Former Mr. America Reg Lewis, dies at 85
The bodybuilding world mourns the death of former bodybuilding champion and actor Reg Lewis.
Lewis died on February 11, 2021 at the age of 85 in Los Angeles. His death was confirmed by his sister Jeannine Abbott. No cause of death was immediately available.
Born in Niles, California in 1936, Lewis was well known for his incredible physique that propelled him to win various prestigious titles and even an acting career.
Reg competed with a number of bodybuilding federations throughout his life, such as the AAU, NABBA, IFBB, WBBG and NBA.
Throughout his competitive career, Reg will always be remembered for winning the 1965 NABBA Mr. Universe Tall Class, 1963 IFBB Mr. America overall title and finally placing third at the 1970 Mr. Olympia.
At the 1970 Mr. Olympia, Reg had his hands full competing against Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva.
Reg Lewis Biography – The Hollywood Reporter
In 1954, Lewis joined West’s revue as the youngest in her crew when he was 18. Four years later, he was the reigning Mr. Universe (professional class) when the actress selected him as “Mr. Hercules” in a contest held at the Bert Goodrich Gym in Hollywood. Among his rewards were interviews with studio casting heads, and that sent him on a path to the movies.
Lewis made his big-screen debut when he battled fire-breathing creatures as the star of the Italian film Colossus of the Stone Age (1962), then appeared as a slave working for a genie (Burl Ives) in The Brass Bottle (1964) and as a chiropractor in Don’t Make Waves (1967), starring Tony Curtis and Sharon Tate.
Lewis joined West (and Don Knotts, the physical opposite of Lewis) for a 1960 episode of CBS’ The Red Skelton Hour, and he was one of the swimsuit-clad musclemen surrounding her in her notorious final film, Sextette (1977).
The bodybuilding world mourns the death of former bodybuilding champion and actor Reg Lewis.
Lewis died on February 11, 2021 at the age of 85 in Los Angeles. His death was confirmed by his sister Jeannine Abbott. No cause of death was immediately available.
Born in Niles, California in 1936, Lewis was well known for his incredible physique that propelled him to win various prestigious titles and even an acting career.
Reg competed with a number of bodybuilding federations throughout his life, such as the AAU, NABBA, IFBB, WBBG and NBA.
Throughout his competitive career, Reg will always be remembered for winning the 1965 NABBA Mr. Universe Tall Class, 1963 IFBB Mr. America overall title and finally placing third at the 1970 Mr. Olympia.
At the 1970 Mr. Olympia, Reg had his hands full competing against Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva.
Reg Lewis Biography – The Hollywood Reporter
In 1954, Lewis joined West’s revue as the youngest in her crew when he was 18. Four years later, he was the reigning Mr. Universe (professional class) when the actress selected him as “Mr. Hercules” in a contest held at the Bert Goodrich Gym in Hollywood. Among his rewards were interviews with studio casting heads, and that sent him on a path to the movies.
Lewis made his big-screen debut when he battled fire-breathing creatures as the star of the Italian film Colossus of the Stone Age (1962), then appeared as a slave working for a genie (Burl Ives) in The Brass Bottle (1964) and as a chiropractor in Don’t Make Waves (1967), starring Tony Curtis and Sharon Tate.
Lewis joined West (and Don Knotts, the physical opposite of Lewis) for a 1960 episode of CBS’ The Red Skelton Hour, and he was one of the swimsuit-clad musclemen surrounding her in her notorious final film, Sextette (1977).
