Dan Lurie
Daniel Lurie (April 1, 1923 – November 6, 2013) was a founding father of bodybuilding and a physical fitness pioneer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. A world-class bodybuilder in the 1940s, he had won the Mr. America title of "America's Most Muscular Man" four times by 1949.[1] In 1948, Lurie established the International Federation of Body Builders and he owned the Dan Lurie Gyms and Health Clubs, a gym that has attracted people such as Sylvester Stallone. On April 29, 2007, Lurie was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
His book Heart of Steel: The Dan Lurie Story, with foreword by Regis Philbin, chronicles how he overcame poverty to rise to success in the fitness industry and exposes the truth behind his relationships with other famed fitness industry men such as Joe Weider, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.[3]
Lurie appeared on the Sealtest Big Top Circus Variety Show on CBS. This was the first color television program in the USA. He played "Sealtest Dan, The Muscle Man". Ed McMahon played a clown. Lurie also appeared as "The Mighty Rewop" in the popular children's TV series Captain Video.
He died in Roslyn, New York on November 6, 2013 at the age of 90.[4]
Strength and endurance records
- 1225 parallel dips in 90 minutes [5]
- A one-handed overhead bent press with 285 lb bodyweight 168 lb [5]
- Leg press with 1230 lb [5]
- Back lift of 1810 lb [5]
References
- ↑ Popular Science Vol. 154, No. 3. Bonnier Corporation. March 1949. p. 63. ISSN 0161-7370.
- ↑ "Awards". The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 2010.
- ↑ Lurie, D.; Robson, D (2009). Heart of Steel: The Dan Lurie Story. Authorhouse. ISBN 1-4343-8546-9.
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/09/nyregion/dan-lurie-90-star-and-promoter-of-bodybuilding-dies.html?ref=obituaries&_r=0
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Dan Lurie". MUSCLE TRAINING Illustrated. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
External links
- Dan Lurie's Official Website
- Dan Lurie at the Internet Movie Database
- Muscular Development article by Joe Pietaro, July 2009