Mark Ruffalo might be ‘The Hulk’ many know, but the character was also played by a famous bodybuilder, Lou Ferrigno. He was the first one to play the character on the screen in 1977. Lou played the role until 1982 in the live-action drama The Incredible Hulk. While the show was well received by the audience and boosted Ferrigno’s career, it also had a negative effect on his personal life to some extent.

Lou Ferrigno has gone on record to reveal how the angry character instilled fear among the public. People believed Ferrigno would turn into Hulk in real life, too, when he got angry and would lead to large-scale destruction. While it is hard to imagine why people thought that way, this just proves how realistic Ferrigno’s performance was in the drama.

Lou Ferrigno opens up about the downside of playing the Hulk

Back in 2021, Lou Ferrigno and his son Lou Ferrigno Jr. appeared in an interview for Men’s Health magazine. While talking about his famous role as The Incredible Hulk, Ferrigno recounted how the role affected his personal life. The fear the angry on-screen superhero had instilled among the people, caught up with Ferrigno off-screen too. Whether it was the kids in his extended family or the people walking on the road, everyone would avoid him for the fear of making him angry.

Narrating the treatment to Men’s Health, Ferrigno said, “I remember walking around the street, I had to wear a 4XL T-shirt. People would get out of the way. It was like Moses coming. When I’d get upset, people would think I was becoming the Hulk. But I don’t see myself like that.”

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Furthermore, he added that though he was a big guy, he saw himself as a regular one. “When you’re that big, you don’t see yourself being that big.” Although there were some downsides to playing the role, Ferrigno gave his all to the character until the end.

Risking his health for the role

Lou Ferrigno was dedicated to this role to the point that it affected his health. Unlike the CGI that is used now for special effects, everything was done manually in the 70s. Along with painting his body with green color, Ferrigno had to wear white contact lenses all day. These lenses left his eyes numb by the end of the day. Therefore, he used to take them out after the scenes.

Furthermore, his makeup took around three hours during which Ferrigno had his arms stretched in a crucifixion pose. All Ferrigno could do at the time was stand in his shorts and leave the crew to work their magic.

Watch This Story: From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Lou Ferrigno: Famous Sports Stars Who Made a Successful Career Switch to Acting

While the role might’ve given Lou Ferrigno a tough time, it’ll forever be one of his most iconic roles.