Known For
Acting
Known Credits
103
Gender
Male
Birthday
October 9, 1932 (93 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) is an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and former professional wrestler. Nicknamed "the Godfather of Grappling", LeBell is widely credited with popularizing grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books.
In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted LeBell to 10th Degree and in February 2005, he was promoted to 9th Dan in Traditional Judo by the USJJF.
LeBell served as an inspiration for the character of Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
| 2020 | The Search for Count Danteas | |
| 2019 | The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father's Eyesas Self | |
| 2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleeceas The Boss | |
| 2012 | I Am Bruce Leeas Self | |
| 2009 | From Mexico With Loveas Referee | |
| 2009 | Blood and Boneas Attendant | |
| 2008 | Redbeltas Old Stuntman | |
| 2007 | The Sarah Silverman Program.as Carl | |
| 2006 | Bottoms Upas Milt | |
| 2004 | Cellularas Driving Instructor (uncredited) | |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2as Train Passenger (uncredited) | |
| 2003 | Reno 911!as Grandpa | |
| 2003 | Reno 911!as Old Man on Scooter | |
| 2002 | Jackass: The Movieas Self | |
| 2002 | Men in Black IIas Subway Passenger (uncredited) | |
| 2001 | Rat Raceas Veteran with Gun | |
| 2000 | Strong Medicineas Referee | |
| 1999 | Man on the Moonas Foxy Jackson Referee | |
| 1999 | Running Redas Mercier's Bodyguard | |
| 1998 | Hard Timeas Eddie | |
| 1998 | Rush Houras Taxi Driver | |
| 1998 | That '70s Showas Referee | |
| 1997 | Double Tapas Wallace | |
| 1997 | Batman & Robinas Arkham Asylum Property Room Guard | |
| 1997 | On the Edge of Innocenceas Security Guard | |
| 1996 | Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshalas NYC bouncer | |
| 1995 | Jury Dutyas Security Guard (uncredited) | |
| 1995 | 3 Ninjas Knuckle Upas Red-Haired Waste Plant Worker Punching Rocky (uncredited) | |
| 1994 | Ed Woodas Ring Announcer | |
| 1994 | Ring of Steelas MiB Bodyguard | |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S.as Rioter (uncredited) | |
| 1993 | The X-Filesas Bartender | |
| 1992 | Bloodfist IV: Die Tryingas Burly | |
| 1992 | Rapid Fireas Red Haired Serrano Gunman (uncredited) | |
| 1992 | The Human Factoras Referee | |
| 1991 | Eyes of an Angelas Pit Bull Handler | |
| 1991 | Alligator 2: The Mutationas Referee | |
| 1991 | Kickboxer 2: The Road Backas Referee | |
| 1990 | Loose Cannonsas Grimmer's Man | |
| 1989 | Family Mattersas Referee | |
| 1988 | Dead Heatas | |
| 1987 | Death Wish 4: The Crackdownas Cannery Guard | |
| 1987 | Married... with Childrenas Black Ben | |
| 1987 | Married... with Childrenas Brutus | |
| 1987 | Married... with Childrenas Larry | |
| 1987 | Married... with Childrenas Referee | |
| 1987 | Number One with a Bulletas Referee | |
| 1986 | The Golden Childas Drunken Biker (uncredited) | |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer!as Archbishop | |
| 1986 | Welcome to 18as Motorcycle Cop | |
| 1986 | Bad Guysas Terrible Turk Mc Gurk | |
| 1985 | MacGyveras Murph | |
| 1984 | Micki & Maudeas Wrestling Referee | |
| 1984 | The Masteras Brawler (uncredited) | |
| 1982 | Knight Rideras Junior | |
| 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaidas Hood | |
| 1982 | T. J. Hookeras James Wallace | |
| 1981 | Heartbeepsas Forklift Driver Robot | |
| 1981 | Falcon Crestas Union Guy | |
| 1981 | Simon & Simonas | |
| 1981 | Smokey Bites the Dustas Turk | |
| 1981 | Going Ape!as Faraday | |
| 1980 | Raging Bullas Ring Announcer (Reeves Fight) | |
| 1980 | Foolin' Aroundas Paul | |
| 1980 | The Big Brawlas Stroke | |
| 1980 | Airplane!as Religious Zealot (uncredited) | |
| 1979 | Goldie and the Boxeras Vinnie | |
| 1979 | The Jerkas Con Man | |
| 1979 | Marcianoas Ring Announcer | |
| 1979 | Flesh & Bloodas 2nd Fat Guy | |
| 1979 | Flesh & Bloodas 2nd Fat Guy | |
| 1979 | Hart to Hartas Heavy #2 | |
| 1979 | Americathonas Referee | |
| 1978 | Every Which Way but Looseas Biker | |
| 1978 | Taxias Referee | |
| 1978 | Taxias The Referee | |
| 1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japanas Mean Bones' Manager | |
| 1978 | Almost Summeras Football Coach | |
| 1978 | I Wanna Hold Your Handas Theatre Cop: Reese | |
| 1978 | The One and Onlyas Reigning World Wrestling Champion (uncredited) | |
| 1978 | Fantasy Islandas The Referee | |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulkas | |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E.as | |
| 1976 | No Way Backas | |
| 1975 | Barettaas | |
| 1974 | Dinah!as Self | |
| 1974 | Black Samsonas Nappa's Gang | |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Offas Leo (uncredited) | |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jonesas Mommy's Henchman (uncredited) | |
| 1973 | Walking Tallas 2nd Bouncer | |
| 1972 | Blaculaas Second Dracula Henchman | |
| 1972 | Melindaas Hood | |
| 1972 | Hammeras Referee | |
| 1970 | The Challengeas Karate Instructor | |
| 1968 | Land of the Giantsas Mezron's Brother | |
| 1967 | Ironsideas | |
| 1966 | The Green Hornetas Barney | |
| 1966 | Paradise, Hawaiian Styleas | |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild Westas Felix | |
| 1964 | The Munstersas Tarzan McGirk | |
| 1963 | Burke's Lawas Wrestler | |
| 1962 | The Beverly Hillbilliesas | |
| 1961 | Blue Hawaiias (uncredited) |
