Incredible Hulk dazzles fans at Radar Toys in Salem 

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Iconic bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno, widely known for his role playing the Incredible Hulk on TV in the late 1970s and early 80s, was at Radar Toys in Salem Friday connecting with hundreds of his fans and sharing fitness tips during a meet and greet.  

Ferrigno’s agent reached out to Radar Toys to get the event set up in Salem after he attended a prior event at the store’s location in Eugene.

Ferrigno said he was recently in town working on “Flash Before the Bang,” a movie filmed locally inspired by a true story about an all-deaf high school track and field team striving for victory at the 1986 Oregon State Track and Field Championship. 

Ferrigno has severe hearing loss as a result of ear infections he had as an infant. Cochlear implants have since maximized Ferrigno’s ability to hear. 

Prior to Ferrigno’s arrival, the line, which snaked around the toy store and out the door, steadily got longer and longer. While Ferrigno’s fans waited and chatted and made friends in line, other shoppers browsed the comic book section as energetic music played in the store.  

One fan on Friday, Alex Suarez, said he had the same hearing impairment as a child, and was inspired by Ferrigno’s fame and success as a bodybuilder. 

“I’m really happy I got to meet one of my idols,” Suarez said. 

Suarez said he first saw Ferrigno on the big screen when he watched the 1977 film “Pumping Iron” which showcased Ferrigno’s time competing in the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest against Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It was during this period that Ferrigno got a casting call for the Incredible Hulk. 

“I said to myself …‘Nobody could play the Hulk better than I could,’” Ferrigno told Salem Reporter. “I was hired the next day and then the rest is history. Within 24 hours.”

While he was proud to get the role, he wasn’t so sure how things would turn out, he said. Ferrigno recalled the first time he looked at himself in the mirror in full costume and makeup as the Hulk. 

“I looked at myself in the mirror and I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ I was training for the Mr. Olympia competition, and suddenly I’m playing this creature,” Ferrigno said. “At the time it was a gamble, we didn’t know if it was going to be a hit or not. But I told myself, I said, ‘It’s got to work.’” 

Ferrigno said the Hulk has inspired people to do incredible things. He had a fan tell him once about their father who fell down and got hurt. 

“He got injured, he fell down so bad he couldn’t move. But he kept saying to himself, ‘I can be like the Hulk, be like the Hulk,’ and he literally got himself to move four or five feet to reach the phone to call the police,” Ferrigno said. “He said because of the Hulk, with the series, it gave him the strength to do that.” 

Ferrigno also had some fitness tips for the many bodybuilding enthusiasts who have diligently followed his illustrious career. 

“I would say the best thing is to train three times a week. Listen to your body. Be very consistent. Eat your calories, don’t drink your calories,” Ferrigno said. “But if you have any kind of injury, it doesn’t matter, you can swim, you can walk, exercise three times a week. Be consistent. Consistency is the key.” 

Before Ferrigno arrived, Cristina Guerrero, Steve Munson, and Shelly Jensen were waiting in line. All three of them were big Ferrigno fans and were thrilled to see him. 

The first time Guerrero saw Ferrigno on television she was about 10 years old, she said during an interview conducted in Spanish. 

“All my life,” Guerrero said of her fandom. “And my kids also love him.” 

Guerrero said she had one question to ask Ferrigno once she got her chance. 

“Why is he so handsome?” she said laughing. 

Munson and Jensen said they both grew up watching the Hulk, and also saw their guy on The King of Queens. 

“I had a crush on him growing up,” Jensen said laughing. “I had a major crush on this big green guy.” 

Kat Csaba drove all the way from Albany to see Ferrigno. She said she first saw him on television when she was 11 years old and remembers watching the Mr. Olympia competition with Schwarzenegger. She is also a Marvel fan and loved the Incredible Hulk. 

“Definitely the series, because I was also into special effects a lot as a kid, and the special effects were way ahead of their time, with the Hulk,” Csaba said. “I’m really happy he came to Salem. I wouldn’t have a chance to see him otherwise.” 

Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.

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