Reg Lewis

Dark, curly-haired, well-chiseled Reg Lewis started professional body-building at a very young age, a title-holder ("Junior Mr. Olympics") by age 17. A favorite model in physique magazines, the incomparable Mae West took a gander at the handsome hulk while he was working out at the gym one day and added him to her collection of absurdly-muscled, Adonis-like figures for her nightclub act in 1954, along with Mickey Hargitay, Gordon Mitchell and Dan Vadis. Ms. West and her beefcake entourage thrilled the all-female audiences as they toured throughout the U.S. Over the years Reg often acted as Mae's escort as well, accompanying her to assorted film premieres, nightclub openings, etc. During this time he also added a number of fitness trophies to his mantle - Mr. Olympics (1956), Mr. Universe (1957), Mr. America (1963) and Mr. America Over Forty (1983).

In 1962, he tried, like others, to muscle in on Steve Reeves' territory by acting in Italian films. Reg appeared as the titular hero in Maciste contro i mostri (1962) [Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules], where, as Maxus, he battles a swarm of fire-breathing creatures to save the residents of a remote valley. This badly-dubbed pic fared no better or worse than any others, but Reg did not appear in any others.

He did appear (actually posed is more like it) in The Brass Bottle (1964) with Burl Ives and Barbara Eden, Don't Make Waves (1967)_ with Tony Curtis and the late Sharon Tate, and Sextette (1977) with Ms. West but it led to no other offers. Reg Lewis dedicated himself to the sport of bodybuilding for over 30 years.