Lou Nova

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Lou Nova (March 16, 1913 – September 29, 1991) was an American boxer, noted for his "Cosmic" punch, and actor.

Born in Los Angeles, California, the 6' 3 1/2" (1.92 m) Nova was the U.S. and World Amateur Boxing Champion in 1935. After turning pro boxer, he remained undefeated in his first 22 matches.

Nova defeated Max Baer in the first televised heavyweight prizefight June 1, 1939, on WNBT-TV in New York, and again in 1941. He was injured badly in his fight with Tony Galento and was in the hospital for a while afterward, almost losing an eye. He fought Joe Louis for the heavyweight title, but was defeated.

He was the first top rated boxer to practice yoga, and reportedly did headstands in the dressing room before his title bout with Joe Louis.

Nova won 40 professional fights. After leaving the fight ring, he became an actor. His motion picture debut was as Kid Mandell in MGM's Spring Fever (1943) starring Kay Kyser and Marilyn Maxwell. Other movie roles include that as Hubert in the 20th Century Fox film noir crime drama Somewhere in the Night (1946) starring John Hodiak.

Nova acted in over 20 movies. He appeared in one stage role, that as O'Malley in the Broadway play The Happiest Millionaire (1956) starring Walter Pidgeon, which ran for 271 performances, in which Nova performed the popular baseball poem Casey at the Bat. Nova's guest spots on TV include Space Patrol, Hopalong Cassidy, General Electric Theater, 77 Sunset Strip, Shotgun Slade and Get Smart.