These are the most famous male bodybuilders, listed by their level of prominence with photos when available. This greatest male bodybuilders list contains the most prominent and top males known for being bodybuilders and their bodybuilding career. Hopefully, none of these popular bodybuilders end up on our lists of the worst types of gym people or these creepy pictures of bodybuilders. There are hundreds of thousands of bodybuilders in the world, but this list highlights only the most notable ones throughout history.
This list includes bodybuilding icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno - some of the most famous male bodybuilders, and probably the two most famous bodybuilders ever, icons of when this "muscle sport" got its prominence in the 1970s. Photos on this list tend to be from the "classic period" of a given bodybuilder. Featuring white bodybuilders, Black bodybuilders, and modern day bodybuilders, this list has many familiar names of the bodybuilding world.
While this isn't a list of all male bodybuilders who have competed professionally, it does represent who the best male bodybuilders are.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (; German: [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈʃvaɐ̯tsn̩ˌʔɛɡɐ]; born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American politician, actor, filmmaker, and former professional bodybuilder. He served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
Schwarzenegger began lifting weights at the age of 15. He won the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times, remaining a prominent presence in bodybuilding and writing many books and articles on the sport. The Arnold Sports Festival, considered the second most important professional bodybuilding event in recent years, is named after him. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, ...more
Age: 75
Birthplace: Thal, Austria
Profession: Bodybuilder, Television director, Businessperson, Politician, Investor
Credits: The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall, Pumping Iron
Louis Jude Ferrigno (; born November 9, 1951) is an American actor, fitness trainer, fitness consultant and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. As an actor, he is best known for his title role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk and vocally reprising the role in subsequent animated and computer-generated incarnations. He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Sinbad of the Seven Seas and Hercules, and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.
Age: 71
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Profession: Bodybuilder, Actor, Personal trainer, Voice acting
Credits: The Incredible Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, Hulk, Pumping Iron
Bob Paris (born Robert Clark Paris on December 14, 1959) is a Canadian-American writer, actor, public speaker, civil rights activist, and former professional bodybuilder. Paris was the 1983 NPC American National and IFBB World Bodybuilding Champion.
Anthony White (born April 23, 1954) better known by his ring name Tony Atlas is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr. USA" (a distinction he earned three times), the nom de guerre the "Black Superman", as well as an alter ego named Saba Simba. He returned as an on screen manager for WWE, appearing on its now-defunct ECW brand. He re-signed with WWE in a Legends deal in mid-2012.
Age: 79
Birthplace: Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Profession: Bodybuilder, Wrestler
Credits: WWE Superstars, WCW WorldWide, Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains
Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay (January 6, 1926 – September 14, 2006) was a Hungarian-American actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe. Born in Budapest, Hargitay moved to the United States in 1947, where he eventually became a citizen. He was married to actress Jayne Mansfield, and is the father of actress Mariska Hargitay. During their marriage, Hargitay and Mansfield made four movies together: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957), The Loves of Hercules (1960), Promises! Promises! (1963), and L'Amore Primitivo (1964).
Age: Dec. at 80 (1926-2006)
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Profession: Bodybuilder, Actor
Credits: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, Bloody Pit of Horror, Sheriff Won't Shoot, Cjamango, Mr. Universe
Ronnie Dean Coleman (born May 13, 1964) is an American retired professional bodybuilder. The winner of the Mr. Olympia title for eight years in a row, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Alongside his eight Mr. Olympia wins, he held the record for most wins as an IFBB professional with 26 titles (since broken by Dexter Jackson).
Age: 59
Birthplace: Texas, USA
Profession: Bodybuilder
Credits: Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back, The Battle for the Olympia III: 1998, The Battle for the Olympia I: 1996, The Battle for the Olympia IV: 1999, Ronnie Coleman: The Unbelievable
