Reg Park
Encyclopedia
Roy "Reg" Park from Leeds
in West Yorkshire
, England
, was a bodybuilder, businessman and film actor.
s, dumbbell
s and a simple chinning bar.
Upon discharge from the military in 1948, he witnessed his first physique contest; the inaugural NABBA Mr. Universe contest, in which John Grimek
edged out Steve Reeves
in controversial fashion. It was this contest that inspired Park to compete himself.
After one year of hard training, Park earned the title of Mr. Britain in 1949. He then subsequently spent six months in the United States
(thanks to a gift from his parents). There, he met up with publisher Joe Weider
, who began to feature the Englishman prominently in his muscle magazines. The next year, Park was runner-up to Steve Reeves in the 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe in London (also a close contest).
After a second full year of training, Park broke what had been an American monopoly on bodybuilding titles by winning the 1951 National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) Amateur Mr. Universe. He cemented his superstar status by winning the 1958 AND 1965 NABBA Pro Mr. Universe titles. Standing 6'1" and with a top weight of 250 pounds, Park was known for his muscular mass and was a forerunner to modern bodybuilding. Park was also renowned for his strength, which he often demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions. He is on record as the first bodybuilder to bench press 500 lbs.
Famous for his mass and strength, Reg Park was an early influence and lifelong mentor to champion bodybuilder and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger
. Bonus footage from the DVD release of the classic documentary film Pumping Iron
(1977) features Park mentoring Schwarzenegger. Park can also be heard performing the Master of Ceremonies duties in the Mr. Universe
and Mr. Olympia
Contests featured in the film proper.
As an actor, Park made five films — all Italian Hercules sword and sandal
.
Reg Park's legacy is continued by his son, Jon Jon Park, a personal trainer and former Olympic
swimmer. Reg Park raised and trained Jon Jon in South Africa
. Today Jon Jon Park is the owner of the Legacy Gym, a popular gymnasium in West Los Angeles, CA. Reg's daughter, Jeunesse, runs the Reg Park Legacy Foundation which helps disadvantaged people access sport and fitness.
Up to the time of his illness in 2007, despite being in his seventies, Park continued to train clients at the Morningside Virgin Active Gym in Sandton, South Africa. He has been featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines, and has also appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness
magazine. He was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilders
(IFBB) IFBB Hall of Fame
's first ballot in 1999.
(a form of skin cancer).
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, was a bodybuilder, businessman and film actor.
Biography
Showing athletic interests early in life, Reg Park dedicated his teenage years to excelling in football. He had no specific interest in bodybuilding until age 16 when he met muscleman David Cohen. Upon learning that Cohen lifted weights at his friend's house, Park joined in out of curiosity. Park's legendary physique would begin to grow from barbellBarbell
A barbell is a piece of exercise equipment used in weight training, weightlifting and powerlifting. Barbells range in length from to although bars above 7' in length are used primarily by powerlifters and aren't commonplace...
s, dumbbell
Dumbbell
The dumbbell, a type of free weight, is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It can be used individually or in pairs .-History:...
s and a simple chinning bar.
Upon discharge from the military in 1948, he witnessed his first physique contest; the inaugural NABBA Mr. Universe contest, in which John Grimek
John Grimek
John Carroll Grimek is recognized as one of the world's greatest bodybuilders and weight lifters of the 1930s and 1940s.Grimek was born on June 17, 1910 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, son of Slovak immigrants George and Maria Grimek.Besides his bodybuilding exploits, in which he was never defeated,...
edged out Steve Reeves
Steve 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:...
in controversial fashion. It was this contest that inspired Park to compete himself.
After one year of hard training, Park earned the title of Mr. Britain in 1949. He then subsequently spent six months in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(thanks to a gift from his parents). There, he met up with publisher Joe Weider
Joe Weider
Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...
, who began to feature the Englishman prominently in his muscle magazines. The next year, Park was runner-up to Steve Reeves in the 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe in London (also a close contest).
After a second full year of training, Park broke what had been an American monopoly on bodybuilding titles by winning the 1951 National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) Amateur Mr. Universe. He cemented his superstar status by winning the 1958 AND 1965 NABBA Pro Mr. Universe titles. Standing 6'1" and with a top weight of 250 pounds, Park was known for his muscular mass and was a forerunner to modern bodybuilding. Park was also renowned for his strength, which he often demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions. He is on record as the first bodybuilder to bench press 500 lbs.
Famous for his mass and strength, Reg Park was an early influence and lifelong mentor to champion bodybuilder and former Governor of California 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....
. Bonus footage from the DVD release of the classic documentary film 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...
(1977) features Park mentoring Schwarzenegger. Park can also be heard performing the Master of Ceremonies duties in 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....
and 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...
Contests featured in the film proper.
As an actor, Park made five films — all Italian Hercules 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"...
.
Reg Park's legacy is continued by his son, Jon Jon Park, a personal trainer and former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
swimmer. Reg Park raised and trained Jon Jon in 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...
. Today Jon Jon Park is the owner of the Legacy Gym, a popular gymnasium in West Los Angeles, CA. Reg's daughter, Jeunesse, runs the Reg Park Legacy Foundation which helps disadvantaged people access sport and fitness.
Up to the time of his illness in 2007, despite being in his seventies, Park continued to train clients at the Morningside Virgin Active Gym in Sandton, South Africa. He has been featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines, and has also appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness
Muscle & Fitness
Muscle & Fitness is an American bodybuilding magazine founded by Joe Weider, but now published by American Media, Inc.-History:Muscle & Fitness has a more mainstream focus than its companion publication, Flex...
magazine. He was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilders
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
(IFBB) IFBB Hall of Fame
IFBB Hall of Fame
The IFBB Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor outstanding athletes and officials in the sport of bodybuilding.-1999:*Carla Dunlap*Cory Everson*John Grimek*Lee Haney*Rachel McLish*Sergio Oliva*Reg Park*Bill Pearl*Steve Reeves...
's first ballot in 1999.
Death
With his wife Mareon of 55 years at home and Jon Jon by his side, Park died on 22 November 2007 in his home in South Africa, after an eight month battle with metastatic melanomaMelanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
(a form of skin cancer).
Bodybuilding titles
- 1946 Mr Britain 4th
- 1949 Mr Britain 1st
- 1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Tall, 1st
- 1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Overall Winner Mr Europe
- 1950 Overall Winner Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
- 1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 1st
- 1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
- 1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st
- 1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
- 1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st
- 1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
- 1970 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
- 1971 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 3rd
- 1973 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
Competitive stats
- Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
- Contest weight: 225-250 lbs (102–114 kg)
- Off-season weight: 225 lbs (102 kg)
- Arms: 20" (51 cm)
Filmography
- Ercole Alla Conquista Di Atlantide (1961) Italty. aka Hercules and the Captive WomenHercules and the Conquest of AtlantisHercules and the Conquest of Atlantis is a 1961 Italian / French film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi and starring Reg Park as Ercole ....
(1963) - Ercole Al Centro Della Terra (1961) Italy. aka Hercules in the Haunted WorldHercules in the Haunted WorldHercules in The Haunted World is a 1961 Italian sword and sandal film directed by director Mario Bava and starring British-born bodybuilder Reg Park as Hercules and legendary British actor Christopher Lee as his nemesis, Lico. It is the sequel to Hercules and the Captive Women...
(1961) co-starring Christopher LeeChristopher LeeSir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films... - Maciste Nelle Miniere Di Re Salomone (1964) Italy. aka Maciste in King Solomon's Mines (1964)
- Ursus, Il Terrore Dei Kirghisi (1964). Italy. aka Hercules, Prisoner of Evil (1964)
- Sfida Dei Giganti (1965) Italy. aka Hercules The Avenger (1965)
See also
- List of male professional bodybuilders
- List of female professional bodybuilders