14 Facts About Reg Park

Roy "Reg" Park was an English bodybuilder, businessman, and actor.

Reg Park then won Mr Universe in 1951,1958, and 1965.

Reg Park had no specific interest in bodybuilding until age 16, when he met David Cohen.

Reg Park then spent six months in the United States after his parents paid his expenses as a gift.

The next year, Reg Park was runner-up to Reeves in the 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr Universe in London, which was a close contest.

Reg Park cemented his status by winning the 1958 and 1965 NABBA Pro Mr Universe titles.

Reg Park was renowned for his strength, which he often demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions.

Reg Park was an early influence and lifelong mentor to Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said that he was first inspired to lift weights after seeing Reg 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 Reg Park and be mentored by him.

Reg Park can be heard performing MC duties in the Mr Universe and Mr Olympia contests featured in the film.

Reg 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.

Reg Park was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilders IFBB Hall of Fame's first ballot in 1999.

Eight months after being diagnosed with skin cancer that soon spread to the rest of his body, Reg Park died on 22 November 2007 at his home in Johannesburg at the age of 79.

Reg Park's son Jon Jon, who was trained by Park, became a personal trainer and is a former Olympic swimmer.