Lou Ferrigno

Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, a police lieutenant.^[3] He is of Italian descent, with his mother hailing from Conca dei Marini and his paternal grandparents from Amalfi and Cava de' Tirreni.^[4] Ferrigno says he lost 75% to 80% of his hearing to what he believes were a series of ear infections soon after he was born, though his condition was not diagnosed until he was three years old.^[5][6] Hearing loss and his speech impediment caused Ferrigno to be bullied by peers during his childhood who called him "deaf" and "mute". He began reading comic books such as Hulk and Spider-Man at this time, later saying "I was obsessed with power," and "I wanted to be strong enough so that I could be able to defend myself,"^[7] which eventually made him take up bodybuilding: "My father rejected me because I was not the perfect son, so I fantasized about being like The Hulk and that’s what led to bodybuilding".^[8]

Ferrigno started weight training at the age of 13, citing the bodybuilder and Hercules star Steve Reeves as one of his role models.^[9] Because he could not afford to buy weights, he made his own using a broomstick and pails which he partially filled with cement.^[9] Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School^[10] and Brooklyn Technical High School, where he learned metal working.^[10]

After graduating from high school in 1969, Ferrigno won his first major title, IFBB Mr. America. Four years later, he won the title IFBB Mr. Universe. Early in his career he lived in Columbus, Ohio, and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition. He came in third the following year, and his attempt to beat Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. The documentary made Ferrigno famous.^[11]

These victories, however, did not provide enough income for him to earn a living. His first paying job was as a $10-an-hour sheet metal worker in a Brooklyn factory, where he worked for three years. He did not enjoy the dangerous work, and left after a friend and co-worker accidentally cut off his own hand.^[12]

Following this, Ferrigno left the competition circuit for many years, a period that included a brief stint as a defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He had never played football, and was cut after two games.^[13] Ferrigno left the world of Canadian football after he broke the legs of a fellow player during a scrimmage.^[14]

During competition, Ferrigno weighed 275 lb (125 kg) in 1973 and 285 lb (129 kg) in 1976.

Ferrigno competed in the first annual World's Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.^[15]

In the early 1990s Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding, competing for the 1992 and 1993 Mr. Olympia titles. Finishing 12th and 10th, respectively, he then turned to the 1994 Masters Olympia,^[16] where his attempt to beat Robbie Robinson and Boyer Coe was the subject of the 1996 documentary Stand Tall. After this, he retired from competition.^[17]

In February 2006, Ferrigno was sworn in as a Los Angeles County, California, reserve sheriff's deputy, Level II.^[35] In November 2010, Maricopa County, Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio swore Ferrigno in as a member of a volunteer sheriff posse, which also included actors Steven Seagal and Peter Lupus, in order to help control illegal immigration in the Phoenix Valley area.^[36]

Ferrigno was a contestant on season five of the NBC reality television series The Celebrity Apprentice, which premiered in February 2012. He appeared on the program in order to raise money for his charity, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Ferrigno was Team Unanimous' project manager for the task depicted in the fifth episode, "I'm Going to Mop the Floor With You," which was to create a viral video to promote O-Cedar's ProMist Spray Mop, placing him in competition with actress Tia Carrere, the project manager of the women's team, Forte. In addition to the usual $20,000 awarded to the charity of the project manager of the winning team, O-Cedar pledged an additional $30,000 for that task. Team Unanimous' video—in which Ferrigno appeared dancing while mopping—won the task, winning the $50,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association.^[37] He was fired in episode nine, "Ad Hawk", which involved creating a 60-second commercial for Entertainment.com.^[38]

In June 2012, Ferrigno was sworn in as a reserve deputy to the San Luis Obispo County, California, Sheriff's Department.^[39] There he completed his level I law enforcement academy, bringing his training up to full peace officer status. In September 2013, Ferrigno was sworn in as a special deputy to the Delaware County, Ohio, Sheriff's Department.^[40]

In 2017, Ferrigno was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.^[41]

In May 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Ferrigno to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.^[42]

Due to ear infections he had soon after birth, Ferrigno lost 75 to 80% of his hearing and has been using hearing aids since the age of five.^[43] Ferrigno says his hearing loss helped shape his sense of determination in his youth, saying, "I think that if I wasn't hard of hearing I wouldn't be where I am now. Early on, as a youngster it was difficult, but I'm not ashamed to talk about it because many people have misconceptions about hearing loss; like who has hearing loss and what it's like not to hear, so I do talk about it. I think my hearing loss helped create a determination within me to be all that I can be, and gave me a certain strength of character too. Anytime I do a movie or a TV show, I make them aware of my hearing loss at the beginning, and that makes it much easier for all of us to communicate and get the job done."^[5] Later in life, he received a cochlear implant which restored much of his hearing.^[7]

Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978, divorcing a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married psychotherapist Carla Green, who then also began serving as his manager; she later became a personal trainer. They have three children: Shanna (born 1981), Louis Jr. (born 1984), and Brent (born 1990). Shanna has a recurring role as Nurse Janice in Days of Our Lives and has also appeared in the NBC series Windfall, the television film Within, and the E! reality television series Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive. Louis Jr. was a linebacker for the University of Southern California Trojans football team^[44] and later became an actor, with recurring roles in TV series such as S.W.A.T.^[45] and Outer Banks.^[46]

Ferrigno has filed suit against his younger brother, Andrew, on two occasions over the use of the name Ferrigno in business ventures.^[47][48]

• 1971: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, Teen 1st^[49]
• 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^[49]
• 1973: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner^[49][50]
• 1974: IFBB Mr. International^[49]
• 1974: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner^[49][50]
• 1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
• 1975 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 3rd place^[49]
• 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th^[49]
• 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th^[49]
• 1994: Olympia Masters, 2nd^[49]

• Muscle & Fitness (March 1982, September 1982, March 1983, January 1986, June 1987, July 1988, April 1989, March 1993, March 1994, April 1996)
• Flex (November 1983, August 1985, August 1989, August 1992, October 1992, June 1993, March 1994, November 1994, November 2017)
• Muscle Builder (May 1974, July 1974, April 1977, September 1977, July 1979, March 1980, May 1980)
• Iron Man (July 1973, August 1988, October 1992, November 1994, April 2009)
• Bodybuilding Lifestyle (December 1991, May 1992)
• Muscle Mag International (March 1979, December 1983, November 1994)
• Muscular Development (February 1981, October 1992, April 2009)
• Muscle Training Illustrated (May 1972)
• Natural Bodybuilding (February 1983)
• Strength & Health (November 1983)

• List of male professional bodybuilders