Jack LaLanne

Jack LaLanne
LaLanne in 1961
Born
Francois Henri LaLanne

(1914-09-26)September 26, 1914
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 23, 2011(2011-01-23) (aged 96)
Morro Bay, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Fitness expert
  • television host
  • inventor
  • entrepreneur
  • motivational speaker
Years active1936–2009
TelevisionThe Jack LaLanne Show
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Spouses
Irma Navarre
​
​
(m. 1942; div. 1948)​
​
(m. 1959)​
Children3
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Francois Henri LaLanne (/ləˈleɪn/;[1] September 26, 1914 – January 23, 2011), the "Godfather of Fitness",[2][3][4] was an American fitness and nutrition guru and motivational speaker. He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was 15 years old. He also had behavioral problems but "turned his life around" after listening to a public lecture about the benefits of good nutrition by health food pioneer Paul Bragg. During his career, he came to believe that the country's overall health depended on the health of its population, and he referred to physical culture and nutrition as "the salvation of America".[5]

LaLanne hosted the first[6] and longest-running[7] nationally syndicated fitness television program, The Jack LaLanne Show, from 1951 to 1985. He published numerous books on fitness and was widely recognized for publicly preaching the health benefits of regular exercise and a good diet.[8] He started working out with weights when they were an oddity.[9] As early as 1936, at the age of 21, he opened the nation's first modern health club in Oakland, California,[5][6] which became a prototype for dozens of similar gyms bearing his name,[10] later licensing them to Bally.[9]

One of LaLanne's 1950s television exercise programs was aimed toward women, whom he also encouraged to join his health clubs.[5][11] He invented a number of exercise machines, including the pulley and leg extension devices and the Smith machine, as well as protein supplement drinks,[12] resistance bands, and protein bars. He also popularized juicing[6] and the jumping jack.[13] He produced his own series of videos so viewers could be coached virtually.[9] He pioneered coaching the elderly and disabled to exercise in order to enhance their strength and health.[5][11]

LaLanne also gained recognition for his success as a bodybuilder and for his prodigious feats of strength. At the age of 70, handcuffed and shackled, he towed 70 boats, carrying a total of 70 people, a mile and a half through Long Beach Harbor.[11] Steve Reeves credited LaLanne as his inspiration to build his muscular physique while keeping a slim waist. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as governor of California, placed him on his Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, and on the occasion of LaLanne's death he credited LaLanne for being "an apostle for fitness" by inspiring "billions all over the world to live healthier lives".[14]

LaLanne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[15]

  1. ^ "Say How: L". National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Time Magazine. Jack LaLanne, Fitness Guru, Dies at 96. By Nick Carbone Jan. 23, 2011.
  3. ^ ABC News. Fitness Legend Jack LaLanne Dies. By Amanda Vanallen. January 24, 2011.
  4. ^ Hollywood Reporters. Godfather of Fitness Jack LaLanne Is Laid to Rest. Bill Higgins. February 1, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference clutherlat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c ”Pride & Discipline: The Legacy of Jack LaLanne” Elaine LaLanne and Greg Justice. ISBN 979-8985442106. Publisher: Greg Justice, March 16, 2022.
  7. ^ LoBrutto, Vincent (2018). TV in the USA: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 69. ISBN 9781440829734. Retrieved 14 December 2017
  8. ^ Horn, Huston (December 19, 1960). "LaLanne: a treat and a treatment". Sports Illustrated. p. 28.
  9. ^ a b c NY Times. Jack LaLanne, Founder of Modern Fitness Movement, Dies at 96. By Richard Goldstein. Jan. 23, 2011
  10. ^ "Still Going Strong". Newsweek. February 20, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference NYT-obit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Vaidyanathan, Rajini (January 25, 2011). "Godfather of Fitness' Jack Lalanne's legacy". BBC News.
  13. ^ Erik Hayden. "Remembering Fitness Legend Jack LaLanne"
  14. ^ "Schwarzenegger calls LaLanne 'most energetic man in the room'" Archived 29 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, KSBY.com, 24 January 2011
  15. ^ Andrew Dalton (January 23, 2011). "Fitness guru Jack LaLanne, 96, dies at Calif. home". U-T San Diego.