If you were a kid in the late 80’s and early 90’s chances are you saw The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. The 52 episode series ran Monday through Friday and featured live actors playing the characters of Mario and Luigi. You may remember it for its memorable opening theme song. Mario was played by “Captain” Lou Albano, who passed away Wednesday, at the age of 76.
While kids knew him as the real life version of the star of one of their favorite video games, he was actually more well known to adults. Captain Lou was a 42 year veteran of the WWF (now WWE). He won numerous matches, championships, and awards during his time in the ring and was eventually inducted into the WWF/WWE Hall of Fame.
During the 80’s Albano helped usher in a new mainstream appeal of Pro-Wrestling when he appeared in a number of singer Cyndi Lauper’s music videos. WWF owner Vince McMahon was inspired by this and soon a cross-promotion, Rock’n’Wrestling, was designed involving Lauper and other members of the music industry.
After wrestling Albano went on to appear in a number of television shows and a movie. He co-authored a book on pro-wrestling and later a memoir.
Albano is survied by his wife, 4 children and 14 grand-children.