Few can match the toughness of Hollywood tough guy Steven Seagal.
The stone-faced martial artist, who celebrated his 71st birthday on April 10, rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with his explosive action-packed performances.
Seagal, a 7th-dan black belt, made a grand entrance into the industry with the 1988 action hit “Above The Law,” solidifying his image as the ultimate rough-and-tumble hero by wielding guns and swinging baseball bats.
However, his rugged image took a hit when reports emerged that a stuntman allegedly overpowered Seagal on set to such an extent that he had an embarrassing mishap, a claim vehemently denied by Seagal himself.
In the 1991 action film “Out For Justice,” which Seagal starred in and produced, viewers witness veteran detective Gino Felino seeking vengeance for his partner’s murder.
The stunt coordinator for the movie was Gene LeBell, known as the ‘toughest man alive’ and the ‘Godfather of grappling,’ who earned these titles through a series of daring feats, including winning fights and even wrestling bears.
During filming, Seagal supposedly boasted about his resilience to being choked unconscious due to his aikido training.
LeBell, intrigued by the challenge, decided to test Seagal’s boastful claim.
Despite conflicting reports, it is said that LeBell wrapped his arms around Seagal’s neck and, upon Seagal’s signal to proceed, proceeded to prove the Hollywood star wrong by rendering him unconscious with a chokehold.
Allegedly, the force of the hold caused Seagal to lose control of his bodily functions.
While LeBell has not confirmed the incident publicly, he alluded to it in an interview with Ariel Helwani, hinting at disagreements and potential consequences for crossing certain individuals.
Seagal, on the other hand, refutes the entire narrative, labeling LeBell either a fabricator or someone who concocted the tales.
He maintained that there was no confrontation between them and recounted a friendly exchange during stretching exercises.
However, UFC champion Ronda Rousey, a student of LeBell, confronted Seagal’s denial, implying that if Seagal spoke ill of LeBell in her presence, he might find himself in another embarrassing predicament.
The conflicting accounts between Seagal and LeBell, along with Rousey’s remarks, leave the public questioning the truth behind the alleged incident on whether the ‘Godfather of Grappling’ indeed caused the Hollywood star to have an unfortunate accident.
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