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American professional wrestler and actor (born 1959) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scott Leslie Schwartz (born March 16, 1959), also known as The Ultimate Bad Guy, is an American film and television actor and stuntman, and former professional wrestler. His size and agility at 6'10" and 303 pounds (137 kg) have allowed him many roles as thug or villain for film and television.[1][2][3][4]
Scott L. Schwartz | |
|---|---|
Schwartz at Mountain-Con in 2008 | |
| Born | March 16, 1959 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Other names | Scott Schwartz Giant David Joshua Ben-Gurion: The Israeli Commando Igor the Giant |
| Occupation(s) | Film actor Television actor Stuntman (former) professional wrestler Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department |
| Known for | Roles as huge villain in multiple films and for recurring role as "Bruiser" in Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, and Ocean's Thirteen |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Website | www |
Schwartz was born in the United States. He is of Israeli descent and is a devout Jew.[5] Schwartz was born and raised in Philadelphia,[1] where he played football, baseball and ice hockey at Washington High School[2] before attending Temple University.[6] After college, he became a professional wrestler,[4] wrestling under the ring-names of "Joshua Ben-Gurion—The Israeli Commando" and "Giant David". Schwartz toured as a wrestler and held many titles,[1] before turning his career toward performance in film and television.
Apart from his acting, and after completing training,[6] Schwartz became a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy and a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He currently resides in Seal Beach, California.
After college, Schwartz became a professional wrestler, trained in the late '70s by wrestling's Walter "Killer" Kowalski.[1] Schwartz's original ring-name was Giant David, but by the '80s he was known as Joshua Ben-Gurion—The Israeli Commando and Igor the Giant.[6] As a professional wrestler, he performed in Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Guam, Canada and 40 of the 50 United States. He was promoted by Verne Gagne, Vince McMahon, Herb Abrams, Antone "Ripper" Leone, and Bruno Sammartino.[6]
Schwartz was wrestling on tour in Bakersfield, California, when he was approached by a Hollywood agent. After seeing Schwartz's wrestling on television, the agent had traveled to Bakerfield to meet him, feeling Schwartz should take his skills into performing arts. At first, Schwartz was reluctant to change careers, wanting to retire as a wrestler.[1]
In his early stunt work, and because of his background in pro wrestling, Schwartz was able to handle the staged combat, which required protecting opponents from harm. Due to his look, size, agility, and ability to handle dialogue, he has been able to obtain roles as the "bad guy" in many films and television projects.[6] He is known for his work in such films and TV shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Scorpion King, Charmed, The Tick, and Black Scorpion among others,[3][4] but he is probably most recognized for his role as 'Bruiser' in the films Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen.[3] He has appeared in such big budget films as Spider-Man, Fire Down Below, Starsky & Hutch, and Fun with Dick and Jane.[4]
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