And so the real public recognition achievement for Lou was the T.V. Hulk! This part simply made it all, however for getting there he had done so much in the body building arena.
Within 1973 aged just 21 at 250lbs b/w, he carries the Mister. Eastern America, Mister. America (AFAB) and Mister. Universe titles (IFBB) in Switzerland.
Improving over and above recognition Lou then wins the Mr International and his 2nd Mister. Universe title at the IFBB WORLD Bodybuilder Finals on the 3rd to 6th October 1974, defeating Ken Waller (second) and Paul Grant of Wales third in the tall mens class. In the 1974 Mister Olympia in the first attempt Lou came 2nd to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Despite Arnold’s persistent teasing laughter, Arnold became Lou’s cutting edge idol and in 1975 in South Africa Lou was standing man to man along side Arnold in the classic confrontation featured in the famous movie PUMPING IRON. Lou ended up being a toned 300lbs mass of muscles piled upon his close to 6ft 5ins high body, coming in 3rd, beaten into second spot by Serge Nubret and obviously Arnold grabbing top title as history relates.
In 1976 Ben Weider, brother of ‘our’ Joe, called Lou Ferrigno as BODYBUILINGS MAN Of The YEAR, when the IFBB Mister Universe Ferrigno astonished the Sporting world with his unquestionable success within ABC’s T.V. WIDE WORLD Of SPORTS. With little previous experience, Lou finished in the money, amassed $20,000 and proved along the way that weight trained muscles can be fit for anything turning into the first genuine physique superstar to compete in TV’s SUPERSTARS. First married for a quick year, he later married again on 3Oth May I98O with Carla Green and they had 3 kids Shanna Victoria, Louis Jnr. and Brent.
Despite the fact that Lou originally planned to contend in the 77 Mr Olympia and try to de-throne FRANK ZANE, Lou was contacted by UNIVERSAL STUDIOS who rejected Richard Keel for a more muscular Ferrigno to engage in a comic book hero. So in 1977/78 Lou stars alongside Bill Bixby in the Jekyll and Hyde type of science fiction adventure extracted from Marvel Comics, ie. The INCREDIBLE HULK.
Bixby is a hapless scientist who if enraged becomes a seven feet beast, i.e the Hulk or Ferrigno. This huge accomplishment giving Lou globally instantaneous fame and fortune far more than earlier body building fame. For fourteen years to 1982 the Incredible Hulk is followed by the Return of.. and the Trial of .. up until ‘88.
For reasons uknown Lou said the body part a lot of people observed with the Hulk is the pecs (I could have said ‘Traps’??). Therefore pec development was continually at the top of his training list. Despite the earlier washout of “Hercules Unchained” which Columbia EMI pictures refused to release in great britain (it appeared in multiple USA worst movies lists in 1983), Lou was now on level terms inside the fame/movie TV stakes together with Arnold of “Conan” fame.
Bodybuilder Forum – Professional Anabolic Steroid Basics Advice – Hardcore body builder Mick Hart, publisher of 2 anabolic steroids top selling publications, steroids and also muscle building journal publisher. Without a doubt, follow his online Lean muscle Growth Stategies to create SAFE large muscles through Advanced Body Building Routines. And Learn The Steroid Basics And How To Take Steroids Safely at the MickHartBlog.com
Body-building Legends - The Triumphs Of Hardcore B 