“I Got Beat Up a Lot as a Kid”: Lou Ferrigno Once Confessed the Actual Reason Behind His Obsession With Power

Lou Ferrigno is one of the most popular names in bodybuilding sport. Ferrigno began his career back in the 60s, and competed in the last Mr. Olympia, in 1993. To the surprise of the bodybuilding followers, the 6’5″ giant, never managed to win any Olympia title. Although he had won two consecutive Mr. Universe titles at his peak. Moreover, he is still considered Arnold’s biggest competitor.

However, being great wasn’t enough to beat Arnold. Unfortunately, due to financial problems, Lou stopped bodybuilding and was denied the chance of winning an Olympia title. But in 1977, Ferrigno’s life transformed. Firstly, he got featured in one of the most famous bodybuilding documentaries, Pumping Iron. And then, he also featured in The Incredible Hulk, the same year.

The connection between Lou Ferrigno and the hulk

Today, I don’t think there’s anyone who does not know about the Hulk’s character. Hulk is one of the most loved characters in the Marvel universe. However, the Hulk mania began long back in 1977. Moreover, playing the Hulk’s character in 1977, changed Ferrigno‘s life forever. But how did he land on the character and how did he connect to such a hideous character?

Hulk was a one-of-a-kind movie. Many people didn’t know how it will work out to be. Yet Ferrigno played the character without any doubt and made his miraculous debut. While talking about hulk and his connection with the character. Lou said, “I was fascinated with the power of this superhero. The thing I liked about the Hulk was the fact that he was like a hideous-looking creature, but at the same time it was like good vs evil where he would save people’s lives.”

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He added, “He was strong, he was powerful, nothing could penetrate him, he was like indestructible. That was my vision, that was my fantasy and I related to that because I got beat up a lot as a kid so I wanted to be like the Hulk. I wanted to be so strong, so invincible that I can command the same power like the Hulk does, so that’s how the connection began.”

They kept laughing, and Lou kept grinding

It wasn’t an easy start for the Hulk in his bodybuilding career. In the 60s, when he started his career. There was barely anyone to support him. Even his friends used to make fun of him and discourage him. Bodybuilding wasn’t on its surge during that period. Moreover, his friends mocked him for training for a shadow sport.

Ferrigno didn’t let any of the mockeries affect his decision to pursue bodybuilding. He continued his hard work and we can see the result in the history of bodybuilding and even where his strength and massive body took him. It wasn’t possible to receive the Hulk’s role without that immensely built body.

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We can see how hard work pays off in one or another way. Ferrigno had a hard childhood, as he revealed he got beaten up as a child and even after that, got mocked up by his friends. He wanted that power to retaliate back, and he got through his character. He connected with it and the rest is history.