Entertainer. Born Louis Vincent Albano, he briefly attended the University of Tennessee and then served in the Army. In 1953, he became a professional wrestler, making his World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) debut in Montreal. He attained his greatest wrestling success as a tag team performer with Tony Altomare, and as The Sicilians, they became the WWWF's United States Tag Team Champions in 1967. In the 1970s, Albano made the transition to on-camera personality as "Captain Lou," with his penchant for one-liners and outsized personality, enabling him to deliver memorable TV promos that made him wrestling's most villainous heel as the "Manager" of wrestlers including Pat Patterson, Greg Valentine, and several tag teams. In the early 1980s, Albano appeared as the long-suffering father in the music video for Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and his success enabled the then-named World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to create several cross-promotions, triggering a period of unprecedented growth for professional wrestling. He left the WWF in 1986 and forged a new career as a TV personality, appearing on Miami Vice and other shows, and also playing parts in several movies. In the early 1990s, he starred as the video game character Mario in "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!" Albano was inducted into the now-named World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE's) Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1998, he co-authored "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro Wrestling." In 2008, he released his autobiography, "Often Imitated, Never Duplicated."
Entertainer. Born Louis Vincent Albano, he briefly attended the University of Tennessee and then served in the Army. In 1953, he became a professional wrestler, making his World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) debut in Montreal. He attained his greatest wrestling success as a tag team performer with Tony Altomare, and as The Sicilians, they became the WWWF's United States Tag Team Champions in 1967. In the 1970s, Albano made the transition to on-camera personality as "Captain Lou," with his penchant for one-liners and outsized personality, enabling him to deliver memorable TV promos that made him wrestling's most villainous heel as the "Manager" of wrestlers including Pat Patterson, Greg Valentine, and several tag teams. In the early 1980s, Albano appeared as the long-suffering father in the music video for Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and his success enabled the then-named World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to create several cross-promotions, triggering a period of unprecedented growth for professional wrestling. He left the WWF in 1986 and forged a new career as a TV personality, appearing on Miami Vice and other shows, and also playing parts in several movies. In the early 1990s, he starred as the video game character Mario in "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!" Albano was inducted into the now-named World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE's) Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1998, he co-authored "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pro Wrestling." In 2008, he released his autobiography, "Often Imitated, Never Duplicated."
Bio by: Bill McKern
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