Lou has had a long and versatile career, including working as a fitness trainer, consultant, actor and professional bodybuilder. He has now retired from bodybuilding but the world of bodybuilding will not forget when he stole the spotlight as an IFBB Mr. America winner and for his appearance in the Pumping Iron documentary about bodybuilding.
Prior to his fame, Lou worked as a sheet metal worker for $10 an hour. Luckily, he realized that there were better opportunities meant for him and left the job in pursuit of greater things.
Judi Sheppard Missett – Then
The 80’s fitness industry would be nothing without Jazzercise. Jazzercise, a dance fitness franchise company that was founded by Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969. The full-body workout combines dance, strength, and resistance training with popular music. The company today has grown to over 8,300 franchises around the world in 32 countries.
Judi started the company after teaching at a dance studio and noticing the high dropout rate among participants. She made it her mission to create a class which combined dance with physical fitness. The concept quickly took off and people were hooked.
Judi Sheppard Missett – Now
Judi is still fit at the age of 74. In June 2016, she wrote a piece for the Huffington Post titled “Don’t Act Your Age.” In it she shared her relationship with fitness and her prosperous career in the field. She disclosed that her biggest secret was not to act her age.
“How old do you feel?” She wrote, “I feel about 30. Then I look in the mirror, and I don’t see a 30-year-old. What I do see is someone who looks pretty good, is active and healthy, and has a serious spark to her.”
Lou Ferrigno – Now
Following his bodybuilding career, Lou played football for the Toronto Argonauts but his career was cut short after he broke the legs of another player during a scrimmage. Clearly, he carried over some of that strength from his former bodybuilding stint.
He later went on to star in The Incredible Hulk, which clearly fits the mold. At the start of the 2000’s, he was cast in The King of Queens, playing himself. The CBS sitcom received favorable reviews.
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Then
One of the most important figures in the world of bodybuilding and widely considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, the Austrian born star started to gain worldwide attention at the young age of 18 after winning one of his first major competitions, the junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. He won it again the following year at age 19. He proceeded to win many contests including five Mr. Universe victories and seven Mr. Olympia wins.
Apart from his fitness career, he also wrote a monthly column for Muscle & Fitness and Flex, two bodybuilding magazines.