Lou Ferrigno (74) Proves the Original Hulk Still Smashes Weights in a New Video, and Fans Are Stunned

Few pop culture icons have aged quite as impressively as Lou Ferrigno. The bodybuilder became a household name playing the green-skinned hero in the CBS series ‘The Incredible Hulk’, which ran from 1977 to 1982. Decades later, his gym routine is still turning heads online.

Ferrigno started weight training at age 13 and rose to fame through the 1977 documentary ‘Pumping Iron’, which followed his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger. He later won titles and became one of the most recognizable physiques in the sport. After that, acting roles followed, including ‘Hercules’ and ‘Sinbad of the Seven Seas’.

This week, he is back in the spotlight with a very different kind of appearance. On Wednesday, Ferrigno met Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square after the pontiff’s general audience, calling it a lifelong dream. He even posed with the famous fists-down smashing gesture from the Hulk’s on-screen transformation. The trip is part of a busy few days in Italy that also include a visit to fitness equipment maker Panatta in Apiro on Oct. 1 and 2.

On Oct. 2, CoveredGeekly shared a clip from Ferrigno’s Instagram showing that, at 74, the actor still has what it takes. The roughly 40-second video shows him powering through a heavy lift while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with his own name. In the caption, Ferrigno said he is still enjoying pumping iron after all these years.

The Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno proving he still has what it takes at age 74 👀

"Still enjoying pumping iron, after all these years"

(via Lou Ferrigno IG) pic.twitter.com/czwp1CrYIU

— CoveredGeekly (@CoveredGeekly) October 2, 2026

The video quickly caught fire with fans, racking up thousands of likes and more than 200 bookmarks. It is the latest in a steady stream of training content Ferrigno has shared throughout the year.

This is not the first time Ferrigno’s workouts have gone viral. In July, he shared footage of himself crushing T-bar rows, which he said he and Schwarzenegger are still doing more than 50 years later. He recalled that back in the ‘Pumping Iron’ days there were no fancy machines, just iron, blood, sweat and tears.

Fans responded with plenty of nostalgia, with some joking that Ferrigno might be going harder than Schwarzenegger these days and others hoping for a 50th anniversary edition of ‘Pumping Iron’. The documentary is set to mark 50 years since its Cannes screening in 2027, according to Italian outlet AnconaToday. That anniversary adds another layer to Ferrigno’s current visibility.

Ferrigno has been open about the philosophy behind his longevity. He has said that embracing the aging process is important, noting that after age 60 the tendons get less blood flow and tend to become more brittle. According to BodyBuildingBros, he credits exercise and watching what he eats for letting him look like someone who is 55 or even 45.

The approach also helped him through a major health setback. Ferrigno has said that staying active was critical to his recovery from shoulder surgery, when 95% of his tendon was reattached. He has also argued that being in the best possible physical shape matters when it comes to joint surgeries, since people who have them often face months of rehab.

At GalaxyCon Richmond earlier this year, he told fans that his anti-aging routine comes down to consistency, moderation and listening to his body. He has also said he enjoys hearing how the Hulk inspired people to get in shape, especially after learning how he overcame his hearing and speech impairment.

Today, Ferrigno and his daughter, Shanna Ferrigno, run Ferrigno Fit, a platform focused on health and fitness. He has repeatedly said that it is never too late to get started, regardless of age or body type. For longtime fans, seeing him still lifting is a reminder of why the character has stayed with audiences for so long.

The timing also feels fitting. With the Hulk still a major presence in modern superhero films, the original Hulk is a reminder of where that legacy began. Ferrigno also voiced the character in the 2008 film ‘The Incredible Hulk’.

For a man who first became famous for his strength, the latest viral clip suggests that strength never really left. At 74, Ferrigno is still proving that dedication does not come with an expiration date.

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