Gene LeBell, a famend stuntman who skilled Bruce Lee and impressed the likes of Quentin Tarantino, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his house in Sherman Oaks, California, based on The Hollywood Reporter.
He was recognized by many because the “Godfather of Grappling,” and influenced fighters around the globe. LeBell was 89 years previous.
“It's with a heavy coronary heart that we acknowledge our previous member and good friend, Mr. Gene LeBell, has handed on. There’s method an excessive amount of to say to even start to scratch the floor of the profession and life Gene lived,” wrote the Stuntman’s Affiliation of Movement Photos in a press release to Selection.
“His expertise in his area was recognized worldwide and people who acquired to know him knew he had a coronary heart that matched that expertise,” the group’s assertion added. “I received’t say relaxation straightforward… as a result of we simply don’t see that occuring with Gene. So might you relaxation in energy, Gene.”
LeBell established himself as a martial artist lengthy earlier than he moved to Hollywood. He received the Beginner Athletic Union Nationwide Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, based on Black Belt Journal. LeBell later mentored world-class athletes and silver display screen legends.
As a stuntman, LeBell reportedly endured a punch from John Wayne for the 1952 movie “Huge Jim McLain” and a kick within the face from Elvis Presley for “Blue Hawaii” in 1961. He taught fighters like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey easy methods to grapple — and frequently skilled Bruce Lee.
LeBell recalled in his 2005 autobiography, “The Godfather of Grappling” assembly Lee on the set of “The Inexperienced Hornet” TV collection. Stunt coordinator Bennie Dobbins begged LeBell to humble Lee, who allegedly beat up on his stuntmen all through the present’s manufacturing.
LeBell recalled throwing Lee over his shoulder and working round set as Lee screamed, “Put me down or I’ll kill you.” The pair turned associates, and LeBell taught Lee judo and wrestling strikes, a lot of which Lee utilized in his films, “The Approach of The Dragon” and “Enter the Dragon.”
“He was one of the best martial artist of his time,” LeBell recalled in Black Belt Journal. “Bruce and I had a bond with the martial arts, and we'd get collectively incessantly. We labored out about 10 to 12 occasions at his place in Los Angeles’ Chinatown and at my place.”
Tarantino, whose portrayal of an overconfident Lee by actor Mike Moh in “As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood” spurred backlash drew closely from LeBell when he crafted Brad Pitt’s character within the movie as stuntman Cliff Sales space, as LeBell had skilled in Japan and studied judo years earlier than Lee turned a grasp.
LeBell, who spent a lot of his later years overseeing the Nationwide Wrestling Alliance in Los Angeles, was even charged with homicide when non-public investigator Robert Duke Corridor was killed in 1976. He was acquitted and continued performing stunts for the large and small display screen, alike.
From TV exhibits like “Mission: Not possible,” “Batman,” and “Reno 911!” to films together with, “The Towering Inferno,” “RoboCop,” “Complete Recall” and “Independence Day,” LeBell was a go-to stunt coordinator for many years.
LeBell, who additionally authored greater than 12 books on martial arts that concurrently chronicled his storied profession, is survived by his spouse Eleanor, youngsters Monica and David, stepchildren Danny and Stacy, and grandchildren Daniel, Tyler and Nicholas.
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