Senior Planet talks to…Lou Ferrigno

In his first creature role since 1977 CBS TV series The Incredible Hulk, global icon Lou Ferrigno returns to the screen in the eponymous role of The Hermit.  Part horror, part thriller with a quirky edge, the retired professional bodybuilder was drawn to the role of “The Hermit” – a cannibal who lives alone in the woods – partly because they both share the same hearing loss with resultant speech problems.  Now 74 years old, the New York-born former Mr. Universe tells SENIOR PLANET about his extraordinary life.

 

Q: What drew you to playing The Hermit?

LOU: I liked the script because apparently he’s almost deaf and he’s possessed by his mother who was a witch. When he was very young, he got rocks thrown at him, and lost his hearing. So he’s become a very isolated person and just wants to be left alone in the woods. He’s doing his own thing and doesn’t bother anybody. But when these two kids find out where he lives, he becomes the “evil Hermit”. He’s like a Hannibal Lecter in the woods.

Q: You were also hard of hearing and experienced bullying as a child, which later led to the body building. Did you relate to The Hermit’s inner pain?

LOU: Yeah, it’s very close to me because, when I was growing up, I was treated the same way. I was treated almost like an animal, being bullied, and with all the rejection, so I could easily portray that. That’s why it’s close to home. He wants to be loved and to find love, but he hasn’t had that since the mother died – so basically the only thing that satisfies him is to do the thing that he’s doing. Because every time he buries a body, he has a personal connection with them, like a Jeffrey Dahmer in the woods. I like playing different characters, and I’ve always wanted to show the evil side of me.

Want a sneak peek?

Q: I don’t imagine you have an evil side, do you?

LOU: No, but I could create that, because of what I’ve been through in my own life. I had a lot of demons in myself growing up. But I could use that as an actor, so that’s why the character is believable in the way he acts and looks, and how he presents himself. When I played The Hulk, he was also a sensitive creature.  But I’ve always wanted to do a horror film where you believe the character – not another Jason, or someone who goes around with a machete – but a real person.

Q:  You’re still in great shape. Do you still train a lot?

LOU: I exercise a lot but I don’t train as heavy. Even at 74 now, I still exercise five or six days a week. I do cardio, light training, but I’m very consistent about everything I do – my life is about consistency. You can’t just train on weekends. It’s consistency that carries you in the long run.

Q: And how about nutrition?

LOU: I eat very healthy. I try not to eat fried food. I have maybe eggs, a banana, orange juice, vitamin for breakfast. For lunch I probably have fish, poultry, hard boiled eggs and yogurt. I eat three or four times a day. I also try to drink a lot of water and I like “food drinks” like orange or tangerine juice. I just try to eat the healthiest I can. But the most crucial thing is that you don’t want to over indulge in eating bad food or taking too many bad supplements. Everything’s gotta be done in motivation.

Q: You’re almost unrecognizable as The Hermit. What did you do for the role?

LOU: I had to grow a beard and also I had hair extensions with long hair. So I had to learn how to sleep with the hair extensions and how to wash them. And, on set, I tried not to communicate with many people because I wanted to stay in character.

Q: Talk about your journey with hearing loss?

LOU: When I was a kid, I lost about 80% of my hearing and so I had a severe speech impediment and I had to wear the old fashioned hearing aid with the wire going down the chest because they didn’t have the technology they have today. So I was ridiculed and bullied by kids who made fun of me because, back then, people didn’t understand what hearing aids really were. Over the years, I’ve worn different hearing aids. I was switched left to right because I could only afford one hearing aid but, over time, I’ve worn two hearing aids.

Q: After years of hearing aids, how has the cochlear implant changed your life?

LOU: I had the cochlear implant about three years ago, and the biggest challenge was I had to start working on my speech because I had learned to enunciate each word because of my severe speech impediment. But the cochlear implant gave me incredible clarity. The hearing aid maximizes sound to help you hear, but the cochlear implant gives you the clarity you never had before. So it’s been a life changing experience for me, because I’m the kind of person who likes to maximize everything about me. So I’ve learned to compete myself and maximize my personal physicality and personal power. If I could do that all the time, I could be the best I can be. That’s what makes life exciting for me.

Q: How does the cochlear implant work?

LOU: It’s incredible because it works with the brain. The beauty about the implant is that you never lose that hearing again. To the day you pass on, you never lose any of that hearing. It’s amazing and I’m gonna probably do the other side eventually because I’ve seen the change in my speech and hearing already. It’s like being a reborn.

Q: Did you ever learn how to sign?

LOU: No, I never learned. It’s wonderful how they sign and it’s a beautiful language. If I have the time someday, I’m gonna learn how to sign because a lot of times I interact with deaf people and deaf kids.

Q: Aside from The incredible Hulk, you are also well known from the 1977 documentary, Pumping Iron with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Are you guys still in touch?

LOU: Yes, I talk to Arnold all the time. He’s a good friend. We both have our aches and pains, and I admire him for what he’s done in his life, especially now that he’s out there doing everything he can with the global climate change. He also sets a good example about physical fitness. We’ve been friends for a long time.

Q: You are the original Hulk, preceding all the actors who went on to play him. What do you think of the other Hulks?

LOU: I think they all did a great job – the problem is that a lot of the fans were upset because they liked the original Hulk. And those people want to see the real Hulk, from the original series, because it’s authentic, organic and real. But then I was able to do it with the CGI – it’s amazing what they can do – so I’m hoping that I get a chance to be part of the Marvel Universe as a different character.

Q: But you’ll always be the Hulk. How can you be someone else?!

LOU: It’s wonderful because you’ve got William Shatner and Star Trek or Adam West from the original Batman. And as you get older, it’s become more popular, because people always resort to the original. And the Hulk opened all the doors for the Marvel characters that you see today because – when I first did the Hulk – Spider Man and Captain America failed as TV series, but the Hulk was successful. But now, you have all these A-list actors playing different Marvel characters, which is exciting.

Q: Have you met any of the other Hulks?

LOU: I met them throughout my career at different times. They’re all wonderful actors like Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Eric Bana and Harrison Ford. It’s nice to see these actors getting involved with the Hulk, because the Hulk is the most famous, iconic character in the world and – with the CGI – how they all want to play this character. I enjoy watching them.

Q: Any advice for fellow seniors?

LOU: Fix it! For any seniors with hearing loss, now with all the new technology, you can fix it. If you need to have your knee or your hip replaced – they can fix it. We’re very fortunate with the technology today because if it was 60 or 70 years ago, it’d be tough, but today you’ve got a chance to live a long time. But I would say the inner secret to longevity is inner happiness.

Q: What’s on your bucket list?

LOU: I just want to keep making movies that will affect a lot of people, and I hope to be a part of the Marvel Universe again.

Q: What’s your secret to aging with attitude?

LOU: My passion is to enjoy life every day. Every day I wake up, it’s a gift of God that I’m alive. So I want to enjoy every moment because we’re not around for 1,000 years. So every day you wake up knowing that you have your health, you should enjoy yourself, and find that inner peace and freedom. If you have inner peace in yourself that makes you happy. But 80% of people are not happy with their job. They’re afraid to take action and deal with the fear factor. That’s why, if you want to really be happy, you have to satisfy your passion, and do what you can to make yourself happy. Other people will never do it for you. Only you can give it to yourself – that inner happiness. You have to find that path to make yourself happy.

NB: The Hermit is available on Digital and On Demand on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Youtube and Google Play, among other options. .

Photos: Courtesy Gold Dust PR

 

Gill Pringle began her career as a rock columnist for popular British newspapers, traveling the world with Madonna, U2 and Michael Jackson. Moving to Los Angeles 27 years ago, she interviews film and TV personalities for prestigious UK outlets, The Independent, The i-paper and The Sunday Times – and, of course, Senior Planet. A member of Critics Choice Association, BAFTA and AWFJ, she wrote the screenplay for 2016 Netflix family film, The 3 Tails Movie: A Mermaid Adventure. An award-winning writer, in 2021 she was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with 1st prize at the NAEJ Awards.