Dan Lurie
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Dan Lurie (born April 1, 1923) is a founding father of bodybuilding and a physical fitness pioneer. Having several times won the Mr. America title of "America's Most Muscular Man", he made history arm wrestling U.S. President Ronald Reagan on the Oval Office desk of the White House. He has sparred with Arnold Schwarzenegger and gone toe-to-toe with former business partner turned rival, Joe Weider. Sylvester Stallone trained at his gyms, Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) was taken under his wings. He has been a champion athlete, world record holder, a TV star, a trainer, a mentor, a fitness equipment manufacturer and a magazine publisher.
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[edit] Biography
Born a sickly child in Brooklyn, New York, and expected to survive only a matter of a few years, Lurie is today almost eighty-five-years-old. Lurie has been a trainer and friend to numerous celebrities including Mae West, Woody Allen and Regis Philbin.
He is one of America's most respected physical fitness enthusiasts[citation needed], and a current active octogenarian. In recent years, Lurie's been a strong voice against the wave of steroid abuse in professional sports, and has appeared in print and on TV to speak against steroid use.
He is currently writing a book on his life story called Heart Of Steel.
[edit] Television
Lurie appeared on the Sealtest Big Top Circus Variety Show on CBS. This was the first color television program in the USA. He played "Sealtest Dan, The Muscle Man". Ed McMahan played a clown.
He also appeared as "The Mighty Rewop" in the popular children's TV series Captain Video.
[edit] Achievements
1942 AAU Mr America
1st place Most Muscular Man
2nd place overall
1st place Best Legs
1st place Best Arms
2nd place Best Abdominals
2nd place Best Back
3rd place Best Chest
AAU Junior Mr America
2nd place
1943 AAU Mr America
1st place Most Muscular Man
2nd place overall
1st place Best Back
1st place Best Arms
2nd place Best Legs
2nd place Best Abdominals
2nd place Best Chest
1944 AAU Mr America
1st place Most Muscualr Man
2nd place overall
AAU Junior Mr America
1st place Most Muscular Man
2nd place overall
1946 Most Muscular Man in America Contest
2nd place Professional category
1983 Champion Award
New York's Downtown Athletic Club
1980 AAU Hall of Fame
1940 New York State Checkers Champion
[edit] Strength and endurance records
- 1225 parallel dips in 90 minutes
- A one handed over head bent press with 285 lbs bodyweight 168 lbs
- Leg press with 1230 lbs
- Back lift of 1810 lbs
[edit] Businesses and organizations
Dan Lurie Barbell Company
Dan Lurie Gyms and Health Clubs
World Body Building Guild (WBBG)
World Fitness Guild (WFG)
Muscle Training Illustrated Magazine(MTI)
Wrestling Training Illustrated Magazine
Karate Training Illustrated Magazine
International Federation of Body Builders (Created name and ran the first IFBB contests)
[edit] Personal life
Dan is the father of five children and grandfather to 15. On February 1, 2008, he celebrated 61 years of marriage with his wife, Thelma.
