| David Draper | |
|---|---|
| Born | David 'Slick' Draper April 16, 1942 Secaucus, New Jersey |
| Other names | The Blond Bomber, Uncle Slick |
David Draper (born April 16, 1942) bodybuilder, actor and author, nicknamed "The Blond Bomber."
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Draper was born in Secaucus, New Jersey.[1] His weight training began at the age of ten and was a well-formed habit by the time he was about twelve, in the mid-1950s.
In high school he participated in wrestling, gymnastics and swimming, but was most inspired by training with weights.
At 21, he won the Mr. New Jersey title. Six months later he moved to Santa Monica, California, working for the Weider Barbell Company until 1969. During this period he also worked in motion pictures.
In the early days, Draper says, "There wasn't a whole bunch of encouragement or inspiration from a society which considered you either stupid or egotistical and probably a sissy."
In California, Draper initially trained at a gym many called "The Dungeon", which he described as "a large, awful space dug out of the ground on the corner of 4th and Broadway, and later at the original Gold's Gym. Training partners included Frank Zane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Mike Katz.
Draper is 6'0" (1.83 m) tall, and his bodybuilding competition weight was around 225 lb. (102 kg).
Dave Draper continues to train with weights into his 60s, and to write, including a free weekly newsletter, emailed and published on his website nonstop since 1999.
While dressed as David The Gladiator, Draper hosted a TV show on Los Angeles Channel 9 KHJ from 1964 to 1965. From 8-10 pm Saturday nights, he would host a 'sword and sandal' movie from the late 1950s - early 1960s.
Draper played himself in the October 25, 1967 episode of The Beverly Hillbillies titled, "Mr. Universe Muscles In," in which Granny thinks that he is sick with "the barbell bloat."
The Monkees playing Bulk, in the October 16, 1967 episode "I Was a 99-lb. Weakling."
Here Come the Brides in the December 19, 1969 episode, "Lorenzo Bush."