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Steve Reeves

Steve Reeves

Actor · 1926 – 2000 · Glasgow, Montana, USA

Steve Reeves is regarded by many as the greatest bodybuilder of all time for his legendary symmetrical physique, visionary bodybuilding techniques, dedication and love for the sport through which he won five bodybuilding titles between 1946 and 1950. His peak measurements were: 6'1" at 216 lbs. with 18½" arms, 52" chest, and a 29" waist, partly depicting his creation: "The Classic Physique." Steve Reeves was born in Montana in 1926, yet by age 10 moved to Oakland, California where he first became captivated with the art of bodybuilding at age 16, placing pioneer John Grimek as his top role model. After two years of bodybuilding Steve's body weight reached 203 lbs by high school graduation, but was he then inducted into the Army. He was assigned to Company A of the 25th Division and was sent to the front lines in the Philippines where he endured to continue his bodybuilding training, becoming known as "The Shape" among his fellow GIs. After WWII had ended he was part of the occupational forces sent to Japan and was stationed there from September 1945 to September 1946. After his service ended, he entered and won several bodybuilding championships becoming: "Mr. Pacific Coast" (1946), "Mr. Western America" (1947), "Mr. America" (1947), "Mr. World" (1948) and "Mr. Universe" (1950) announcing his retirement from bodybuilding competition that very night after he won. From that point onward Reeves set his sights on the silver screen as well as the small screen. He made several appearances on variety shows of the early-to-mid 1950s and non-starring roles during 1954 in two films: Athena (1954) starring Debbie Reynolds and Ed Wood's Jail Bait (1954). In 1957, he had been called to Italy to play the lead role Hercules in "Le Fatiche di Ercole" which was filmed during the summer and autumn of 1957 with a USA premiere in 1959. The tremendous worldwide success of "Hercules," (the USA title), led to a sequel and many other Italian epic films many based on heroes played by Reeves. These roles included Romulus, Phillipides, Captain Henry Morgan, Glaucus, and Sandokan. With 20 film/TV acting credits to his name by 1968, Steve Reeves retired from film and returned to California to live on his ranch, remaining committed to his lifelong belief in natural, drug-free bodybuilding through his writings and personal appearances. Steve Reeves has served as a great inspiration to many bodybuilders such as Sylvester Stallone and Lou Ferrigno, and millions of others the world over for all that he was: a genuine hero, a true man, an authentic gentleman, the first (and to many fans the only true) Hercules, and nothing less than the greatest bodybuilder of all time.

Movies23

  • Movie7.3

    Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

    1953 · 1.1K votes

  • Movie5.1

    Ercole e la regina di Lidia

    Hercules Unchained

    1959 · 56 votes

  • Movie5.1

    Le fatiche di Ercole

    Hercules

    1958 · 71 votes

  • Movie5.5

    Il ladro di Bagdad

    The Thief of Baghdad

    1961 · 15 votes

  • Movie5.2

    Romolo e Remo

    Romulus and Remus

    1961 · 29 votes

  • Movie5.2

    La battaglia di Maratona

    The Giant of Marathon

    1959 · 33 votes

  • Movie5.4

    I pirati della Malesia

    The Pirates of Malaysia

    1964 · 15 votes

  • Movie6.3

    Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei

    The Last Days of Pompeii

    1959 · 54 votes

  • Movie5.6

    La guerra di Troia

    The Trojan Horse

    1961 · 29 votes

  • Movie7.0

    Gladiateur, glaive et fantasmes

    Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic

    2019 · 9 votes

  • Movie5.8

    Athena

    1954 · 8 votes

  • Movie5.4

    Sandokan, la tigre di Mompracem

    Sandokan the Great

    1963 · 21 votes

  • Movie6.3

    La leggenda di Enea

    The Avenger

    1962 · 19 votes

  • Movie5.3

    Vivo per la tua morte

    A Long Ride from Hell

    1968 · 13 votes

  • Movie9.0

    Kolossal - I magnifici Macisti

    Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti

    1977 · 1 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Il figlio di Spartacus

    The Slave

    1962 · 21 votes

  • Movie3.8

    Jail Bait

    1954 · 53 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Morgan il pirata

    Morgan, the Pirate

    1960 · 8 votes

  • Movie4.7

    Il terrore dei barbari

    Goliath and the Barbarians

    1959 · 13 votes

  • Movie5.3

    Agi Murad, il diavolo bianco

    The White Warrior

    1959 · 11 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie4.0
  • Movie6.6

    Generation Iron 3

    2018 · 28 votes

Series1

  • TV7.3