{
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  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1155637/larry-whistler",
  "name": "Larry Whistler",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1155637/larry-whistler",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "Lawrence Whistler is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his legendary feud with his mentor Bruno Sammartino in the 1980s. Throughout his career, he was a two-time world champion, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship twice. He began his career in 1972, training under Sammartino's tutelage, and quickly made a name for himself in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he captured several titles, including the tag team championship with Tony Garea.\n\nIn 1980, after a confrontation with Sammartino, Zbyszko became one of the most hated villains in wrestling history, sparking one of the most intense rivalries of all time. Over the course of his career, he also worked in other promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and American Wrestling Association (AWA), earning a reputation as a skilled and cunning technical wrestler.\n\nIn the late 80s and early 90s, Zbyszko also worked as a commentator and member of the WCW roster, where his legacy as \"The Living Legend\" continued. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, with Bruno Sammartino doing the honors. He also had a brief stint in the independent circuit and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) before officially retiring in 2015.\n\nZbyszko is regarded as one of the greatest villains in wrestling history, known for his ability to elicit intense reactions both inside and outside the ring.",
  "birthDate": "1951-12-05",
  "birthPlace": "Chicago, Illinois, U.S.",
  "alternateName": [
    "Larry Zbyszko",
    "Lawrence Whistler"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "5 July 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 300722,
      "title": "NWA World Championship Wrestling",
      "year": "1985",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pNnNRUp2WcwqceKcpL1LSxF5N8C.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/300722/nwa-world-championship-wrestling-1985"
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    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4638,
      "title": "TNA iMPACT!",
      "year": "2004",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.092,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/jpyxrPBjIaJ2UgYSl5RmjkMb8Jg.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4638/tna-impact-2004"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 308542,
      "title": "Clash of the Champions",
      "year": "1988",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko (Appearance)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oHw97FHM0CgIj9Mne6ALTNGXn8B.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/308542/clash-of-the-champions-1988"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 297879,
      "title": "WWE Old School",
      "year": "1973",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/tFihOGyaUsSd6ROKTtblVnbzVzY.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 296487,
      "title": "WWF All-Star Wrestling",
      "year": "1975",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pKYgbGimeWfot31kReHqiOH2l30.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/296487/wwf-all-star-wrestling-1975"
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    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 157572,
      "title": "WWE Rivalries",
      "year": "2014",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/kktFt9ttqZzfq2IKHANgGJR92KU.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/157572/wwe-rivalries-2014"
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    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 11049,
      "title": "WWF Championship Wrestling",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/atEZUfSl4LkNGlWCoNw1ftNVXJb.jpg",
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    {
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      "title": "AWA Arena Shows",
      "year": "1981",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8TqGu0eR0wT7wNVFHrN3fTo7ksM.jpg",
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    {
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      "title": "WCW Thunder",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "as \"The Living Legend\" Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8PILpJJOVz8nqQ1Yzd3uU9l1923.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 261906,
      "title": "The Sheik",
      "year": "2014",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/yBqXqf8K12nwm8MrntQpbJMW90v.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/261906/the-sheik-2014"
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    {
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      "tmdbId": 229926,
      "title": "WCW Souled Out 1998",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vZL8GLDvi4hwQbdf13ibANWiqMa.jpg",
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      "tmdbId": 816637,
      "title": "WCW All Nighter 1995",
      "year": "1995",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5Jait07bbcTAgbl6b7MK3dXX90.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
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      "title": "AWA WrestleRock 1986",
      "year": "1986",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sru5I4NO32V9SoqAGsNK7THdvDD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/754357/awa-wrestlerock-1986-1986"
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 67512,
      "title": "Ricky Steamboat: The Life Story of the Dragon",
      "year": "2010",
      "role": "as Larry Zbyzsko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ifJIOSiui0ur7bpiHxpfa20j99S.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 223826,
      "title": "WCW WrestleWar 1992",
      "year": "1992",
      "role": "as \"The Cruncher\" Larry Zbyszko",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vzBcxixf7We2TxPAVny1pKwi88f.jpg",
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}