The Featured Page will put a spotlight on the greats of the Silver and Golden Era’s of Bodybuilding. The page will be used to bring attention to a particular bodybuilder each and every week. The page will be populated by consolidating all the articles and photo’s from within the vast and ever growing database of this magnificent bodybuilding magazine website. So keep checking in regularly as a different bodybuilder will be featured weekly. Don’t hesitate to drop me an email if you want one of your favorites featured on this page.
'The Incredible' Lou Ferrigno
The ‘Spotlight’ this week is on ‘The Incredible’ Lou Ferrigno.
Lou must be one of the most recognisable and popular bodybuilders of all time.
Lou found bodybuilding as a teenager and used it as an instrument to overcome the disadvantages of his childhood. As an adolescent he was as skinny as a beanpole and was hearing impaired. He suffered cruelly at the hands of the neighbourhood bullies. The taunts of “Tin Ear”, “Deaf Louie” and “The Mute” could be heard through the wired earpiece that ran from his ear to a bulky hearing aid box that was strapped to his chest. The words burned and Lou felt weak inside, never building the courage to confront his bullies and fight. What Lou did was escape through the pages of comic books – Superman, Spiderman and yes, The Incredible Hulk. The superheros would be his comfort. He would spend hours isolated in his bedroom reading these magazines over and over again.
Lou’s father, Matty, had a passing interest in bodybuilding, and used it as an avenue to keep in shape for his job as a police officer. Matty would often buy muscle magazines to read and also had a set of weights in the basement of their home. However, it wasn’t until Lou had to spend two weeks at Camp Grant in the Catskill Mountains that he decided bodybuilding was for him after an encounter with the camp athletic instructor. He decided he too could be like the superheroes from the pages of his comics.
Lou threw himself into training and spent hours upon hours, day after day packing on power, strength and size in basement of his home. He thought of nothing else. His heroes where no longer from the pages of comic books. No, the pages of Muscle Builder provided his inspiration – Larry Scott, Dave Draper, Harold Poole and Arnold Schwarzenegger where new his idols.
Lou would build the courage to progress from the basement of his home to the R&J Health Club sometime during his senior year. His progress was noticeable by this stage and this step took him to the next level.
The first competition Lou entered was the Mr New Jersey Open Hercules in Trenton, New Jersey. At 19 years old he was 6’5” and weighing 215 pounds. Quite a transformation from the skinny beanpole of a few short years before. Lou had high hopes and a new found confidence. But the outcome was unfavourable and he finished in 22nd place. He once again had doubts and despite this, he threw himself further into training. His improvement continued. His second competition was the Mr Wagner Contest where he beat everyone except Steve Michalik. Lou would taste success shortly after, first winning the WBBG Mr Teenage Eastern America Contest, then the WBBG Teenage America Contest. Dan Lurie knew he had found a diamond in the rough and would feature Lou after this victory at every opportunity. Lou had made it! In 1972 he would finish 2nd to Bill Grant in the WBBG Pro Mr American and also 2nd to Paul Grant in the tall class at that years NABBA Mr Universe.
Lou was now 20 years old and at 6’6” and 280 pounds this kid was on the rise. The Weider’s had made offers to have him come to California but only for Lou’s father, Matty, to reject them and forbid Lou from moving to the Mecca of Bodybuilding. This was all Dan Larie needed to push Lou hard as the next big thing in his personal war against the Weider’s. It didn’t take much time until Dan and Lou had Arnold Schwarzenegger in their sights (make sure you read the open letter from Lou to Arnold below – it is pure gold!).
In 1973, Lou would switch to the IFBB, much to Joe Weiders delight and take all before him, winning both the Mr America and Universe titles. In 1974, he would once again win the Universe title as well as the Mr International. Fresh from his Mr Universe repeat victory at Verona, Italy, Lou fancied himself ready to snatch Arnie’s Olympia crown, but despite finishing second he was no match for Schwarzenegger. ‘Pumping Iron’ and the 1975 Mr Olympia was next. If you are reading this, you have already seen the documentary, Arnold wins and retires and Lou is left licking his wounds finishing behind both Arnold and Serge Nubret in his class.
Surely, with Arnold retired, nothing would stand between Lou and the last title he desired, the Olympia Crown. It was destined for him in 1976. Before this, Lou competed in the nationally televised ‘Superstars’ to represent bodybuilding in the quest to find the ultimate athlete. Lou did so well, he was offered a try-out opportunity to play professional football. Unfortunately for Lou, injury cut this opportunity short. It must have been destiny; Lou could now focus entirely on his quest for the Olympia title. Or could he?
Lou was into the final months of heavy training for the Olympia contest when Universal Studios began casting for the pilot of the ‘Incredible Hulk’. Lou won the part and he realised he had a serious decision to make. He could either be the ‘Hulk’ or continue to train and compete in the Mr Olympia contest, but he could not do both….
Please enjoy the ‘Spotlight’ on Lou Ferrigno.
There is plenty of good reading in the articles below.
