In 1996, Albano was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. Despite his health issues and foray into mainstream entertainment, Albano continued to be involved in the wrestling industry until shortly before his death.Īlbano co-authored the book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro-Wrestling. In May 2005, Albano suffered a heart attack, but later recovered.
The one-time villain hosted live action segments during interludes of the Mario cartoon, as well as providing the voice of his animated counterpart.Īlbano also went on to star in several local commercials on Putnam and northern Westchester cable systems, including ads for Tireman's Tires and Golden House Chinese restaurant.ĭuring the 1990s, Albano became a vegetarian and shed 150 lbs. In 1989, on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee", Albano shaved his trademark beard to star as the iconic video game character Mario in The Super Mario Bros.
He was immortalized in the song "Captain Lou" on their Lou and the Q album. Expanding into music, Albano managed and performed with rockers NRBQ.
PRICE CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO MOVIE
Throughout the late eighties, Albano appeared in "227", "Miami Vice", "Hey Dude", Brian De Palma's Wiseguys and the 1987 wrestling movie Body Slam. Following the colossal success of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection, Albano left the WWF in 1986 to focus on various projects.Ĭapitalizing on his new found celebrity, Albano began appearing in a vast array of television and film projects. Moreover, Albano helped cement wrestling's place within pop culture.
PRICE CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO PROFESSIONAL
The crossover storyline, coupled with the Hulkamania phenomenon and the first WrestleMania, triggered a period of unprecedented success for not only the WWF, but for the professional wrestling industry as a whole. Following Lauper's victory at the event, Albano apologized to Lauper and instantly became a fan favorite and the voice of Rock 'n' Wrestling. The two settled their differences on the MTV/WWF special "The War To Settle The Score". Furthermore, on WWF television, Albano made the audacious claims that he was Lauper's manager and that he was the architect of her success. During a public appearance at Madison Square Garden, the treacherous manager made sexist comments that outraged the singer and non-wrestling fans. Albano was the catalyst that launched professional wrestling into the stratosphere with mainstream America. Parlaying the venture, new WWF owner Vince McMahon devised the Rock 'n' Wrestling storyline, a collaboration and cross-promotion between the newly renamed WWF and elements of the music industry. By the end of his career, Albano managed over 50 different wrestlers that won two dozen championships.īy the 1980s, Albano appeared in pop sensation Cyndi Lauper's wildly popular "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" music video. Furthermore, Albano carved a prolific legacy that remains unmatched by guiding over a dozen teams to the Fuji and Mr Saito, The Valiant Brothers, Wild Samoans, The Moondogs, and The British Bulldogs were a few of many that solidified Albano as wrestling's premiere tag team manager. Notwithstanding, Albano guided singles wrestlers such as Pat Patterson, Don Muraco, and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine to the Intercontinental Championship.
For the remainder of the seventies Albano's cadre of loyal henchmen were unable to resecure the championship. He earned the scorn of the wrestling audience as he attempted to dethrone World Wide Wrestling Federation superstar and Koloff's reign marked the only time that Albano would manage a World Heavyweight champion. Over the next few years, The Sicilians continued their success by winning the Midwest tag team titles and later the With a quick wit and a grating personality, Albano delivered memorable promos that made him wrestling's most villainous manager. The two were approached by local mafia members who requested that the duo tone down their act. Their realistic depiction of their characters caught the attention of actual mafiosi. Dubbed The Sicilians, Altimore and Albano drew considerable heat competing as a stereotypical Italian gangster combo. Professional Wrestling Career World Wide Wrestling FederationĪlbano achieved moderate success as a tag team performer with partner Tony Altimore. 2 Hollywood crossover and semi-retirement.
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