Peter Lupus
Encyclopedia
Peter Lupus is an American bodybuilder and actor
of Syrian ancestry. He attended the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University
, where he also played football and basketball, graduating in 1954. He and his wife, Sharon, have a son, Peter Lupus III
, who is also an actor.
into the sword and sandal
films of the late 1950s and early 1960s, occasionally credited as Rock Stevens for such films as Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon
and Muscle Beach Party
where he starred as "Mr. Galaxy" Flex Martian, the biggest, strongest, and handsomest bodybuilder in the galaxy who possessed muscles of steel.
television series in the 1960s. Armitage was the Impossible Missions Force's muscle man, featured in nearly all episodes of the series. He initially played the strong, silent type, usually with very little dialogue. Late in the show's run during season five, the producers decided his character was superfluous and he was dropped to recurring status, appearing in a little over half of that season's episodes. Fan outcry and the lack of success in finding a replacement for his character resulted in his return to regular status the following season and getting a greater role in the stories, often assuming roles as a convict or thug. Only Lupus and Greg Morris
sustained a regular role through the show's entire run, although Morris appeared in more episodes.
Other television work included a guest spot as Tarzan
on Jack Benny
's television show, a boxer with a glass jaw on The Joey Bishop Show
, a caveman on an episode of Fantasy Island
, and the recurring role of Detective Norberg on the short-lived sitcom Police Squad!
. (The Naked Gun film series features the similarly named "Detective Nordberg", played by O.J. Simpson).
magazine in April 1974. Lupus in some ways became the magazine's flagship pinup for the decade, not unlike Barbi Benton
at Playboy
, with photographs of him in a number of issues. Before this he was hired by the US Army
to appear in a series of commercials playing the role of Superman
with the permission of "Detective Comics" (aka National Periodical Publications, now known as DC Comics
). He appeared for many months until the Playgirl pictorial was published. He has distanced himself from the magazine since the 1980s and has declined further pictorials in later years.
went out of business in late October 2007.
On July 19, 2007, at age 75, Lupus set a new world weightlifting endurance record by lifting 77,560 pounds over the course of 24 minutes, 50 seconds at the Spectrum Club in El Segundo, California
. This topped the record Lupus set five years earlier in celebration of his 70th birthday.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of Syrian ancestry. He attended the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, where he also played football and basketball, graduating in 1954. He and his wife, Sharon, have a son, Peter Lupus III
Peter Lupus III
Peter Lupus III is an American actor. He has been in the films American Streetfighter , Atomic Samurai , Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings , Future War , and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . He is the son of actor Peter Lupus.-External links:*...
, who is also an actor.
Bodybuilder
Standing 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) with a developed physique, Lupus earned the titles of Mr. Indianapolis, Mr. Indiana, Mr. Hercules and Mr. International Health Physique. Lupus was one of many bodybuilders who followed Steve ReevesSteve Reeves
Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
into the sword and sandal
Sword and sandal
The Peplum , also known as Sword-and-Sandal, is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "Spaghetti Western"...
films of the late 1950s and early 1960s, occasionally credited as Rock Stevens for such films as Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon
Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia is a 1964 film directed by Domenico Paolella and starring Peter Lupus.- Plot :...
and Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party is the second of seven beach party films produced by American International Pictures. It was made in 1964 and was directed by William Asher, who also directed four other films in this series...
where he starred as "Mr. Galaxy" Flex Martian, the biggest, strongest, and handsomest bodybuilder in the galaxy who possessed muscles of steel.
Actor
Lupus is best remembered for the role of Willy Armitage on the original Mission: ImpossibleMission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
television series in the 1960s. Armitage was the Impossible Missions Force's muscle man, featured in nearly all episodes of the series. He initially played the strong, silent type, usually with very little dialogue. Late in the show's run during season five, the producers decided his character was superfluous and he was dropped to recurring status, appearing in a little over half of that season's episodes. Fan outcry and the lack of success in finding a replacement for his character resulted in his return to regular status the following season and getting a greater role in the stories, often assuming roles as a convict or thug. Only Lupus and Greg Morris
Greg Morris
Francis Gregory Alan "Greg" Morris was an American television and movie actor.Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Morris began his acting career in the 1960s making guest appearances on many TV shows such as The Twilight Zone and Ben Casey...
sustained a regular role through the show's entire run, although Morris appeared in more episodes.
Other television work included a guest spot as Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
on Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
's television show, a boxer with a glass jaw on The Joey Bishop Show
Joey Bishop
Joey Bishop was an American entertainer who was perhaps best known for being a member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin...
, a caveman on an episode of Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, and the recurring role of Detective Norberg on the short-lived sitcom Police Squad!
Police Squad!
Police Squad! is a television comedy series first broadcast in 1982, created by Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker and starring Leslie Nielsen. A spoof of police procedurals, the series was packed with ZAZ's usual sight gags, wordplay and non sequiturs...
. (The Naked Gun film series features the similarly named "Detective Nordberg", played by O.J. Simpson).
Playgirl pinup
Lupus's second claim to fame beyond his television work was as one of the first well-known male actors to pose fully nude for PlaygirlPlaygirl
Playgirl is a print quarterly adult magazine published in the United States that is marketed mainly to heterosexual women, but has also gained a considerable gay following...
magazine in April 1974. Lupus in some ways became the magazine's flagship pinup for the decade, not unlike Barbi Benton
Barbi Benton
Barbi Benton is an American model, actress and singer.-Career:She was featured on the cover of Playboy several times and in nude photo layouts in the March 1970, December 1973, and January 1975 issues, although she was never one of the magazine's "Playmates of the Month".Benton is known for her...
at Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, with photographs of him in a number of issues. Before this he was hired by the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
to appear in a series of commercials playing the role of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
with the permission of "Detective Comics" (aka National Periodical Publications, now known as DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
). He appeared for many months until the Playgirl pictorial was published. He has distanced himself from the magazine since the 1980s and has declined further pictorials in later years.
Present day
The nutrition company Peter Lupus ran that was based in Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
went out of business in late October 2007.
On July 19, 2007, at age 75, Lupus set a new world weightlifting endurance record by lifting 77,560 pounds over the course of 24 minutes, 50 seconds at the Spectrum Club in El Segundo, California
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
. This topped the record Lupus set five years earlier in celebration of his 70th birthday.