Lou Ferrigno Looks Back, and Luckily Not in Anger - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-17-2008, 10:01 PM

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Hoping to recapture the magic of the original CBS series, Louis Leterrier, director of the new Incredible Hulk movie, invited the original Mr. Incredible, Lou Ferrigno, 56, to voice the big green machine and appear as a security guard alongside the new Hulk, Ed Norton. Ferrigno returns to the big screen in February playing himself in the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel comedy I Love You, Man.
Q: What scenes in the film left you most nostalgic about your series?

A: The opening sequence with Ed in the (gamma ray) chair took me back 30 years. They have him say the famous, 'You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.' And when I saw Ed watching Bill (Bixby) in (Bixby's 1969-72 sitcom) The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Q: Bill passed away in 1993 of prostate cancer at age 59. When was the last time you saw him?

A: He really didn't want to see anybody. He was introverted then after his boy (6-year-old Christopher) died (in 1981) of an infection on a ski trip during the last season of The Hulk, and then his (first) wife (actress Brenda Benet) blew her brains out a year later. He was never the same. He came back to direct three Hulk TV movies, but the exciting part of him was gone.

Q: You provide the sounds for the Hulk in the movie. Did you speak on the series?

A: No, the growl was done by Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch on The Addams Family. I just recorded the voice for the film 2 1/2 months ago.

Q: The film gives another nod to the series by showing a gravestone marked Bruce David Banner. Why was the traditional Marvel Comics name Bruce changed to David for the series?

A: CBS felt that the name Bruce sounded too gayish, and they wanted David. I thought it was the most absurd, ridiculous thing I'd ever heard.

Q: Your Hulk fell from a plane to his death in the 1990 TV movie The Death of the Incredible Hulk. Did you and Bill Bixby discuss reviving your Hulk for the big screen?

A: No, but we were going to come back with The Revenge of the Hulk for TV before Bill got sick. The idea was that a scientist would find a blood cell that would bring him back to life as a super-intelligent being.

Q: How did you and Ed Norton get along?

A: I met him in his trailer. He was reading all these books about The Hulk. He reminds me a lot of Bill. They have the same intensity and connection to the character. We did our scene in about eight or nine takes. It was beautiful, like one Hulk to another.

Q: How does Ed's Bruce Banner/Hulk differ from Eric Bana, who played the character in the 2003 film?

A: Eric Bana looks like he could put up a good fight, whereas Ed fits the weakish look of the character.

Q: Do you have any Hulk souvenirs?

A: I have the largest collection of Hulk memorabilia in the world — everything from toilet paper, wallpaper, bicycles — all boxed up at my house in Northern California. I've had it for so long I think it might be time to sell it.

Q: How long did it take to transform you into the Hulk?

A: Three hours, and I was forced to stay in a refrigerated motor home so I wouldn't sweat. The hard contact lenses had to come out every 15 minutes. And the green wig was made of dyed yak hair.

Q: What do you think of Marvel's plan to unite Iron Man, Hulk and other classic heroes on screen in The Avengers?

A: It's great. I fought Thor in The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) and Daredevil in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989). The Hulk, of course, won, and then they eventually teamed up

TJL · 06-17-2008, 10:06 PM

Cool interview!

Lou's cameo in the new Hulk movie was very funny.

Céline · 06-18-2008, 10:27 AM

Yeah!It's so interesting when Lou recalled behind the scene stories.He did a good cameo in the movie.It's so funny.It seem that he got along great with Norton who seem to be intimited by Lou a little bit.Then again,who wouldn't be hun?Lou looks absolutly great,he is still incredibly huge.I was so touched when I saw Bill Bixby in The courtship of Eddy's father.It's like he did his very own cameo too.

catlover79 · 06-18-2008, 11:30 AM

What a cool guy.

Thanks for sharing!

TJL · 06-18-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Céline

It seem that he got along great with Norton who seem to be intimited by Lou a little bit.Then again,who wouldn't be hun?Lou looks absolutly great,he is still incredibly huge.

Actually, that was one of my favorite bits in the movie, where Lou stands up (practically filling up the entire screen) and Ed slowly looks up at him. Very funny.

dawsongirl · 07-01-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

and then his (first) wife (actress Brenda Benet) blew her brains out a year later.

That's...one way to put it. O_O

Anyhow, it's great that Lou still enjoys being the Hulk, so to speak. Cuz, let's be honest, he'll be the Hulk for ever and ever.

Coffeecup · 06-06-2009, 09:32 PM

I would have just said took her own life. His versions a bit too descriptive for me.

jules70 · 04-13-2010, 08:07 PM

Nice interview! I have yet to see either of the updated versions of "Hulk", as I was afraid it might take something away from Bixby's interpretation of David Banner, which I love, but I may just have to give the new ones a try.

Thanks for sharing the interview.

06-17-2008, 10:01 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Lou Ferrigno Looks Back, and Luckily Not in Anger Link Hoping to recapture the magic of the original CBS series, Louis Leterrier, director of the new Incredible Hulk movie, invited the original Mr. Incredible, Lou Ferrigno, 56, to voice the big green machine and appear as a security guard alongside the new Hulk, Ed Norton. Ferrigno returns to the big screen in February playing himself in the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel comedy I Love You, Man. Q: What scenes in the film left you most nostalgic about your series? A: The opening sequence with Ed in the (gamma ray) chair took me back 30 years. They have him say the famous, 'You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.' And when I saw Ed watching Bill (Bixby) in (Bixby's 1969-72 sitcom) The Courtship of Eddie's Father. Q: Bill passed away in 1993 of prostate cancer at age 59. When was the last time you saw him? A: He really didn't want to see anybody. He was introverted then after his boy (6-year-old Christopher) died (in 1981) of an infection on a ski trip during the last season of The Hulk, and then his (first) wife (actress Brenda Benet) blew her brains out a year later. He was never the same. He came back to direct three Hulk TV movies, but the exciting part of him was gone. Q: You provide the sounds for the Hulk in the movie. Did you speak on the series? A: No, the growl was done by Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch on The Addams Family. I just recorded the voice for the film 2 1/2 months ago. Q: The film gives another nod to the series by showing a gravestone marked Bruce David Banner. Why was the traditional Marvel Comics name Bruce changed to David for the series? A: CBS felt that the name Bruce sounded too gayish, and they wanted David. I thought it was the most absurd, ridiculous thing I'd ever heard. Q: Your Hulk fell from a plane to his death in the 1990 TV movie The Death of the Incredible Hulk. Did you and Bill Bixby discuss reviving your Hulk for the big screen? A: No, but we were going to come back with The Revenge of the Hulk for TV before Bill got sick. The idea was that a scientist would find a blood cell that would bring him back to life as a super-intelligent being. Q: How did you and Ed Norton get along? A: I met him in his trailer. He was reading all these books about The Hulk. He reminds me a lot of Bill. They have the same intensity and connection to the character. We did our scene in about eight or nine takes. It was beautiful, like one Hulk to another. Q: How does Ed's Bruce Banner/Hulk differ from Eric Bana, who played the character in the 2003 film? A: Eric Bana looks like he could put up a good fight, whereas Ed fits the weakish look of the character. Q: Do you have any Hulk souvenirs? A: I have the largest collection of Hulk memorabilia in the world — everything from toilet paper, wallpaper, bicycles — all boxed up at my house in Northern California. I've had it for so long I think it might be time to sell it. Q: How long did it take to transform you into the Hulk? A: Three hours, and I was forced to stay in a refrigerated motor home so I wouldn't sweat. The hard contact lenses had to come out every 15 minutes. And the green wig was made of dyed yak hair. Q: What do you think of Marvel's plan to unite Iron Man, Hulk and other classic heroes on screen in The Avengers? A: It's great. I fought Thor in The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) and Daredevil in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989). The Hulk, of course, won, and then they eventually teamed up
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06-17-2008, 10:06 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Cool interview! Lou's cameo in the new Hulk movie was very funny.
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06-18-2008, 10:27 AM	#3
Céline Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 1,606	Yeah!It's so interesting when Lou recalled behind the scene stories.He did a good cameo in the movie.It's so funny.It seem that he got along great with Norton who seem to be intimited by Lou a little bit.Then again,who wouldn't be hun?Lou looks absolutly great,he is still incredibly huge.I was so touched when I saw Bill Bixby in The courtship of Eddy's father.It's like he did his very own cameo too.
	Last edited by Céline; 06-18-2008 at 04:21 PM.

06-18-2008, 11:30 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	What a cool guy. Thanks for sharing!
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04-13-2010, 08:07 PM	#8
jules70 Bixby's Babe Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 33	Nice interview! I have yet to see either of the updated versions of "Hulk", as I was afraid it might take something away from Bixby's interpretation of David Banner, which I love, but I may just have to give the new ones a try. Thanks for sharing the interview.
	__________________ Julie Sam to John, who is looking for evidence in a manhole: "You see anything?" John: "Well, there's a parade in downtown Peking." ~ "Night Dreams" (Profiler) John to Sam, after taking down Arthur DeRhodes: "How come you're the only one left standing?" Sam: "'Cause I wasn't standing alone." ~ "Doppelganger" (Profiler) David Banner: "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." (The Incredible Hulk)

06-06-2009, 09:32 PM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	I would have just said took her own life. His versions a bit too descriptive for me.