Lou Ferrigno is the truly herculean, immensely strong fitness trainer, actor and professional bodybuilder, known to superhero fans everywhere as the Incredible Hulk in the original CBS TV series, first aired in 1978. As a body builder, Ferrigno still holds the record for being the youngest winner of the IFBB Mr Universe title, achieving this momentous award when he was just 21 in 1973, and also winning the IFBB Mr America in the same year. He then went on to win the title of Mr Universe again the following year. He has also appeared in several fantasy films such as Sinbad of the Seven Seas and Hercules, one of Ferrigno’s childhood heroes.

In 1974, Ferrigno came second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition and came third the following year, which was documented in the iconic bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron. It was this documentary that brought Ferrigno to the attention of TV producer Kenneth Johnson, who was looking for a man to play another of Ferrigno’s childhood heroes- the Hulk. As the biggest professional bodybuilder at the time, he won the role over globally recognised muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the TV series became a huge hit, spawning several TV films and garnering impressive ratings.

After his success on screen, Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding, competing for the 1992 and 1993 Mr. Olympia titles. Finishing 12th and 10th respectively, he then turned to the 1994 Masters Olympia- this epic battle was the subject of the documentary Stand Tall, released in 1996. This proved to be his last competition, and Ferrigno retired from competing shortly after. Most recently, after several cameos in the more recent instalments and reboots of his beloved character The Hulk, he and his family have started Ferrigno FIT – a community focused on positive habits, lifestyles, and ideas.