Lou Ferrigno smashes his way onto the Comic Con schedule
Lou Ferrigno, left, gets a photo with a fan during the Salt Lake Comic Con at the Salt Palace this past September.
It’s not often that a childhood dream becomes an adult reality. At least not in the way that happened for television and film star Lou Ferrigno.
In case his name doesn’t ring a bell for you, Lou Ferrigno is the original Incredible Hulk, the man that took the popular comic character from magazine pages to millions of televisions across the world. But Ferrigno’s connection to the character began long before the show, and includes a legacy that still follows him today.
Ferrigno was just a kid from Brooklyn when he found the Hulk and his alter-ego David Banner in the pages of a magazine.
“I remember reading it,” Ferrigno said of his first experience with the comic. “I picked it up and was attracted to the character — the way he looked, because he was green and intimidating, and how people thought he was a monster. But I realized he was a hero. He fought to save people’s lives. Especially when you look at David Banner. He got angry. I related to that, I was like that person. Like David Banner, it was hard for me to fight back because I was a skinny kid. Out of all the characters I loved, he was the character I most identified with.”
Like Banner’s character, Ferrigno himself had his own personal challenges to overcome, one of which was extreme hearing loss at a very early age. Though it wasn’t diagnosed until he turned 3, Ferrigno suffered a series of ear infections that claimed roughly 75 percent of his hearing. Instead of letting what some would perceive as a disadvantage cripple him throughout his life, Ferrigno instead launched himself into a highly successful career in bodybuilding and weightlifting. He was just 13 years old when he began training, and it didn’t take long for him to see that he excelled.
Through the years in professional bodybuilding, Ferrigno claimed an assortment of world-class titles, including two years as the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Mr. Universe as well as IFBB Mr. America. With that kind of a career, it was only a matter of time until a documentary was made about Ferrigno, bringing his career into the spotlight, as well as into the sights of casting agents for a new television series, “The Incredible Hulk.” The rest, as they say, is history.
“I got the job the next day,” Ferrigno said of his auditions for the Hulk. “I had always envisioned myself being a hero … all that was my dream coming true.”
Ferrigno played the Hulk opposite Bill Bixby as mild-mannered David Banner from 1977 until 1982 as the show continued to garner a larger and larger following.
“It was incredible,” he said of the public’s overwhelmingly positive response to the show. “It was like they threw my whole life in front of me when I transformed into the Hulk. People went ballistic. I never expected when the show hit the air that people would embrace it almost like food. It was great — I couldn’t go anywhere (without being recognized) and I was very happy because I followed my dream.”
Though there have been many remakes of the Hulk since Ferrigno tackled the role, his impact on the character and the foundation he laid can’t be disputed.
“Now there’s a CGI Hulk,” Ferrigno said of the computer-animated and enhanced Hulk currently portrayed in movies. “CGI can’t sign autographs. I’m the original Hulk. You can’t fool the audience. I laid the ground base for the whole Marvel character. It came from years and years (of work). I liked to read the Hulk comic and was always fascinated by and attracted to power. Because I was the Hulk my whole life, I know how the Hulk thinks and feels. I have a lot of anger. The Hulk was a platform to survive.”
Time certainly hasn’t changed people’s perceptions of Ferrigno as the Hulk either.
“To tell you the truth, I could do 500 movies, but for the rest of my life people will always respect me as the Hulk,” he said. “People always identify me by that, all over the world. … It’s very exciting because everyone has a little Hulk in them.”
Even on trips to the store, Ferrigno is still recognized by fans as the Hulk, and he couldn’t be happier about it.
“As an actor, I can’t hide myself because of my physicality,” Ferrigno said. “But I enjoy (being recognized) very much. I respect and love it. People get excited and I get excited. My whole life and as a kid I wanted to be recognized as somebody.”
Ferrigno has taken that recognition to a whole new level with his current employment. When he’s not on the set of a television show or a movie, Ferrigno has followed in the footsteps of his father and joined the police force, turning from comic book hero to real life hero.
“Now as a deputy sheriff, I protect life and property,” he said. “I love being a hero — being a hero of the people and setting a good example.”
Ferrigno also works to promote youth bodybuilding contests and fitness, helping others to both get in shape and have fun while doing it.
If you haven’t had a chance to meet Ferrigno, get your tickets now for Salt Lake Comic Con on Sept. 2-4 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. This will be his second appearance at the event, and he said he’s looking forward to again sharing the experience with his fans.
“The first time I went was overwhelming,” he said of SLCC. “It was one of the best done comic cons I’ve ever been to and I know it will be a better show and twice as big this time.”
Ferrigno said he had a great reception at his panel during last year’s event and loved feeling the support of those who came to participate. He actually helped the convention get the legendary comic book icon Stan Lee to attend last year’s event.
“Salt Lake’s incredible promoter Dan Farr has so much integrity and class. He turns a show into a showcase,” Ferrigno said about why he loves Salt Lake’s con so much. “It’s very entertaining and a great way to connect.”
You can find out more about Lou Ferrigno’s current work by visiting him online at louferrigno.com. As Salt Lake Comic Con draws closer, keep up with the coverage by visiting heraldextra.com/comiccon.