1933-07-29 ( 91 years old ) in Rome, Lazio, Italy
Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995. Throughout his 42-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and four singles competitors to championship gold. Albano was part of the "Triumvirate of Terror," a threesome of nefarious WWF managers that also included The Grand Wizard of Wrestling and Freddie Blassie. The trio would be fixtures in the company for a decade, until the Grand Wizard's death in 1983. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, Albano was the forefather of the 1980s Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling's crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, he later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects. He became well-known to a new generation of fans as the actor and voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! In 1953, Albano married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Tango. The marriage lasted 56 years, until his death. Albano has been noted by several others for his faithfulness to his wife, a rare characteristic in the on-the-road world of 1970s and 1980s professional wrestling.
Albano released his autobiography, Often Imitated, Never Duplicated, on July 20, 2008 through his website. The book includes a foreword by Cyndi Lauper.
The other Albano siblings are Vincent, George, Eleanor, and Carl, all of whom became teachers. Albano's brother, Carl, taught health for 32 years at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was head of the Ridgewood High health department from 1974 until 2001. Carl's students have noted that he used his brother Lou as an example of the difference between crazy and unique. George served as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Vernon, New York and often brought Lou in to delight the school's students during their lunch hour. Vincent was an art teacher and lived part-time in a lake house in Connecticut. Eleanor was a music teacher for preschool students in Connecticut and impacts the lives of countless students through music.
Albano's son, Carl Albano, has been a member of the Putnam County Legislature since 2011.
During the 1990s, Albano shed 150 pounds (70 kg) following a health scare. In May 2005, Albano suffered a heart attack, but later recovered. Albano was sent home from the hospital and again began watching his health.
The song "Captain Lou" by Kimya Dawson is dedicated to him.
In 1983 the band NRBQ wrote a song about Albano called "Captain Lou." Albano was featured as a singer on that song as well on another called "Boardin' House Pie." Both of these songs appear on NRBQ's Tap Dancin' Bats compilation, their Lou and Q spoken-word comedy record, as well as their out-of-print, hard-to-find single which Albano used to sell at his wrestling matches.
Albano died on October 14, 2009 of a heart attack while residing in hospice care.He was 76 years old.
Movies
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WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
2014-05-27
The True Story of WrestleMania
2011-03-13
Hot Ice, No-one Is Safe
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Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
2006-11-14
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006-10-17
Legends Never Die
2006-06-01
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
2006-02-07
13th Grade
2005-09-25
Internet Fear
2005-06-13
Lipstick & Dynamite
2005-05-05
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
2004-01-20
Mafioso: The Father The Son
2004-01-01
Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America
2003-08-13
The Undertaker's Dozen
2003-06-01
Man and Cat
2001-11-08
The Boys Behind the Desk
2000-01-01
Heroes of Wrestling
1999-10-10
WWE Survivor Series 1996
1996-11-17
WWE Hall Of Fame 1996
1996-11-16
WWE Paul Bearer's Hits from the Crypt
1994-12-14
WWE Survivor Series 1994
1994-11-23
German Fan Favorites 2
1994-10-24
WWE SummerSlam 1994
1994-08-29
WWE King of the Ring 1994
1994-06-19
WWF Countdown to The Crowning
1994-06-13
Stay Tuned
1992-08-14
It's a Complex World
1992-02-28
Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express
1988-03-09
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1987-01-01
Body Slam
1986-11-21
The British Bulldogs
1986-10-15
WWE The Big Event
1986-08-28
The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth
1986-08-20
The Best of the WWF: volume 8
1986-08-20
WWE Villains of The Squared Circle
1986-06-06
The Best of the WWF: volume 7
1986-06-06
The Best of the WWF: volume 6
1986-05-02
Wise Guys
1986-04-17
WrestleMania II
1986-04-07
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
1986-03-08
Tag Team Champions
1986-03-01
The Best of the WWF: volume 4
1985-09-01
WrestleMania
1985-03-31
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
1985-01-01
Best of the WWF Volume 1
1985-01-01
Best of the WWF Volume 2
1985-01-01
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!
1985-01-01
WWE The Brawl to End it All
1984-07-23
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
1980-08-09
WWE at Madison Square Garden: June 30, 1973
1973-07-30
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