Roy[1] "Reg" Park (7 June 1928 – 22 November 2007) was an English bodybuilder, businessman, and actor. His first title was Mr. Britain in 1949. He then won Mr. Universe in 1951, 1958, and 1965. He went on to star in five films, all of which featured him playing Hercules. Later in life, he received renewed interest for being the first inspiration (and later a mentor) to Arnold Schwarzenegger.[2][3]
Early life
Park was born in Leeds on 7 June 1928. Showing athletic interests early in life, he dedicated his teenage years to excelling in football, where he played in the reserves for Leeds United FC.[4] He had no specific interest in bodybuilding until age 16, when he met David Cohen. Upon learning that Cohen lifted weights at a friend's house, Park joined in out of curiosity; his resulting legendary physique would soon begin to grow from barbells, dumbbells, and a simple chinning bar.[5] During his national service, Park worked as a Physical Training Instructor in Singapore.[6] Upon his discharge from the British Army in 1948, he witnessed his first physique contest, the inaugural NABBA Mr. Universe contest in London. The competition saw John Grimek beating Steve Reeves in controversial fashion, and it was this contest that inspired Park to compete.[5]
Career
After one year of training, Park earned the title of Mr. Britain in 1949.[5] He then spent six months in the United States after his parents paid his expenses as a gift. There, he met up with publisher Joe Weider, who began to feature him prominently in his popular muscle magazines.[5] The next year, Park was runner-up to Reeves in the 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe in London, which was also a close contest.[5]
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 status by winning the 1958 and 1965 NABBA Pro Mr. Universe titles.[5] Standing 6 ft 1 in and with a top weight of 250 lb, he was known for his mass and was a forerunner to the size-focused aspects that dominate modern bodybuilding.[5] He was also renowned for his strength, which he often demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions. He is on record as the second man (after Doug Hepburn) to bench press 500 lb. As an actor, he made five films, all of which were Italian sword and sandal pictures featuring him as Hercules, Maciste and Ursus.[5]
Park was an early influence and lifelong mentor to Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger,[7] who said that he was first inspired to lift weights after seeing Park playing Hercules. For three years in the 1960s, Schwarzenegger was trained by Wag Bennett at Bennett's gym in Forest Gate, where he had the chance to meet Park and be mentored by him.[8] Bonus footage from the DVD release of the documentary Pumping Iron (1977) features Park mentoring Schwarzenegger. Park can also be heard performing MC duties in the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia contests featured in the film.
Park moved to South Africa at an unknown date; up to the time of his fatal illness in 2007, at the age of 79, he continued to train clients at the Morningside Virgin Active Gym in Sandton. He has been featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines, and has also appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness. He was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) IFBB Hall of Fame's first ballot in 1999.
Death
Eight months after being diagnosed with skin cancer that soon spread to the rest of his body, Park died on 22 November 2007 at his home in Johannesburg at the age of 79. His wife of 55 years, Mareon, and their two children Jeunesse and Jon Jon were by his side. His son Jon Jon, who was trained by Park, also became a personal trainer and is a former Olympic swimmer. Today, Jon Jon is the owner of the popular Legacy Gym in West Los Angeles. Park's daughter Jeunesse founded the non-profit organisation Food & Trees for Africa.
Ercole Al Centro Della Terra (1961) Italy. aka Hercules in the Centre of the Earth (1962 UK title) and Hercules in the Haunted World (1963 US title) co-starring Christopher Lee
