Although Lou Ferrigno, the former professional bodybuilder and Mr. Universe, has repeatedly earned praise from fans and critics for his roles in movies, specifically as the Hulk, he has recently been praised by his co-star Josh Murray for his appearance in the movie Gym Rat.

Murray, who appeared in the 2 regional Emmy-winning “Game of Pawns” on the Pentagon Channel, opened up about his experience working with the 2-time Mr. Universe winner in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports.

He said, “Working with Lou was a bit surreal in the best way.”

Murray, the lead producer and leading man of Gym Rat, added, “I didn't grow up being conscious of him, although our director Kors did. But he had always been woven into the storyline of Gym Rat even though he wasn’t originally supposed to appear in the film.”

The movie centers on Murray, who plays the role of Lonnie, a fitness enthusiast determined to become Mr. Olympia. It is a psychological thriller, and the character’s fixation on the Hulk leads Murray to track down his childhood icon, Ferrigno, while grappling with issues such as obsession, the search for identity, and a********.

So, talking about Ferrigno, Murray also revealed that by the time the legendary bodybuilder joined the production stage, Murray “had already spent years in the headspace of seeing him as the embodiment of the character’s hopes and dreams, this truly larger-than-life figure.”

While Murray opened up about his experience working with Ferrigno, the actor-producer also talked about how the legendary bodybuilder inspired him.

Lou Ferrigno inspired Josh Murray in an unconventional way

When asked if there were any tips he got from Ferrigno, Murray said that instead of talking about bodybuilding and fitness, their discussion was mainly centered on chess and acting.

What inspired the actor more, Ferrigno’s youthfulness and sharp nature, even in his 70s?

Murray revealed, “The lifetime of dedication in his fitness and nutrition is a big part of that, but also just his enthusiasm and positivity that he radiates, I think, was very instructive!”

The actor also admitted that, despite being a star, Ferrigno was not only heartfelt and committed to his role but also worked hard to deliver a perfect scene.

Murray said, “Lou was incredibly committed, heartfelt, and concerned with getting our scenes just right. He was also really funny! He made the set so fun.”

So, working with Ferrigno has become a memorable and motivational experience for Murray, highlighting the bodybuilder’s lasting influence on and off the screen.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil