Not the pro wrestling guy. Lou Ferrigno, who portrayed the green, giant-sized superhero in “The Incredible Hulk” television series from 1977 to 1982, was named an honorary officer by the Syracuse Police Department.
Ferrigno, 70, was in Syracuse to film his first horror movie, “The Hermit,” the Syracuse Post-Standard reported. Taking a 180-degree turn, Ferrigno’s latest role is of a murderous, cannibalistic pig farmer, according to the newspaper.
Ferrigno served as a sheriff’s deputy in California for 17 years, WSYR-TV reported. The actor said he wants to highlight the importance of police departments to the communities they serve.
“In situations where there’s so much shooting, there’s so much crime, like what happened in Buffalo, what happened in Texas,” Ferrigno told reporters. “It’s important to have that respect for officers, because if it wasn’t for us, everybody’s life would be in danger.”
Ferrigno, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, is the son of a New York City police officer, the Post-Standard reported.
The bodybuilder-turned-actor was appointed by Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile, WSTM-TV reported.
“I wanted to be an officer because I wanted to get back to protecting life and property,” Ferrigno told reporters.
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 1978: "The Incredible Hulk" cast member Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. The television program originally aired on CBS from March 1978 to June 1982. (CBS via Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 1979: Lou Ferrigno and Dolly Parton pose for a photo on Sept. 22, 1979. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 1988: A protrait of Lou Ferrigno, aka "The Incredible Hulk," in 1988. (Bill Dobbins/Allsport UK/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 1994: Lou Ferrigno during the Cricket Aid '94 Celebrity Event at Will Rogers State Park in Los Angeles on Oct. 29, 1994. (Holly Stein/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2001: Lou Ferrigno; his wife, Carla; and his son, Brent, at the premiere of "Extreme Days" at the Bridge Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 24, 2001. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2002: Veteran physical fitness expert Jack LaLanne (center) poses with bodybuilders Mickey Hargitay (left) and Lou Ferrigno as LaLanne receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 26, 2002, in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2003: Marvel Comics Stan Lee and the original Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, attend the world premiere of the movie "The Hulk" at Universal Studios on June 17, 2003, in Universal City, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2004: Larry Thompson, William Shatner and Lou Ferrigno arrive at the champagne reception for "Shine" on November 16, 2004, at Brentano's Bookstore in Los Angeles. (Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2005: Actor Lou Ferrigno and Hulk Hogan arrive at the fifth annual Taurus World Stunt Awards on September 25, 2005, in Los Angeles. (Marsaili Mcgrath/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2006: Actor Lou Ferrigno, co-chair of the Wildlife WayStation Arthur Kassel, Editor in Chief of Playboy Magazine Hugh Hefner and playmate Holly Madison pose for photos during the 12th annual Safari Brunch, a fundraiser for the Wildlife Waystation held at the Playboy Mansion on October 14, 2006, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for the Wildlife WayStation)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2007: Lou Ferrigno speaks onstage during Spike TV's "Scream 2007" held at the Greek Theatre on October 19, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2008: Actor Lou Ferrigno attends "The Incredible Hulk" film premiere at Universal Studios on June 8, 2008, in Universal City, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2009: Actor Lou Ferrigno and wife Carla Ferrigno arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' "This Is It" held at Nokia Theatre Downtown LA on October 27, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2010: Lou Ferrigno (right) and Carla Ferrigno attend Reza Badiyi's 80th Birthday Celebration at UCLA's Royce Hall on April 25, 2010, in Los Angeles. (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2011: Actor Lou Ferrigno attends the Starkey Hearing Foundation's "So the World May Hear Awards Gala" 2011 at River Centre on July 24, 2011, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2012: Actor Lou Ferrigno arrives with wife Carla at Norby Walters' 22nd annual Night of 100 Stars Viewing Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 26, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2013: Actor Lou Ferrigno reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 30, 2013, in Philadelphia. (Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2014: Actor Mark Ruffalo (left) and actor Lou Ferrigno attend the signing for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" during Day 3 of Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Comic Convention on July 26, 2014, in San Diego. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2015: Executive producer/creator Stan Lee and Actor Lou Ferrigno attend the premiere of Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" at Dolby Theatre on April 13, 2015, in Hollywood, California. (Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2016: Actors Nolan North (left) and Lou Ferrigno attend the "Con Man" panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 22, 2016, in San Diego. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2017: Actor Lou Ferrigno and actor Terry Crews attend the Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes World Premiere Celebrity Red Carpet Event at Staples Center on July 8, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2018: Steve Orosco and Lou Ferrigno attend SMASH Global VIII Night of Champions at Taglyan Cultural Complex on December 13, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2020: Lou Ferigno and Carla Ferigno arrive at the seventh annual Gold Meets Golden at Virginia Robinson Gardens and Estate on January 4, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Photos: Lou Ferrigno through the years 2022: Lou Ferrigno attends the premiere of the Paramount+ new series "The Offer" at Paramount Studios on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)