Hulk-a-mania: Lou Ferrigno named honorary Syracuse police officer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Hulk-a-mania arrived with a smash in upstate New York on Monday.

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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.

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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)

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