Biographie
Steve Reeves, the handsome bodybuilder, boasted an impressive Herculean physique and made great use of it in Europe during the late 1950s and early 1960s, portraying some of cinema's most iconic bronzed gods. Born in Montana in 1926 on a cattle ranch, his destiny became apparent early when, at six months old, he won the title of "Healthiest Baby of Valley County." After his father Lester died in a farming accident during Steve's childhood, his family relocated to Oakland, California. Reeves first developed an interest in bodybuilding while in high school.
In his late teens, Steve joined the Army, working loading boxcars and trucks. He consistently trained at the gym during his free time, which helped rapidly develop his physique. After serving in the Pacific, he decided to pursue bodybuilding professionally. At age 20 in 1946, he won "Mr. Pacific Coast" in Oregon, followed by titles such as "Mr. Western America" (1947), "Mr. America" (1947), "Mr. World" (1948), and ultimately "Mr. Universe" (1950).
Capitalizing on his bodybuilding fame, he moved to New York to study acting before returning to Hollywood. Opportunities for a muscular actor were limited, mostly offering background roles emphasizing his physique. He was considered for the lead in Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) but declined when asked to lose about 15 pounds of muscle; the role went to Victor Mature. Reeves landed a detective role in Edward D. Wood Jr.'s Jail Bait (1954) and appeared in minor TV parts, often just posing or walk-ons. To Hollywood insiders, he was primarily valued for his body rather than his acting skills, with fans eager to see him shirtless.
Steve's luck changed when Italian director Pietro Francisci noticed him in Athena (1954) and convinced him to star in Hercules (1958). Although critics dismissed the film for its muddled mythology and low-budget production, audiences loved the sword-and-sandal epic and Reeves' impressive physique, making him an overnight star. He starred in several sequels, portraying various exaggeratedly muscular biblical and mythological characters. An adept horseman, he performed many of his own stunts and helped pave the way for other muscle-bound actors like Ed Fury, Mark Forest, and Reg Park to seek fame in Italy playing figures like Samson, Ursus, or Colossus. Yet, none matched Steve's popularity.
A shoulder injury ended Reeves' acting career, after which he dedicated himself to promoting steroid-free bodybuilding, living on a ranch and breeding horses. Later bodybuilding stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, both former Hercules impersonators, have credited Steve for influencing their acting careers. Married twice, Steve Reeves passed away from lymphoma in Southern California on May 1, 2000, at age 74.
