Steve Reeves

Steve Reeves
Reeves in 1990
Born
Stephen Lester Reeves

(1926-01-21)January 21, 1926
DiedMay 1, 2000(2000-05-01) (aged 74)
Occupations
  • Bodybuilder
  • actor
  • philanthropist
Years active1949–1968
Spouses
(m. 1955; div. 1956)
Aline Czartjarwicz
(m. 1963; died 1989)
Deborah Ann Engelhorn
(m. 1994)

Stephen Lester Reeves (January 21, 1926 – May 1, 2000) was an American professional bodybuilder and actor. He was famous in the mid-1950s as a movie star in Italian-made sword-and-sandal films, playing the protagonist as muscular characters such as Hercules, Goliath, and Sandokan. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.[1] Though best known for his portrayal of Hercules, he played the character only twice: in Hercules (1958), and in its 1959 sequel Hercules Unchained. By 1960, Reeves was ranked as the number-one box-office draw in 25 countries.[2]

Prior to his acting career, Reeves was a bodybuilder. Known for his symmetry,[3] he reigned as Mr. America of 1947, Mr. World of 1948, and Mr. Universe of 1950 in the pre Mr. Olympia era.

  1. ^ Lane, John Francis (June 5, 2000). "Steve Reeves: Putting muscle and myth in the movies". Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  2. ^ Rutledge, Leigh W. (1989). The Gay Fireside Companion. Alyson Publications, Inc. p. 146. ISBN 978-1555831646.
  3. ^ "Steve Reeves".