RedWine
11-24-2007, 04:04 AM
Reg Park, the man who inspired Arnold Schwarzenegger to become a competitive bodybuilder and ultimately launched him on the path to fame, has died after a long illness.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/11/24/db2402.jpg
Park died on Thursday morning in Joburg, with his family by his side.
Earlier this year he was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a form of skin cancer. "He survived four times longer than they thought he would. The doctor told me that he had never seen someone with such an iron will to survive," said his son Jon Jon.
His daughter Jeunesse said tributes had been coming in from around the world. "People from as far as Turkey have been saying how he changed their lives. He was the man with the biggest heart in the world. He was a legend. He was more than just a bodybuilder," she said.
Park, who was 79, was one of the pioneers of modern bodybuilding. It was his success as a bodybuilder, and in particular his winning the Mr Universe competition on three occasions in the 1950s and 60s, that prompted Schwarzenegger to take to the professional side of the sport.
Schwarzenegger was to go on to win that title five times.
"Arnold said to Reg: 'I want to do what you do'. That was the start of Arnold's close association with our family. I remember him staying at our house," said Jeunesse.
A man known for his amazing strength and body to match, Park was to also become a cult actor. He appeared in five Italian-made films, and was known for his part as Hercules.
Years later it was the role of Hercules that was to launch Schwarzenegger's foray onto the big screen.
Park started his bodybuilding career in his native England and came to prominence when he won the 1949 Mr Britain. He then travelled to the United States, where he met bodybuilding promoter Joe Weider, who began featuring Park in his magazines.
Later in life Park was to perform the master of ceremonies duties at various Mr Universe and Mr Olympia contests.
He later settled in South Africa, where he continued to train clients at the Virgin Active gym in Morningside, Sandton.
Jon Jon followed his father into the bodybuilding business and is the owner of the Legacy Gym in Los Angeles. Jon Jon had returned to SA two weeks ago to be at his father's side.
"He loved the vast skies and sunshine in South Africa, and it was the sunshine that eventually got him," Jeunesse said.
"It was Reg who impressed upon me how hard I would have to work if I wanted to achieve my dreams," Schwarzenegger said. "I'll always remember him making me do calf raises with 1,000 pounds at 5 o'clock in the morning."
Schwarzenegger went on to compete against Park in a bodybuilding contest in 1970, and beat his mentor in a closely fought contest, according to the Reg Park Legacy Foundation's Web site.
Park's striking figure—he was six foot and in his younger days weighed up to 250 pounds—caught the eye of film producers and he starred in five Italian "sword-and-scandal"
movies in the '60s, according to the Web site.
Park is survived by his son Jon Jon, daughter Jeunesse and wife Marion.
"Reg was a dear friend, an extraordinary mentor and a personal hero," Schwarzenegger said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/11/24/db2402.jpg
Park died on Thursday morning in Joburg, with his family by his side.
Earlier this year he was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a form of skin cancer. "He survived four times longer than they thought he would. The doctor told me that he had never seen someone with such an iron will to survive," said his son Jon Jon.
His daughter Jeunesse said tributes had been coming in from around the world. "People from as far as Turkey have been saying how he changed their lives. He was the man with the biggest heart in the world. He was a legend. He was more than just a bodybuilder," she said.
Park, who was 79, was one of the pioneers of modern bodybuilding. It was his success as a bodybuilder, and in particular his winning the Mr Universe competition on three occasions in the 1950s and 60s, that prompted Schwarzenegger to take to the professional side of the sport.
Schwarzenegger was to go on to win that title five times.
"Arnold said to Reg: 'I want to do what you do'. That was the start of Arnold's close association with our family. I remember him staying at our house," said Jeunesse.
A man known for his amazing strength and body to match, Park was to also become a cult actor. He appeared in five Italian-made films, and was known for his part as Hercules.
Years later it was the role of Hercules that was to launch Schwarzenegger's foray onto the big screen.
Park started his bodybuilding career in his native England and came to prominence when he won the 1949 Mr Britain. He then travelled to the United States, where he met bodybuilding promoter Joe Weider, who began featuring Park in his magazines.
Later in life Park was to perform the master of ceremonies duties at various Mr Universe and Mr Olympia contests.
He later settled in South Africa, where he continued to train clients at the Virgin Active gym in Morningside, Sandton.
Jon Jon followed his father into the bodybuilding business and is the owner of the Legacy Gym in Los Angeles. Jon Jon had returned to SA two weeks ago to be at his father's side.
"He loved the vast skies and sunshine in South Africa, and it was the sunshine that eventually got him," Jeunesse said.
"It was Reg who impressed upon me how hard I would have to work if I wanted to achieve my dreams," Schwarzenegger said. "I'll always remember him making me do calf raises with 1,000 pounds at 5 o'clock in the morning."
Schwarzenegger went on to compete against Park in a bodybuilding contest in 1970, and beat his mentor in a closely fought contest, according to the Reg Park Legacy Foundation's Web site.
Park's striking figure—he was six foot and in his younger days weighed up to 250 pounds—caught the eye of film producers and he starred in five Italian "sword-and-scandal"
movies in the '60s, according to the Web site.
Park is survived by his son Jon Jon, daughter Jeunesse and wife Marion.
"Reg was a dear friend, an extraordinary mentor and a personal hero," Schwarzenegger said.