Lou Ferrigno "News"

[Steven Klippstein]

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[ Q ] If one or both of them wanted to become a professional bodybuilder what would you say to them?
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The same thing I said in answer to the other question: be patient and trust yourself. I don't believe in holding back. I mean if they wanted to pursue it I would support them in whatever they wanted to do.

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[ Q ] So you wouldn't be concerned with the potential dangers that the necessary drug use would present?
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Well there are all kinds of dangers in all kinds of sports, but I would just say train hard and be as good as you can be. Just explain that and the fact that drugs do not make champions.

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[ Q ] Going back to your appearance on the landmark film Pumping Iron. This film put you on the map and helped to make you a celebrity. Your father appeared with you in this movie as your trainer. Did he in fact train you for this movie or was this fictionalized?
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My father and I had a love and hate relationship. My father had a tremendous work ethic, but we never trained together. We only trained for Pumping Iron. He did the best he could and he had a great physique himself. I wanted to grow up and emulate his physique and go on to be the best I could be in life.

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[ Q ] Many do speculate that your relationship with your father in Pumping Iron was all an act for the cameras, but in reality he did in fact inspire you in many ways and your relationship in the movie was accurately portrayed?
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Well I just loved bodybuilding and nothing could stop me. And with him being very negative, and when Pumping Iron came along it was for the movie. And that's why in the making of Pumping Iron it portrayed what really happened behind the scenes. The guy did the best he could but I just wanted the world to know that I did not have the perfect relationship with him.

Lou Ferrigno
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Lou Ferrigno At The
2008 Arnold Classic Expo.

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[ Q ] Do you feel that your father's authoritarian approach gave you added determination to succeed, to prove to yourself that you could make it to the top?
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When I won the Mr. America and Mr. Universe, I thought that when we did Pumping Iron... I mean I wasn't ready and I did not want to compete.

But he (Lou's father) wanted me to compete (at the 1975 Mr. Olympia) because it was for the movie and I thought it was great opportunity, but because I was in a tough relationship it was hard for me to focus on training for the competition. So that's what I had to deal with at the time. And that is why later on I came back to competition 17 years later: not to please him, not to please anybody else, but to please myself. It was very similar to the Mark Spitz situation, with his father.

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[ Q ] What are your views on the current state of bodybuilding Lou?
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Today I think it is unbelievable. Guys like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler; I am amazed how they have taken their bodies beyond what you could imagine they might look like. I think they are true champions and today to be in the Mr. Olympia - even in the top ten - it is an unbelievable achievement. Those guys, they are all heroes.

Jay Jay
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Jay Cutler At The 2007 Olympia.
View More Pics Of Jay Cutler At The 2007 Olympia.

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[ Q ] Clearly there is a big difference between the competitors of today and those of yesteryear. Obviously we have seen an improvement in training, nutrition and drugs. Do you feel the guys of today have added pressure to perform and to do well? Are they taking more risks in your view?
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It is hard because back in the '70s, in contests they had the pre-judging and the situation with lighting and the tanning. Today you can't hide any flaws. And if you do have flaws they will be considered and points will be taken away.

It's not like in the old days where they guys with the biggest arms would win the competition. Today it has to be more of a balanced physique and the judges are very critical when it comes to judging. I would hate to be a judge because it is very difficult to judge these guys today. They (the judges) look for everything.

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[ Q ] What was your greatest moment as a bodybuilder?
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Winning the Mr. Universe. When I won the IFBB Mr. Universe that was my life dream come true. I realized then that it was the biggest achievement because when I won the IFBB Mr. America they gave me six weeks to prepare before flying to Switzerland to compete in the Universe.

Everyone thought I was two years away from winning the competition (the Universe) but I really fooled them because I came in as a big surprise and won it hands down.

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[ Q ] And that evening you defeated both Mike Katz and Ken Waller.
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Yes and it was amazing because I was a big fan of theirs. I grew up reading about them in the magazines. And they were very happy for me and I had a great time. And it was just the beginning of my new career as a bodybuilder and I really respected them too.

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[ Q ] Would it be fair to say that the camaraderie among bodybuilders was more evident then than it is today?
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Yes today it is a little different. You don't have the camaraderie like back in the old days. Today it is so spread out. In the old days when we trained we had on a tank top, we had shorts and on the day of the competition the best man won. Today it is just different because I think it is just so widespread, there are so many more competitors. And I think the companionship was more popular years ago because we had nothing back then.

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[ Q ] So back then you had to work doubly hard to get to the top as well?
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Yes because there were no contracts. Back then the Olympia win was only 750 dollars. Everyone else got a trophy. So everything came out of your own pocket; you had to work for a living. Plus you had to take the extra time to train and compete.

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[ Q ] Given that it took so much to compete in a bodybuilding contest back then, that there was so much sacrifice involved, why did you train so hard to be the best? What gave you the incentive?
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Well because as a kid it was very hard for me to participate in a team sport because of my obstacles so I loved competing against myself and so I wanted to be a real life hero. That is the direction I chose.

FORUM THREAD
Lou Ferrigno.
[ Click To Join The Thread. ] Lou Ferrigno.
Lou obviously took a huge break from bodybuiding because of the big Hulk deal, but how did he manage to get his physique up in par after all those years off?
Started By:
latrell

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[ Q ] And in achieving your goals as a top bodybuilder did you experience any kind of flow on effects from your gym efforts other than a great physique?
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With the discipline I have gained through bodybuilding I have learned to become a very good actor and also became who I am today. And it helped me to venture into many other things.

I love doing public speaking, a lot of corporate speaking at universities, where I talk about facing your fears, and ambition. I feel this is a success for me because as a kid I had a hard time talking to and relating to people. So bodybuilding did put me out there and made me more of an extrovert.

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[ Q ] I have always admired the fact that you have had to overcome a lot to get to where you are today. Comparing yourself to other bodybuilders from your era, were you at a disadvantage when you first began competing?
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Actually when I began competing my disadvantage was that I was tall and it was very hard to put a lot of size on fast because of my height. It took a longer time to put on muscle compared to a shorter person.

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[ Q ] But once you put the muscle on it looked a lot more impressive compared to a shorter guy, right?
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Yes because I was probably one of the very few bodybuilders at my height to have perfect symmetry. I admired guys like Steve Reeves because symmetry for me is very important.

Joe Weider
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Steve Reeves..

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[ Q ] What are your thoughts on the current trend amongst bodybuilders to pack on as much size as possible?
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I really don't think they have a choice because when you compete in the Olympia competition today you have to come in as big as you can be and sometimes you have to sacrifice symmetry. If you are in the same league as those guys, that's what you have to do because that's what it takes. That's what I had to do when I came back 17 years later. I had to be onstage at over 300 pounds at least instead of being 260.

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[ Q ] And even 300 pounds at your height would not look all that big by current standards right?
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Well you take a guy like Ronnie Coleman. He is almost 300 pounds for his height (Ronnie is 5' 11"). He reminds me of the cartoons I used to see when I was a kid. And Ronnie has proven that those things can happen. Because you have to remember one thing: Ronnie trains very hard and it didn't come from the sky.

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[ Q ] Yes, Ronnie is certainly one guy who has paid his dues to make it to the top.
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Yes, the guy can squat over 800 pounds and do dumbbell presses with over 200 pounds. I mean Ronnie really earned it and it really motivates me to see guys with his potential and to see how far they can take it.

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[ Q ] You have always crossed me as being a guy who is always persistent and who never gives up on his goals. What about your personality has given you this ability?
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I'm not afraid of fear; I never take no for an answer and love challenges; I have only one life to live just like to enjoy life and live life to the fullest.

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[ Q ] And your family have obviously been a big part of your life. What kind of emphasis do you place on the importance of family?
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That is my number one priority: my wife and my kids. The relationship with I have with them is the most important thing for me above anything else. It is something I have always wanted so that is what I value most in life today. And I think the same would go for anybody else in this position.

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[ Q ] How has your wife Carla supported you over the years Lou?
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She has supported me very much. She has been very supporting in whatever I wanted to do. She was never negative about me training so I really appreciate having that support.

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[ Q ] Let us say hypothetically that you and Arnold had 12 weeks to prepare for a bodybuilding contest, who, of the two of you, would win today?
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It would be much closer because, much as I admire him, he would have to cut about 30 pounds. But I think it would be pretty close as great as he was. I think if I filled out a few body parts it would be a h-ll of a competition.

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[ Q ] Most definitely. Maybe we will see this sometime. And what are your thoughts on some of the top champions of yesteryear who are still around and in good shape today. These guys have longevity, something not uncommon for ex-bodybuilding champions. How would you explain this longevity?
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You need to be very persistent and to do the things that you really want to do, and not to carry too much stress. That is what I would attribute that to.

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[ Q ] Well that concludes my questions Lou. Is there anything you would like to add?
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The fans and everybody should be excited about the new Hulk movie coming out on June 13th. It will be full of action and it has to do with bodybuilding somewhat because the Hulk shows a lot of muscle. It will be a new look Hulk. And I am happy that Joe Weider is still alive and still going strong because he made us the bodybuilders who we are today.

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[ Q ] Tell me about your relationship with Joe Weider. Have you kept in contact with him?
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Well Joe is like the father I never had. If it weren't for Joe I wouldn't be where I am today so we keep in touch all the time. He has always been good to me and he always tries to help people and tries to bring the best out of people.

Joe Weider
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Joe Weider Was Presented The Lifetime
Achievement Award During The 2008 Arnold Classic.

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[ Q ] What makes Joe special in your eyes?
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He always makes you reach your full potential. If I was benching 400 pounds, Joe would walk into the gym and say, "You can do 450." And he would be right.

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[ Q ] It has been an incredible experience talking to you Lou. Thank you for your time.
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Thank you too.

MfG Steven

[groev]

Ich hab ihn immer noch aus PumpingIron als das "gehirnamputierte" Vatersöhnchen in erinnerung

[massagebaumann]

@groev;würdest du ihm das auch ins gesicht sagen oder dir lieber die hosen vollscheißen???
man wie die jungen leute frech sind; absolutely no respekt;
mfg tom

[AndreasB]

dachte bei pumping iron war sowieso viel gestellt.
z.b. hat er doch garnicht in dem kleinen gym trainiert sondern im golds gym wie die anderen!?

ob er wirklich so auf seinen vater gehört hab wie es im film rüberkam glaub ich irgendwie nicht!?

[tonxi]

sein vater hatte bis zum film absolut nix mit bb am hut....

alles zu hören im making of pumping iron...da wird einiges aufgedeckt.

[Phantom-Bodybuilder]

Also wenn auch später alles beschwichtigt wurde dass der vater keine einfluss auf Lou
gehabt hat, so scheint mir in der doku in dieser hinsicht doch alles relativ echt.

Ich glaube Lou hatte wohle eher später mit dem image mühe dass im in pumping iron
aufgedrückt wurde, dies nämlich wieder loszuwerden.
Der schwerhörige, der nur dank hilfe seines vaters zurecht kommt..

Lou finde ich einen absolut sympatischen menschen. Er hat viele fans und er ist
im bb-sport nicht wegzudenken. Es sollte mehr solche leute geben wie Big-Louie!

[Baylisstic]

Genau !!! Und was groev das kleine Jüngelchen da von sich gibt ist wieder typisch. Keine Ahnung wer Lou Ferrigno überhaupt ist. Jung der war on top, da bin ich noch mit der Rassel um den Weihnachtsbaum gerannt und du noch ein feuchter Traum.

[PUMPMASTER]

sein vater hatte bis zum film absolut nix mit bb am hut....

Wie passt das zu der folgenden Aussage?

Ferrigno über seinen Vater:

He did the best he could and he had a great physique himself. I wanted to grow up and emulate his physique and go on to be the best I could be in life.

[tonxi]

schau die doku....making of pumping iron...