Judo Gene LeBell, affectionately known as the "Godfather of Grappling", was a renowned world champion in both wrestling and judo, as well as a prolific stuntman in Hollywood. He is widely respected by martial artists worldwide and is considered a trailblazer in the art of grappling.
Gene began training in judo at a young age and by the time he was 20, in 1954, he had already won the National AAU Heavyweight Judo Championship and the USA Overall Judo Championship title. He continued to dominate the judo circuit, winning both the Heavyweight and overall champion title in 1955.
After an illustrious judo career, Gene ventured into professional wrestling, winning the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. However, his excitement got the better of him, and he accidentally hit a wrestling commissioner on the head with the title belt, causing a nasty gash. The belt was seized from him, and Gene would later comment, "Well, at least I was the champ for 12 seconds and I retired as champion."
Gene went on to face numerous opponents from various fighting arts, who underestimated his grappling skills. However, they soon learned the hard way that Gene's skills were the real deal. He trained with numerous world champion martial artists, including Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, and Benny Urquidez.
Gene's acting and stunt work in Hollywood spanned over 50 years. He appeared in numerous TV shows, including Mission: Impossible, I Spy, The Wild Wild West, Baretta, Married... with Children, and Baywatch. His feature film appearances include Raging Bull, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, Bad Guys, Ed Wood, and Men in Black II.
Even in his 70s, Gene continued to teach grappling and perform stunts. He was a judge for the Nevada and California Athletic Commission and judged UFC 74, featuring Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga. Gene's popular website attracted martial arts and film fans from around the globe.
Gene LeBell had three children, including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI agent daughter Monica LeBell Pandis, and eight grandchildren.
