Dan Lurie

Background

Lurie was born in Brooklyn, New York and later moved to Long Island where he lived until age 90.

Career

In 1948, he established the International Federation of Body Builders and later went on to create The World Body Building Guild. In the 1950s he went on to star as "Sealtest Dan The Muscle Manitoba" in a long running Columbia Broadcasting System television series called The Sealtest Big Top. As a magazine publisher, bodybuilding trainer and contest promoter, Lurie also had well publicized relationships with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.

These relationships both ended in litigation.

The details of which were controversially detailed in Lurie"s 2009 book "Heart Of Steel", the foreword of which is written by Regis Philbin. Throughout his colorful career, Lurie honored and befriended many Hollywood stars such as Mae West, Steve Reeves and Clint Eastwood.

During his tenure in the Fitness game from the 1940s through the year 2000, Lurie owned and operated numerous Dan Lurie Gyms and Health Clubs in New York and Miami Beach, that attracted celebrities and bodybuilders alike. Sylvester Stallone notoriously trained at one of them.

Lurie manufactured his own line of weights, exercise equipment and nutritional supplements which he sold via catalog and through the flagship chain of stores he owned and operated in New York called Dan Lurie"s Sports World.

Lurie was still active well into his 80"s when he came out of semi-retirement to promote new bodybuilding events and products. At age 90 he continued to make plans to create and promote bodybuilding shows and travel to schools, universities and conventions to speak out in regard to the dangers of drugs and steroids in sports as he had done for years before. Lurie was a staunch promoter of clean athletics and natural bodybuilding and claims to have never used performance enhancement drugs.

He was famous for his trademark slogan "Health Is Your Greatest Wealth".

Television career Lurie appeared on the Sealtest Big Top Circus Variety Show on Columbia Broadcasting System. This was the first color television program in the United States of America. He played "Sealtest Dan, The Muscle Manitoba". Editor McMahon played a clown.

Lurie also appeared as "The Mighty Rewop" in the popular children"s television series Captain Video. Hall Of Fame 1225 parallel dips in 90 minutes A one-handed overhead bent press with 285 lb bodyweight 168 lb Legal press with 1230 lb Back lift of 1810 pounds

Achievements

• On April 29, 2007, Lurie was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Connections

Partner:

Joe Weider