning. Some of the articles/pics are never seen before for me, thx D! He is a bodybuilding legend and one of the top bodybuilders of the “golden era”. Lou looked like he tried to get too ripped for his Mr. Olympia debut. 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