Ken Waller
Encyclopedia
Ken Waller is an American
former bodybuilder featured in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron
, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger
. Waller also won the 1975 International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) Mr. Universe contest in Pretoria
, South Africa
. He was known for his curly red hair and freckles — to this day, one of the only redheaded professional bodybuilders in the sport — and his graceful, confident posing style.
. He attended Western Kentucky University
at Bowling Green
(class of 1965), where he was a member of the undefeated 1963 Tangerine Bowl
football team. A photograph of Waller still hangs in the WKU football team's locker room. He went on to play professional football in Canada, after serving in the United States Marine Corps
and teaching high school in Louisville
.
, at the Mr. Universe
contest of 1975. He edged out Roger Walker of Australia, Paul Grant
of Wales and his fellow Pumping Iron co-star, Mike Katz
, of the USA, to take the first place. He went on to compete at the professional level the following year in the 1976 Mr. Olympia
contest, where he again defeated Mike Katz to win first place in the heavyweight (over 200 pound) division. He continued to place in the 1977, 1980 and 1981 Mr. Olympias, taking second place in the tall category and fifth overall in 1977.
, whose storyline was featured much more prominently in the film. Waller is shown as a devious and cunning character who tries to undermine Mike Katz's concentration by hiding his lucky T-shirt, and discussing his plan to do so with fellow bodybuilders Roger Callard and Robby Robinson
in one of the film's most memorable and infamous scenes. In reality, the "T-shirt incident" was actually staged to add drama to the film, and the scene where Waller confides his scheme was actually filmed after the Mr. Universe contest actually took place. Waller can actually be seen wearing two different shirts in different camera angles in that scene, making it obvious that it was set up. Waller and Katz were, in fact, friends - as Waller recounted in Raw Iron - The Making of Pumping Iron - but his reputation as a "villain" remained. "I would go to contests and get booed, after that!" said Waller in a later interview.
as "Dougie Stewart," the rival of bodybuilder Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger
.) This film was written by Charles Gaines, co-author of Pumping Iron
. He also appeared in the B movie
Kill The Golden Goose in 1979 and in "King of the Beach," an episode of The Incredible Hulk, in 1981.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former bodybuilder featured in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
. Waller also won the 1975 International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) Mr. Universe contest in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was known for his curly red hair and freckles — to this day, one of the only redheaded professional bodybuilders in the sport — and his graceful, confident posing style.
Early life
Ken Waller was born on March 20, 1942. He is originally from Jeffersonville, IndianaJeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
. He attended Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
at Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
(class of 1965), where he was a member of the undefeated 1963 Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
football team. A photograph of Waller still hangs in the WKU football team's locker room. He went on to play professional football in Canada, after serving in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and teaching high school in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Bodybuilding career
Waller, at six feet tall and 230 pounds, was one of the most frequent winning amateur bodybuilders of the 1970s. His most notable win was depicted in the film Pumping IronPumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
, at the Mr. Universe
Universe Championships
The Universe Championships are an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association . It has a number of competitions: NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Toned Figure....
contest of 1975. He edged out Roger Walker of Australia, Paul Grant
Paul Grant
Paul Grant was a British bodybuilder. He was born as a twin in Wales in 1943. He left school at 16 and began working with his own bread delivery business whilst training with weights to increase his muscle mass....
of Wales and his fellow Pumping Iron co-star, Mike Katz
Mike Katz
Michael Katz is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder, most famous for his appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film Pumping Iron. Mike Katz worked as a Jr. High School gym teacher while training as an amateur bodybuilder...
, of the USA, to take the first place. He went on to compete at the professional level the following year in the 1976 Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
contest, where he again defeated Mike Katz to win first place in the heavyweight (over 200 pound) division. He continued to place in the 1977, 1980 and 1981 Mr. Olympias, taking second place in the tall category and fifth overall in 1977.
Appearance in Pumping Iron
Waller was briefly featured in the photo-essay book of the same name by George Butler and Charles Gaines, but gained much more notoriety from the film documentary of 1977. In it, Waller is portrayed in a somewhat negative light as the antagonist and chief competition of Mike KatzMike Katz
Michael Katz is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder, most famous for his appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film Pumping Iron. Mike Katz worked as a Jr. High School gym teacher while training as an amateur bodybuilder...
, whose storyline was featured much more prominently in the film. Waller is shown as a devious and cunning character who tries to undermine Mike Katz's concentration by hiding his lucky T-shirt, and discussing his plan to do so with fellow bodybuilders Roger Callard and Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson is an American former bodybuilder who won the IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles. He was the Masters Olympia overall champion the first year that the event was held in 1994 and then went on to win the 50+ division at that same contest in both 1997 and 2000...
in one of the film's most memorable and infamous scenes. In reality, the "T-shirt incident" was actually staged to add drama to the film, and the scene where Waller confides his scheme was actually filmed after the Mr. Universe contest actually took place. Waller can actually be seen wearing two different shirts in different camera angles in that scene, making it obvious that it was set up. Waller and Katz were, in fact, friends - as Waller recounted in Raw Iron - The Making of Pumping Iron - but his reputation as a "villain" remained. "I would go to contests and get booed, after that!" said Waller in a later interview.
Other film appearances
Waller had an uncredited, but prominent, cameo in the film Stay HungryStay Hungry
Stay Hungry is the third album by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister. Released on May 10, 1984, the album features the band's two biggest hits, "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" and the power ballad "The Price." According to RIAA certification, Stay Hungry gained Multi-Platinum...
as "Dougie Stewart," the rival of bodybuilder Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
.) This film was written by Charles Gaines, co-author of Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. He also appeared in the B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
Kill The Golden Goose in 1979 and in "King of the Beach," an episode of The Incredible Hulk, in 1981.
Contest placings
| Year | Competition | Placing |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | AAU Mr. Olympia | 4th |
| 1968 | AAU Mr. USA | 4th |
| 1969 | AAU Junior Mr. USA | 1st |
| 1969 | AAU Junior Mr. USA | Most Muscular, 1st |
| 1969 | AAU Mr. America | 3rd |
| 1969 | AAU Mr. USA | 1st |
| 1969 | AAU Mr. USA | Most Muscular, 1st |
| 1970 | AAU Junior Mr. America | 2nd |
| 1970 | AAU Junior Mr. America | Most Muscular, 2nd |
| 1970 | AAU Mr. America | 2nd |
| 1970 | AAU Mr. America | Most Muscular, 2nd |
| 1970 | AAU Mr. World | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1971 | IFBB Mr. America | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1971 | IFBB Mr. International | Tall, 1st |
| 1971 | NABBA Mr. Universe | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1971 | WBBG Pro Mr. World | 2nd |
| 1972 | IFBB Mr. International | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1972 | IFBB Mr. World | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1972 | IFBB Universe | Tall, 2nd |
| 1973 | NABBA World Championships | 1st |
| 1974 | IFBB Universe | Tall, 2nd |
| 1975 | IFBB Universe | Tall & Overall, 1st |
| 1976 | Mr. Olympia | Heavyweight, 1st |
| 1977 | Mr. Olympia | 5th |
| 1977 | Mr. Olympia | Tall, 2nd |
| 1979 | IFBB Night of Champions | 6th |
| 1980 | IFBB Grand Prix California | 7th |
| 1980 | Mr. Olympia | 16th |
| 1981 | Mr. Olympia | 16th |
Further reading
- Gaines, Charles. Pumping iron: the art and sport of bodybuilding. Photos by George Butler. Designed by Martin Stephen Moskof. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974. ISBN 0-671-21922-7.