Lou Ferrigno is a famous bodybuilder from the United States. He has won many awards, including the Mr. IFBB Mr. America title and the IFBB, Mr. Universe title. The bodybuilder-turned-actor is a famous Hollywood star and has starred in various films and TV series such as The Hulk, Hercules, Trauma Centre, etc. In the late 90s and early 20s, Ferrigno also trained music icon Michael Jackson for his concerts. During these days, Jackson had shared important advice with Ferrigno, which the latter failed to follow. LOU FERRIGNO WENT AGAINST MICHAEL JACKSON? Back in the day, the legendary Ferrigno [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/lou-ferrigno/] used to be Jackson’s trainer. He had helped Jackson get in shape for his various concerts until the singer lost his life. Lou Ferrigno [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-117654503.jpg]Lou Ferrigno during A&E Network and Star Magazine Celebrate The Launch of “Growing Up Gotti” at Gotham Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for American Media, Inc) Later in 2017, Ferrigno was cast in an episode of the musical named Con-Man. The actor played himself in that musical and had to sing as well. Ferrigno took it to Facebook to make this announcement while also sharing a memory with Jackson. He wrote [https://www.facebook.com/175286417298/posts/michael-jackson-told-me-to-never-sing-a-decade-ago-after-hearing-me-try-because-/10154931181527299/], “Michael Jackson told me to never sing, a decade ago, after hearing me try because of my 80% hearing loss. Sorry, Michael but I am excited to be making a musical on this season of Con Man!” Inch Biceps Next to Comic Legend Stan Lee [https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-unearthed-image-shows-lou-the-hulk-ferrigno-showing-off-his-22-5-inch-bicep-next-to-comic-legend-stan-lee/] After hearing Ferrigno years ago, MJ had asked him not to sing ever again, but the bodybuilder failed to follow his advice and went on the do the musical. FERRIGNO AND HIS OTHER NON-BODYBUILDING ENDEAVOURS Besides training MJ, Ferrigno is a well-known actor. He is widely known as the green superhero “Hulk” for his role in The Incredible Hulk. The Hercules actor is also called the “hottest” on-screen Hercules. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lou-ferrigno.jpg] Apart from acting, Ferrigno has his line of fitness company called – Ferrigno Fitness. He had also featured as a contestant in the NBC show The Celebrity Apprentice. like a beast next to Terminator left fans amazed once [https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-unearthed-image-shows-lou-the-hulk-ferrigno-showing-off-his-22-5-inch-bicep-next-to-comic-legend-stan-lee/] Although Ferrigno has tried his hands at many different things, he will always be known as one of the famous bodybuilders of his era. 

Even after Michael Jackson's advice a decade ago, bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno went
against the singer's advise to follow his passion.

Soumya Bontra is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. She has been working
as a sports journalist and writer for the past two years. Soumya has a
Bachelor’s in Mass Media. She is a brown belt in Karate and has won a silver
medal in the Maharashtra State Open Karate Championship in Kumite. She is an
admirer of footballers Tobin Heath and Christen Press. During her free time,
Soumya loves to watch Animé and is a die-hard fan of Naruto.

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Defying Michael Jackson’s Advice, ‘The Hulk’ Lou Ferrigno Ignored His 80%
Hearing Loss and Followed His Passion in 2017: “I Am Excited…”

21-Y.O. Sam Sulek Finally Breaks Silence About His Competitive Future in
Bodybuilding

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Fitness World Over His Insanely Jacked Wrestler Avatar

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Stunner Physique

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Bodybuilding

Out of all the competitions in the world, bodybuilding stays apart as a unique one. Athletes train for years to perfect their bodies and develop muscular mass. Likewise, athletes who train for competitions are understood as bodybuilders. In professional competitions like the Mr. Olympia event, bodybuilders stand on the stage, posing for various parts of their bodies. Judges rank them based on their symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presentation. There are various competitions in bodybuilding but the Mr. Olympia contest stands apart from the rest.

[caption id="attachment_1155128" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1155128 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-3238896.jpg" alt="Arnold Schwarzenegger" width="1920" height="1278" /> circa 1966: Austrian-born bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger points one hand out as he flexes his torso on Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>History of bodybuilding</h2>
Old Greeks became the inspiration for people to start bodybuilding. After that, modern competitions came up from various theatrical acts and other circus acts. They held the first <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/bodybuilding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contest</a> in 1903 in New York. The winner of the competition was Al Treloar and dubbed "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World." Significantly, organizers saw potential in that and the start of the Mr. America contest showcased some of the best talents. The rise of various bodybuilders across the globe saw the Mr. Universe event come into place and it became the main event for over 25 years. But, the late 1970s saw Joe Weider come up with a grand plan and create the Mr. Olympia contest.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1081968 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lou-ferrigno-arnold-schwarzenegger.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
<h2>Mr. Olympia contest</h2>
The contest that captured the minds of fans was the Mr. Olympia contest under the International Federation of Bodybuilding &amp; Fitness. Weider helps these bodybuilders to earn money by competing in events. They held the first competition on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City. Larry Scott won the first two titles. Moreover, the bodybuilders with the highest number of titles are Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. In the meantime, to make their entry into the market, the famous documentary, Pumping Iron, saw the buildup to the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest. It helped athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu.
<h2>Famous bodybuilders</h2>
There are several bodybuilders to grace the grand stage. But some bodybuilders achieved greatness with their astonishing bodies.
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Arnold Schwarzenegger: </strong></li>
</ul>
The Austrian bodybuilder is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. The Austrian Oak is a seven-time bodybuilding champion and became an influential personality in the business. He then transitioned himself to various acting roles, became an investor, and was elected as the Governor of California. Some of his movies like Terminator 2, Commando, Twins, and Conan the Barbarian are some of his classics.
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Ronnie Coleman:</strong></li>
</ul>
Dubbed to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Ronnie Coleman put his life and soul into the sport. He is an eight-time Mr. Olympia winner and became the most dominant bodybuilder in the business. Netflix released a documentary featuring his life in the bodybuilding industry. His size and conditioning stood apart from everyone else. A true champion who wore his heart on his sleeve.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1036377 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ronnie-coleman.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Lee Haney:</strong></li>
</ul>
Like Coleman, Lee Haney became an eight-time Mr. Olympia champion. He dedicated his body to the sport and was one of the most exciting bodybuilders on stage. Haney had a humongous waist size of 32.5 inches. Therefore, Haney deserves a special mention for his performances.

&nbsp;

Bodybuilding

Out of all the competitions in the world, bodybuilding stays apart as a unique one. Athletes train for years to perfect their bodies and develop muscular mass. Likewise, athletes who train for competitions are understood as bodybuilders. In professional competitions like the Mr. Olympia event, bodybuilders stand on the stage, posing for various parts of their bodies. Judges rank them based on their symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presentation. There are various competitions in bodybuilding but the Mr. Olympia contest stands apart from the rest. circa 1966: Austrian-born bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger points one hand out as he flexes his torso on Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) History of bodybuilding Old Greeks became the inspiration for people to start bodybuilding. After that, modern competitions came up from various theatrical acts and other circus acts. They held the first contest in 1903 in New York. The winner of the competition was Al Treloar and dubbed &#8220;The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World.&#8221; Significantly, organizers saw potential in that and the start of the Mr. America contest showcased some of the best talents. The rise of various bodybuilders across the globe saw the Mr. Universe event come into place and it became the main event for over 25 years. But, the late 1970s saw Joe Weider come up with a grand plan and create the Mr. Olympia contest. Mr. Olympia contest The contest that captured the minds of fans was the Mr. Olympia contest under the International Federation of Bodybuilding &amp; Fitness. Weider helps these bodybuilders to earn money by competing in events. They held the first competition on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City. Larry Scott won the first two titles. Moreover, the bodybuilders with the highest number of titles are Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. In the meantime, to make their entry into the market, the famous documentary, Pumping Iron, saw the buildup to the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest. It helped athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu. Famous bodybuilders There are several bodybuilders to grace the grand stage. But some bodybuilders achieved greatness with their astonishing bodies. Arnold Schwarzenegger:  The Austrian bodybuilder is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. The Austrian Oak is a seven-time bodybuilding champion and became an influential personality in the business. He then transitioned himself to various acting roles, became an investor, and was elected as the Governor of California. Some of his movies like Terminator 2, Commando, Twins, and Conan the Barbarian are some of his classics. Ronnie Coleman: Dubbed to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Ronnie Coleman put his life and soul into the sport. He is an eight-time Mr. Olympia winner and became the most dominant bodybuilder in the business. Netflix released a documentary featuring his life in the bodybuilding industry. His size and conditioning stood apart from everyone else. A true champion who wore his heart on his sleeve.  Lee Haney: Like Coleman, Lee Haney became an eight-time Mr. Olympia champion. He dedicated his body to the sport and was one of the most exciting bodybuilders on stage. Haney had a humongous waist size of 32.5 inches. Therefore, Haney deserves a special mention for his performances. &nbsp;

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Even after Michael Jackson's advice a decade ago, bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno went against the singer's advise to follow his passion.

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Defying Michael Jackson’s Advice, ‘The Hulk’ Lou Ferrigno Ignored His 80% Hearing Loss and Followed His Passion in 2017: “I Am Excited…”

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<h2><b>Lou Ferrigno Net Worth 2023</b></h2>
In 1975, the Brooklyn-born bodybuilder was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's biggest competitors. Having missed out on the win, Ferrigno took his talents elsewhere and played a beloved Marvel character on-screen for many years. The now 71-year-old is a cherished name, not only in the bodybuilding community but also in the world of comic fandom. Apart from bodybuilding and acting, Ferrigno also served in the Sheriff's Department for a brief period after retirement. He is also the owner of the fitness equipment line Ferrigno Fitness.

[caption id="attachment_1257662" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1257662" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-117654503.jpg" alt="Lou Ferrigno" width="1920" height="1272" /> Lou Ferrigno during A&amp;E Network and Star Magazine Celebrate The Launch of "Growing Up Gotti" at Gotham Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for American Media, Inc)[/caption]

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Owing to his various stints throughout the years, Ferrigno is currently worth $12 million.</span>
<h2><b>Lou Ferrigno's early life</b></h2>
Born on November 9th, 1951, Ferrigno is a Brooklyn native. His father, Matt Ferrigno, was a police lieutenant, while his mom stayed home to take care of her only child. Owing to a series of ear infections, Lou lost 75-80% of his hearing. A speech impediment combined with hearing loss led to Ferrigno being bullied, as his peers would often call him "deaf" or "mute."

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">The alienated feeling led to Lou reading comic books such as 'Hulk' and Spider-Man. By reading such comics, Ferrigno got obsessed with power and started wanting to become strong enough to defend himself. And hence, Lou started weight training when he was 13.</span>
<h2><b>Lou Ferrigno and his parents, wife, and children</b></h2>
As mentioned above, Ferrigno was born to a Brooklyn Police lieutenant, Matt, and his homemaker wife, Victoria. Though Ferrigno shared a bitter-sweet relationship with his father, Matt's service had inspired him to join the Sheriff's Department. Owing to his bodybuilding career, Ferrigno was a prime entity of the 1977 bodybuilding docudrama, Pumping Iron. Because of this his parents, too, made a cameo in the film.

[caption id="attachment_1257650" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1257650" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-530190991.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1295" /> NEW YORK, NY - CIRCA 1982: Lou Ferrigno, wife Carla and daughter Shanna circa 1982 in New York City. (Photo by PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images)[/caption]

After a successful career in bodybuilding and a great start in the acting world, Ferrigno deemed it was time to settle down. In May 1978, Ferrigno married Susan Groff. However, their union didn't last long, and the duo parted ways a year later, in 1979. Then, he met psychotherapist Carla Green. Giving marriage another shot, Ferrigno tied the knot with Green in May 1980. Over the years, the couple created a happy family with their three children.

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">A year after their marriage, Green and Ferrigno welcomed their eldest child Shanna, in 1981. Their eldest son, Louis Jr. was born in 1984. Though Ferrigno </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-didnt-want-him-to-go-into-bodybuilding-legend-lou-ferrigno-didnt-want-son-to-join-his-legacy-revealed-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">didn't want his son to join the bodybuilding</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> world, Louis Jr. eventually followed in his father's footsteps and became a bodybuilder and actor. Six years after Louis Jr.'s birth, in 1990, Lou's youngest child Brent was born.</span>
<h2><b>Bodybuilding Career of Ferrigno</b></h2>
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Having</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.evolutionofbodybuilding.net/lou-ferrigno/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> started training in the basement of his home in Brooklyn</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, Ferrigno entered his first professional tournament when he was 19. In 1970, Lou took part in the Mr. New Jersey Open Hercules tournament in Trenton. He placed 22nd among the 22 men that took part in the event. But Ferrigno wouldn't stay at the bottom for too long. In 1973, a 22-year-old Lou won his first and second bodybuilding titles as he won the Mr. America and the tall class of Mr. Universe in Geneva.</span>

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1250461" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Lou-Ferrigno-2.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="1459" />

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Two years later, Lou fielded his name alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Olympia event in South Africa. Lou took the podium with a third-place finish at the event. After a 17-year hiatus from professional bodybuilding, Ferrigno came back for the Mr. Olympia tournament in Helsinki in 1992. Here, he finished in 12th place. Lou returned to the competition the following year and finished in 10th place, which would also be his last appearance at the event. In 1994, Lou made his final competitive appearance at the Masters Olympia event. Ferrigno finished second in the inaugural edition of the event, behind Robby Robinson.</span>
<h2><b>Bodybuilding Achievements of Lou Ferrigno</b></h2>
1971: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, Teen 1st
1971: Teen Mr. America – AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
1972: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, 2nd
1972: NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
1973: IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner
1973: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
1974: IFBB Mr. International
1974: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place
1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th
1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th
1994: Olympia Masters, 2nd
<h2><b>Lou ‘The Hulk’ Ferrigno and his Hollywood journey</b></h2>
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">After taking a break from professional bodybuilding after 1975, Ferrigno explored the field of Hollywood, wherein he found major success. From 1977 to 1982, Loue starred as his favorite comic hero in the TV series, 'The Incredible Hulk.' He also reprised his role in three 'Incredible Hulk' TV movies. Though it's the </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-i-dont-think-it-could-be-pulled-off-lou-ferrigno-jr-once-admitted-his-fathers-role-as-the-incredible-hulk-is-irreplaceable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">highlight of his career</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, the fame had a negative impact on his personal life. </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-lou-ferrigno-despite-being-a-humble-guy-65-bodybuilding-beast-once-confessed-he-was-often-misjudged-in-public-people-would-think-i-was-becoming-the-hulk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">People started fearing</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> him after his realistic portrayal of the angry giant.</span>

[caption id="attachment_1257652" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1257652" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-810865842.jpg" alt="Lou Ferrigno" width="1920" height="1280" /> LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 08: (L-R) The Incredible Hulk and Actor Lou Ferrigno attend Marvel Universe LIVE! Age Of Heroes World Premiere Celebrity Red Carpet Event at Staples Center on July 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment)[/caption]

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">But as time went on, Lou also appeared twice in 'Battle of the Network Stars.' Ferrigno has made several guest appearances, movies including 'Hulk' (2003) and 'The Incredible Hulk' (2008). Until the 2015 film 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' Ferrigno continued to be the voice of Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over the reins. The 1977 documentary 'Pumping Iron,' focused on Lou's attempt to beat Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Olympia competition.</span>
<h2><b>Lou Ferrigno and his health issues</b></h2>
When Lou Ferrigno was a toddler he suffered from a series of ear infections. This resulted in him losing 70-80% of his hearing ability at a young able. Not only did he struggle with adjusting to the sudden disability, but Ferrigno also faced bullying in school because of his situation. He then learned to lip-read to get by in his daily life. Eventually, in 2011, the bodybuilder gave hearing aid implants a shot. Unfortunately, the implant wasn't of much help to the star as it only amplified the sounds around him. Ultimately they had to be removed.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1250469" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Lou-Ferrigno-3.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="630" />

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">A decade later, Ferrigno gave science and technology another shot and underwent a second surgery. This time he got a cochlear implant which fortunately brought his lifelong misery to an end. The surgery in 2021 was successful and significantly improved his hearing ability. Talking about his cochlear implants, Ferrigno once revealed he felt like </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-boydbuilding-news-plagued-with-hearing-disability-most-of-his-life-bodybuilding-beast-lou-ferrigno-feels-reborn-after-being-able-to-hear-radio-in-the-car-at-71/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">he was reborn</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. Now, the bodybuilder turned actor no longer has to struggle in communicating with people.</span>
<h2><b>Lou Ferrigno’s retirement from bodybuilding</b></h2>
After winning back-to-back two Mr. Universe titles in 1973 and 1974, Ferrigno had a great start to his Mr. Olympia journey. He finished second and third, respectively, in his first two years. However, everything changed when Ferrigno took over a decade-long break from the stage. It happened after his stint in the 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron, and Ferrigno went on to focus on his acting career.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1328244" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/210324-ry-louferrigno-106-rt-1623449517.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1281" />

He returned briefly in the early 90s, however, things weren't the same as before. When he staged a comeback in 1992, he received the lowest rank of his career and finished 12th in Mr. Olympia. The following year was not much different as he finished 10th. However, he bounced back in 1994 after changing classes. That year he participated in Masters Olympia and secured the 2nd position. With this, Ferrigno drew the curtains to his Olympia journey, just like he had started two decades ago. He then retired from competitive bodybuilding.

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">However, retiring from the stage did not mean Ferrigno disappeared from the bodybuilding world. He continues to spread his impact as a professional trainer. During his stint as a fitness trainer, Ferrigno worked as a personal trainer for renowned celebrities like Michael Jackson. Even at the age of 71, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-still-super-jacked-at-71-bodybuilding-beast-lou-ferrigno-gives-a-preposterous-reason-for-taking-rest-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Ferrigno has maintained a jacked physique</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">.</span>
<table style="height: 672px" width="972">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Name</span></td>
<td>Louis Jude Ferrigno Sr.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Born</span></td>
<td>9 November 1951</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Birth</span></td>
<td> New York, New York, United States</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Education</span></td>
<td>
<div class="vtnSJf r2wkld NcWIC xKNBMd">
<div class="LwV4sf">
<div class="junCMe">
<div class="title">Brooklyn Technical High School</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents</span></td>
<td>Matt Ferrigno, Victoria Ferrigno</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>6'5"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight</span></td>
<td>315 lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Wife</span></td>
<td><span class="w8qArf"> </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">Carla Ferrigno (m. 1980), </span>

<span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"> Susan Groff (m. 1978–1979)</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Kids</span></td>
<td><span class="w8qArf"> </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"> Shanna Ferrigno, Louis Ferrigno Jr., Brent Ferrigno</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Social Media</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theofficiallouferrigno/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 class="jsx-8c85ea4b4bcf4dfc"></h2>

Lou Ferrigno

Lou Ferrigno Net Worth 2023 In 1975, the Brooklyn-born bodybuilder was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger&#8217;s biggest competitors. Having missed out on the win, Ferrigno took his talents elsewhere and played a beloved Marvel character on-screen for many years. The now 71-year-old is a cherished name, not only in the bodybuilding community but also in the world of comic fandom. Apart from bodybuilding and acting, Ferrigno also served in the Sheriff&#8217;s Department for a brief period after retirement. He is also the owner of the fitness equipment line Ferrigno Fitness. Lou Ferrigno during A&amp;E Network and Star Magazine Celebrate The Launch of &#8220;Growing Up Gotti&#8221; at Gotham Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for American Media, Inc) Owing to his various stints throughout the years, Ferrigno is currently worth $12 million. Lou Ferrigno&#8217;s early life Born on November 9th, 1951, Ferrigno is a Brooklyn native. His father, Matt Ferrigno, was a police lieutenant, while his mom stayed home to take care of her only child. Owing to a series of ear infections, Lou lost 75-80% of his hearing. A speech impediment combined with hearing loss led to Ferrigno being bullied, as his peers would often call him &#8220;deaf&#8221; or &#8220;mute.&#8221; The alienated feeling led to Lou reading comic books such as &#8216;Hulk&#8217; and Spider-Man. By reading such comics, Ferrigno got obsessed with power and started wanting to become strong enough to defend himself. And hence, Lou started weight training when he was 13. Lou Ferrigno and his parents, wife, and children As mentioned above, Ferrigno was born to a Brooklyn Police lieutenant, Matt, and his homemaker wife, Victoria. Though Ferrigno shared a bitter-sweet relationship with his father, Matt&#8217;s service had inspired him to join the Sheriff&#8217;s Department. Owing to his bodybuilding career, Ferrigno was a prime entity of the 1977 bodybuilding docudrama, Pumping Iron. Because of this his parents, too, made a cameo in the film. NEW YORK, NY &#8211; CIRCA 1982: Lou Ferrigno, wife Carla and daughter Shanna circa 1982 in New York City. (Photo by PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images) After a successful career in bodybuilding and a great start in the acting world, Ferrigno deemed it was time to settle down. In May 1978, Ferrigno married Susan Groff. However, their union didn&#8217;t last long, and the duo parted ways a year later, in 1979. Then, he met psychotherapist Carla Green. Giving marriage another shot, Ferrigno tied the knot with Green in May 1980. Over the years, the couple created a happy family with their three children. A year after their marriage, Green and Ferrigno welcomed their eldest child Shanna, in 1981. Their eldest son, Louis Jr. was born in 1984. Though Ferrigno didn&#8217;t want his son to join the bodybuilding world, Louis Jr. eventually followed in his father&#8217;s footsteps and became a bodybuilder and actor. Six years after Louis Jr.&#8217;s birth, in 1990, Lou&#8217;s youngest child Brent was born. Bodybuilding Career of Ferrigno Having started training in the basement of his home in Brooklyn, Ferrigno entered his first professional tournament when he was 19. In 1970, Lou took part in the Mr. New Jersey Open Hercules tournament in Trenton. He placed 22nd among the 22 men that took part in the event. But Ferrigno wouldn&#8217;t stay at the bottom for too long. In 1973, a 22-year-old Lou won his first and second bodybuilding titles as he won the Mr. America and the tall class of Mr. Universe in Geneva. Two years later, Lou fielded his name alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Olympia event in South Africa. Lou took the podium with a third-place finish at the event. After a 17-year hiatus from professional bodybuilding, Ferrigno came back for the Mr. Olympia tournament in Helsinki in 1992. Here, he finished in 12th place. Lou returned to the competition the following year and finished in 10th place, which would also be his last appearance at the event. In 1994, Lou made his final competitive appearance at the Masters Olympia event. Ferrigno finished second in the inaugural edition of the event, behind Robby Robinson. Bodybuilding Achievements of Lou Ferrigno 1971: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, Teen 1st 1971: Teen Mr. America – AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th 1972: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, 2nd 1972: NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd 1973: IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner 1973: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner 1974: IFBB Mr. International 1974: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner 1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd 1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th 1994: Olympia Masters, 2nd Lou ‘The Hulk’ Ferrigno and his Hollywood journey After taking a break from professional bodybuilding after 1975, Ferrigno explored the field of Hollywood, wherein he found major success. From 1977 to 1982, Loue starred as his favorite comic hero in the TV series, &#8216;The Incredible Hulk.&#8217; He also reprised his role in three &#8216;Incredible Hulk&#8217; TV movies. Though it&#8217;s the highlight of his career, the fame had a negative impact on his personal life. People started fearing him after his realistic portrayal of the angry giant. LOS ANGELES, CA &#8211; JULY 08: (L-R) The Incredible Hulk and Actor Lou Ferrigno attend Marvel Universe LIVE! Age Of Heroes World Premiere Celebrity Red Carpet Event at Staples Center on July 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment) But as time went on, Lou also appeared twice in &#8216;Battle of the Network Stars.&#8217; Ferrigno has made several guest appearances, movies including &#8216;Hulk&#8217; (2003) and &#8216;The Incredible Hulk&#8217; (2008). Until the 2015 film &#8216;Avengers: Age of Ultron,&#8217; Ferrigno continued to be the voice of Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over the reins. The 1977 documentary &#8216;Pumping Iron,&#8217; focused on Lou&#8217;s attempt to beat Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Olympia competition. Lou Ferrigno and his health issues When Lou Ferrigno was a toddler he suffered from a series of ear infections. This resulted in him losing 70-80% of his hearing ability at a young able. Not only did he struggle with adjusting to the sudden disability, but Ferrigno also faced bullying in school because of his situation. He then learned to lip-read to get by in his daily life. Eventually, in 2011, the bodybuilder gave hearing aid implants a shot. Unfortunately, the implant wasn&#8217;t of much help to the star as it only amplified the sounds around him. Ultimately they had to be removed. A decade later, Ferrigno gave science and technology another shot and underwent a second surgery. This time he got a cochlear implant which fortunately brought his lifelong misery to an end. The surgery in 2021 was successful and significantly improved his hearing ability. Talking about his cochlear implants, Ferrigno once revealed he felt like he was reborn. Now, the bodybuilder turned actor no longer has to struggle in communicating with people. Lou Ferrigno’s retirement from bodybuilding After winning back-to-back two Mr. Universe titles in 1973 and 1974, Ferrigno had a great start to his Mr. Olympia journey. He finished second and third, respectively, in his first two years. However, everything changed when Ferrigno took over a decade-long break from the stage. It happened after his stint in the 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron, and Ferrigno went on to focus on his acting career. He returned briefly in the early 90s, however, things weren&#8217;t the same as before. When he staged a comeback in 1992, he received the lowest rank of his career and finished 12th in Mr. Olympia. The following year was not much different as he finished 10th. However, he bounced back in 1994 after changing classes. That year he participated in Masters Olympia and secured the 2nd position. With this, Ferrigno drew the curtains to his Olympia journey, just like he had started two decades ago. He then retired from competitive bodybuilding. However, retiring from the stage did not mean Ferrigno disappeared from the bodybuilding world. He continues to spread his impact as a professional trainer. During his stint as a fitness trainer, Ferrigno worked as a personal trainer for renowned celebrities like Michael Jackson. Even at the age of 71, Ferrigno has maintained a jacked physique.  Name Louis Jude Ferrigno Sr.  Born 9 November 1951  Place of Birth  New York, New York, United States  Nationality American  Education   Brooklyn Technical High School    Parents Matt Ferrigno, Victoria Ferrigno  Height 6&#8217;5&#8243;  Weight 315 lb  Wife  Carla Ferrigno (m. 1980),   Susan Groff (m. 1978–1979)  Kids   Shanna Ferrigno, Louis Ferrigno Jr., Brent Ferrigno  Social Media Instagram

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