“Worked Damn Hard”: Now When Lou Ferrigno Looks at Comic Characters, His Insane Hardwork for Hulk Shines Even Brighter to Him

Lou Ferrigno is an American actor, a former bodybuilder, and most importantly an exceptional human being who inspired millions round the globe. He became a fan favorite in the 80s when he starred as the Incredible Hulk in the eponymous TV show. Ferrigno breathed life into the comic character like no one ever had, and thus began a new chapter in his life. Let’s get behind the scenes into Ferrigno’s preparation for the iconic role. 

Ferrigno had little to no acting experience before his role in ‘The Incredible Hulk’. Although he played a part in ‘Pumping Iron’ with Arnold Schwarzenegger before, he wasn’t really playing any character since it was a docudrama. During his stint as the Hulk, the former pro bodybuilder became a pupil of Bill Bixby. He has credited Bill with a lot of his learnings. 

Lou Ferrigno’s connection to the Hulk started when he was a child

Lou was a comic book fan growing up, just like countless other kids at the time. He loved most comic characters, but the Hulk stood out to him from the rest of them. In a 2017 interview, he stated, “You see all the comic characters, but when I see the Hulk it just stands out”. 

Lou was trying to get into bodybuilding around the same time and was interested in gaining more power and strength. Therefore, it was a no-brainer for him to choose Hulk as his favorite, since the Marvel character is the most muscular in the group and could very well be interpreted as the physical embodiment of strength. 

Lou’s training to get in shape for Hulk was intense and grilling. He once admitted, “I worked damn hard on my diet and exercise for the Hulk”. The 6’5 pro bodybuilder started training with a 10-minute treadmill run to warm up his body. He believed training the bigger body parts and narrowing down to the smaller ones is essential for a great physique.

Ferrigno spent time on the Machine Preacher Curl and the Alternate Dumbbell Curl among others. And he believed in connecting the mind to the body while cherishing each repetition. Subsequently, the Incredible Hulk was born, without any CGI or costume. Instead, it was Lou confidently showing his bare muscles earned with hard work.

READ MORE – “We All Have a Little Hulk Inside”: Lou Ferrigno Once Made a Strange but Reasonable Comparison To Prove a Valid Point in Life

Lou’s diet played a very important part in building the required physique for the character. He used to have breakfast with 4 egg whites, 8 eggs, a banana, and a yogurt. For lunch, Lou needed 8 ounces of protein which either comprised of a turkey loaf or a half-piece of chicken. Additionally, the 71-year-old loved eating fish for dinner along with baked potato and abundant vegetables. His choices of fish involved one among the following – Mahe Mahe, Tilapia, or Salmon.

Lou’s childhood and his initial struggles

Lou started preparing for bodybuilding and subsequently playing the Hulk, as a young kid. As a kid, Lou’s family struggled to make ends meet and couldn’t afford his gym equipment for training. Nevertheless, a young, ambitious, and stubborn Lou, who used to fantasize about playing the Hulk one day, made a makeshift barbell in his junkyard.

He found two pales, filled them with cement, then attached a broomstick in between, and his barbell was ready. His love for exercising and bodybuilding made him determined to make use of anything available. This helped Ferrigno in more ways than one. Not only did he build his muscles, but he also gained confidence and self-belief to fight the world on his own. And he had a lot of battles to fight in his life. 

Lou was constantly bullied by other kids due to his hearing loss and speech impediment, which he developed in his childhood. He read the Hulk comics in order to distract himself from the constant abuse and found solace in the character. He said, “I used to read the Hulk comics all the time because it gave me that chance to escape”. 

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Today when Lou looks back at all comic book characters, his belief in the Hulk standing aside from others shines brighter than ever. Several actors have donned the character since, but with the rise in the use of CGI, Lou’s dedication towards playing the comic book character remains unmatched by any actor.

Do you think the MCU has found a better replacement for the Hulk after Lou Ferrigno? Comment your thoughts below.