Louis Albano

Louis Albano

Biography: 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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: July 29, 1933

Deathday: October 14, 2009

Popularity:

1.894

Known For

Wise Guys
Wise Guys

1986-04-17

WrestleMania
WrestleMania

1985-03-31

It's a Complex World
It's a Complex World

1992-02-28

WrestleMania II
WrestleMania II

1986-04-07

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

2006-11-14

Body Slam
Body Slam

1986-11-21

WWE Paul Bearer's Hits from the Crypt
WWE Paul Bearer's Hits from the Crypt

1994-12-14

German Fan Favorites 2
German Fan Favorites 2

1994-10-24

The British Bulldogs
The British Bulldogs

1986-10-15

The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth
The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth

1986-08-20

WWE Villains of The Squared Circle
WWE Villains of The Squared Circle

1986-06-06

Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling
Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling

2005-05-05

Mafioso: The Father The Son
Mafioso: The Father The Son

2004-01-01

The Undertaker's Dozen
The Undertaker's Dozen

2003-06-01

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006-10-17

13th Grade
13th Grade

2005-09-25

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1987-01-01

The Boys Behind the Desk
The Boys Behind the Desk

2000-01-01

WWE Showdown at Shea '80
WWE Showdown at Shea '80

1980-08-09

Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America
Ivan Koloff the Most Hated Man in America

2003-08-13

The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

2006-02-07

The Best of the WWF: volume 4
The Best of the WWF: volume 4

1985-09-01

The Best of the WWF: volume 6
The Best of the WWF: volume 6

1986-05-02

The Best of the WWF: volume 8
The Best of the WWF: volume 8

1986-08-20

The Best of the WWF: volume 7
The Best of the WWF: volume 7

1986-06-06

WWE Survivor Series 1996
WWE Survivor Series 1996

1996-11-17

The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches

1985-01-01

Best of the WWF Volume 1
Best of the WWF Volume 1

1985-01-01

Best of the WWF Volume 2
Best of the WWF Volume 2

1985-01-01

WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest

1985-01-01

Cyndi Lauper: 12 Deadly Cyns... and Then Some
Cyndi Lauper: 12 Deadly Cyns... and Then Some

1994-03-21

Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough
Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough

1985-05-06

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84

1984-10-14

The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano

1986-03-08

Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!

1985-01-01

Internet Fear
Internet Fear

2005-06-13

WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

2004-01-20

Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned

1992-08-14

The True Story of WrestleMania
The True Story of WrestleMania

2011-03-13

Legends Never Die
Legends Never Die

2006-06-01

WWE Hall Of Fame 1996
WWE Hall Of Fame 1996

1996-11-16

Tag Team Champions
Tag Team Champions

1986-03-01

Heroes of Wrestling
Heroes of Wrestling

1999-10-10

WWE The Brawl to End it All
WWE The Brawl to End it All

1984-07-23

WWE The Big Event
WWE The Big Event

1986-08-28

WWE The Countdown to The Crowning
WWE The Countdown to The Crowning

1994-06-13

WWE King of the Ring 1994
WWE King of the Ring 1994

1994-06-19

WWE SummerSlam 1994
WWE SummerSlam 1994

1994-08-29

WWE Survivor Series 1994
WWE Survivor Series 1994

1994-11-23

Hot Ice, No-one Is Safe
Hot Ice, No-one Is Safe

2010-09-16

Cyndi Lauper: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits
Cyndi Lauper: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits

2019-07-10

WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions

2014-05-27

Biography: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper
Biography: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper

2021-04-25

All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular

1985-09-13

Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express
Sid & Marty Krofft's Redeye Express

1988-03-09

WWE at Madison Square Garden: June 30, 1973
WWE at Madison Square Garden: June 30, 1973

1973-07-30