Lou Ferrigno may be best known for the title role in the hit television series, The Incredible Hulk, but before that, he was a world-class body builder and more recently, he’s been involved with law enforcement. I had the opportunity to interview him this past weekend at the Wizard World Comic Convention in Tulsa.

Ferrigno said he turned to body building as a kid to avoid being bullied.

 “When I was young, I lost a major part of my hearing and I had a speech impediment,” he said. “I would read a comic book, like Superman, and I wanted to be powerful, so that lead me to discovering body building at 15.”

In 1969, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title, and won two consecutive Mr. Universe titles. He came in second at the Mr. Olympia competition in 1974, and the following year, he finished third. The winner that year was Arnold Schwarzenegger, and that competition became the subject of a documentary that actually launched his career in Hollywood.

“I was in Pumping Iron with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the docu-drama, and I liked being in front of the camera, so when the audition for the Hulk came along, I felt like nobody could play the part better than I could.”

I was wondering if maybe a talent scout discovered him, or if a Hollywood producer had seen him in Pumping Iron, but it was much simpler than that.

“I went down for the audition, and I was hired the next day,” Ferrigno said. “They were shooting the pilot with another actor named Richard Kiel, who played Jaws in James Bond movies, but he didn’t fit the part. They had to reshoot the pilot [with me], but they were desperate; it was the perfect time and place.”

The Incredible Hulk aired from 1977 to 1982. The show featured Ferrigno as the alter ego of scientist Dr. David Banner, played by Bill Bixby.

“Bill was the best because I learned from him about professionalism,” Ferrigno said. “He was my mentor and was like my second father. I watched how he acted, and he was an incredible actor, so I learned a lot from him.”

Following the run of the television series, Ferrigno and Bixby reprised their roles in several Hulk television movies, and Ferrigno voiced the Hulk character in an animated series, as well.

Being Italian, I was curious to hear about his days growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

“My father was an NYPD lieutenant, and the funny thing is, fifteen years ago, I became a deputy sheriff after going through the academy,” Ferrigno said. “I grew up with a very tough father. He worked for the New York Police Department and I had that strict Italian upbringing. I grew up in an Italian-Jewish neighborhood, where the mothers were very similar, so you can’t take the Brooklyn out of you.”

Ferrigno has a younger brother and sister, and they enjoyed times with their large extended family.

“It was a lot of fun, because people would get together and have a block party,” he said. “On Sundays, my uncle would have a barbeque, and it was always great to see my cousins.”

Just like any Italian family, the gatherings always involved food.

“Oh yeah, because they feel like you’re not eating enough,” he said. “My grandparents came from Amalfi, Italy, and I remember every time, maybe every two months, I’d be invited to eat dinner with them; they cooked the best meatballs. You know how after you eat your Italian food on Sunday, they have their chestnuts, and then you take a nap, and then you have pound cake with the coffee. Every Sunday morning, they bring the cannoli, and then you get a stomachache because it’s like eating lead.”

Like his father, Ferrigno has always had an interest in law enforcement and is a deputy sheriff in several states.

“Officially I’m a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles County and San Luis Obispo County, but I’ve been deputized in 20 states,” he said.

Ferrigno completed the Level I Law Enforcement Academy bringing his training up to full peace officer status. He said he has roles in four movies that are due out in the coming year.

To hear more about his time on television, his appearance on Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump, and the most fun he had on a show, you can listen to the complete interview at; https://www.spreaker.com/user/jeffb/lou-ferrigno-the-incredible-hulk.