The star of 1970s television series The Incredible Hulk has accused his own daughter of elder abuse, claiming she took advantage of her mother, who suffers from advanced dementia.
Lou Ferrigno, 71, was a bodybuilding rival of Arnold Schwarzenegger before he became an actor – and their competition was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron.
Last month, Ferrigno confirmed that his wife of 43 years, Carla, was suffering from dementia.
But now Ferrigno, who shares three children with the 74-year-old, is taking legal action against her eldest daughter, 42-year-old Shanna.
His spokesman said: “She has severe memory impairment and psychosis and is no longer the same person Lou knew for decades.”
“Even the Hulk has to deal with life’s challenges when caring for a spouse with advanced dementia.” “Carla’s dementia is significantly advanced.”
Lou Ferrigno is pictured with his wife Carla in 2009. Last month he confirmed she was suffering from advanced dementia
Shanna Ferrigno, 42, works as a fitness trainer. She has not responded to her father’s legal complaint and allegations of elder abuse
Ferrigno played the lead role of Hulk in the CBS series, which ran from 1977 to 1982
He claims that Shanna, a fitness trainer, and her aunt, Carla’s sister Pam Vog, want to access Carla’s assets and accuse them of “financially exploiting” Carla.
In court documents obtained by The Blaze, Ferrigno claims that his wife was “financially exploited to withdraw $500,000 despite being medically unable to manage her affairs.”
Ferrigno says his daughter and Vog drove Carla to a bank to get her money.
“The bank called Lou to inform him,” court documents state.
“Lou rushed to the bank and was able to temporarily flag the account, but a court order is necessary to maintain the status quo and prevent Shanna and Pam from absconding with $500,000, which would cause irreparable harm to Carla if Lou then has to pursue them, to try to get the money back.’
Ferrigno claims that his daughter and sister-in-law are working to turn his beloved wife Carla against him.
Brooklyn-born Ferrigno was a bodybuilder before becoming an actor
Ferrigno can be seen in a still from the film Pumping Iron, in which he starred alongside his great rival Arnold Schwarzenegger
“She became isolated from her husband, Lou, and was unduly influenced to denigrate Lou and behave hostilely toward Lou,” court documents state.
“These emotional and psychological tactics constitute elder abuse, are harmful to Carla, and are likely to worsen her already advanced dementia.”
The Brooklyn-born bodybuilder and actor is the trustee of the family foundation and indicates in court filings that he should be solely responsible for its finances.
Ferrigno claims that his daughter “opportunistically attempted to sequester Carla” by taking her to her own home for the day, “poisoning her mind with vitriol about Lou.”
Ferrigno explains, “When Carla returns, she is hostile and agitated toward Lou. “Pam Vog also feeds Carla lies about Lou.”
He claims his daughter is turning off the cameras in the rooms where Carla is and will overrule Ferrigno to change the janitors and their shift times without asking him.
Ferrigno says his daughter and sister-in-law were initially upset when he made the initial request to take control of the couple’s finances.
Lou and Carla Ferrigno are pictured in Los Angeles in 1985. They married in 1980
He said the couple became “unhinged” after the paperwork was served on them.
“They began harassing Carla with lies that Lou was trying to steal Carla’s money,” court documents state.
Ferrigno argues that he took control of the money to ensure there was money for her care.
“Carla suffers from advanced dementia and is easily manipulated and influenced,” court documents state.
“Carla became hostile toward Lou because of Shanna and Pam’s triggers.”
He seeks an injunction banning anyone but him from accessing their bank accounts.
The actor claims that if anyone else, including his daughter, is allowed to withdraw the money, “those funds will be unavailable for Carla’s care, which is to her great detriment.”
has reached out to Shanna Ferrigno for comment and has not yet received a response.