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![Hercules soundtrack with Steve Reeves on cover Built Report Gallery](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-001-e1454608834100.jpg)
![The Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-002-e1454608746565.jpg)
![Italian poster for The Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-003-e1454608695807.jpg)
![French poster for The Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-004-e1454608619406.jpg)
![Mylene Demongeot stars with Steve Reeves in Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-005-e1454608514495.jpg)
![Steve Reeves Hercules Poster](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-006-e1454605045419.jpg)
![Steve Reeves and Chelo Alonso](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-007-e1454605021671-1024x667.jpg)
![Steve Reeves stars with Sylvia Lopez in Hercules Unchained](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-008-e1454604932787.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with Sylva Koscina](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-009-e1454604807470.jpg)
![Steve Reeves pulling down columns in Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-010-e1454604755786.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with Sylva Koscina](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-011-e1454604607790.jpg)
![Publicity stills for The White Warrior](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-012-e1454604534305.jpg)
![El Diablo Blanco aka The White Warrior](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-013-e1454604471768.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-014-e1454604406720.jpg)
![Steve Reeves on Chariot](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-015-e1454604361213.jpg)
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![Steve Reeves on the set of Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-017-e1454604312942.jpg)
![Steve Reeves poster for The White Warrior](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-018-e1454604255960.jpg)
![Steve Reeves on the set of Athena](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-019-e1454604178605.jpg)
![La guerra di Troia or The Trojan Horse](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-020-e1454604091247.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-021.jpg)
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![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-023-e1454603889587.jpg)
![Steve Reeves in Goliath and the Barbarians](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-024-e1454603867386.jpg)
![Steve Reeves publicity still for Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-025-e1454603804438.jpg)
![Reeves as Randus - son of Spartacus](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-026-e1454603641358.jpg)
![Hercules Poster featuring Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-027-e1454603562823.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with babe and chariot.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-028-e1454603514676.jpg)
![SSteve Reeves with Chelo Alonso](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-029-e1454603452508.jpg)
![Duel of the Titans was directed by Sergio Corbucci](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-030-e1454603305952.jpg)
![Steve Reeves in Chariot in Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-031-e1454603195813.jpg)
![Steve Reeves strikes the Joe Weider pose Goliath and the Barbarians](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-032-e1454603145303.jpg)
![Steve Reeves stars with Gordon Scott in Duel of the Titans](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-033-e1454603023680.jpg)
![Publicity still for Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-034-e1454602921313.jpg)
![Lobby Card for Steve Reeves Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-035-e1454602829240.jpg)
![Steve Reeves swings a club in Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-036-e1454602708362.jpg)
![Steve Reeves as Phillipides and Mylène Demongeot as Andromeda](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-037-e1454602562171.jpg)
![Steve Reeves as Henry Morgan the Pirate](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-038-e1454602634530.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-039-e1454602450376.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with Mylène Demongeot on thee set of Giant of Marathon](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-040-e1454602416147.jpg)
![Actor Bodybuilder Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-041-e1454602156988.jpg)
![Steve Reeves giving a kid a lift.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-042-e1454602099725.jpg)
![Women are distracting Steve Reeves from watching himself on screen.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-043-e1454602035603.jpg)
![Steve "Hercules" Reeves and George "God" Burns](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-044-e1454601934906.jpg)
![Hercules vs Antaeus](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-045-e1454601840903.jpg)
![Mr. Universe Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-046-e1454601753764.jpg)
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![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-048-e1454601578858.jpg)
![Steve Reeves Author of Power Walking](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-049-e1454601553667.jpg)
![Steve Reeves after retirement from movies.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-050-e1454599793378.jpg)
![Steve Reeves and George Eiferman at Muscle Beach](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-051-e1454599700630.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with his mother](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-052-e1454599609663.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with Supermodels of the day.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-053-e1454599548542.jpg)
![Steve Reeves grew up eating healthy](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-054-e1454599461408.jpg)
![Steve Reeves displays triceps development at beach.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-055-e1454599366653.jpg)
![Steve Reeves well on his way.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-056-e1454599300282.jpg)
![Steve Reeves in custom made suit](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-057-e1454599225275.jpg)
![Steve Reeves holding up two barbells](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-058-e1454599164217.jpg)
![Steve Reeves on the cover of November 1992 Hardgainer Magazine](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-059-e1454599065594.jpg)
![Steve Reeves on the cover of Hardgainer Magazine](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-060-e1454598971313.jpg)
![Steve Reeves oceanside](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-061-e1454598866590.jpg)
![Steve Reeves in neutral arm pose.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-063-e1454598737519.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-064-e1454598673616.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-065-e1454598656872.jpg)
![Fitness model points to Steve Reeves Biceps](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-066-e1454598638746.jpg)
![Steve Reeves Biceps pose](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-067-e1454598555411.jpg)
![Steve Reeves already looking like bodybuilder.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-072-e1454598476585.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-073-e1454598371295.jpg)
![Steve Reeves and Dick Dubois.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-074-e1454598356788.jpg)
![Steve Reeves and Alan Stephen relax with supermodel,](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-075-e1454598275984.jpg)
![Steve Reeves posing as Atlas.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-076-e1454598155940.jpg)
![1950 Mr.Universe Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-077-e1454598094705.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-078-e1454598018991.jpg)
![Steve Reeves was a bodybuilder who became an actor.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-079-e1454597993571.jpg)
![Steve Reeves demonstrates serratus pose.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-080-e1454597934669.jpg)
![Steve Reeves behaving a like a statue.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-081-e1454597841193.jpg)
![Steve Reeves flexes lats and serratus.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-082-e1454597770510.jpg)
![Steve Reeves chats with supermodel as Reg Park looks on.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-083-e1454597707172.jpg)
![Steve Reeves holding Sandow Trophy.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-084-e1454597606333.jpg)
![Steve Reeves at 15.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-085-606x1024.jpg)
![Steve Reeves poses with fellow bodybuilder Alan Stephan](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-086-e1454597511476.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with possible beatnik lady.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-087-e1454597370422.jpg)
![Steve Reeves hits a biceps shot while holding trophy.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-088-e1454597269581.jpg)
![Steve Reeves as Mr Universe on June 24, 1950](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-090-e1454597191206.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with early fitness model.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-091-e1454597102791.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with George Eiferman and retro fitness model](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-092-e1454597013740.jpg)
![Steve Reeves looking like Steve Reeves at 15.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-093-e1454596933771.jpg)
![Steve Reeves looking like Steve Reeves at 15.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-094-e1454596873985.jpg)
![Steve Reeves on the set of Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-095-e1454596740867.jpg)
![Steve Reeves poses atop two rocks at the beach.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-096-e1454596679467.jpg)
![Steve Reeves pre- Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-097-e1454596615603.jpg)
![Steve Reeves trains chest](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-098-e1454596545765.jpg)
![Steve Reeves at the Beach sometime around the time he played Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-099-e1454596460124.jpg)
![Steve Reeves doing a front double biceps pose](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-100-e1454596372151.jpg)
![Steve Reeves at the original Muscle Beach](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-101-e1454596277930.jpg)
![Steve Reeves demonstrates serratus pose](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-102-e1454596120987-471x1024.jpg)
![Steve Reeves posing on stage.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-103-e1454596035540.jpg)
![Steve Reeves doing a triceps pushdown](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-104-e1454595972787.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with Sandow Trophy after winning contest](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-105-e1454595269840.jpg)
![Steve Reeves poses with sword.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-106-e1454595179915.jpg)
![Steve Reeves](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-107-e1454595110816.jpg)
![Actor and bodybuilder Steve Reeves hits an arm shot.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-108-e1454595080663.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with admiring lady](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-109-e1454594972270.jpg)
![Steve Reeves hits a tricep shot.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-110-e1454594901776.jpg)
![Steve Reeves hits an arm shot](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-111-e1454594822785.jpg)
![Steve Reeves lifts Pudgy Stockton](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-112-e1454594770646.jpg)
![Steve Reeves as Hercules rows a ship](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-113-e1454594705670.jpg)
![Steve Reeves posing like a statue](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-114-e1454594635598.jpg)
![Steve Reeves in a publicity still for Athena](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-115-e1454594568159.jpg)
![Steve Reeves demonstrating the benefits of playing Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-116-e1454594489752.jpg)
![Steve Reeves and George Eiferman impress the ladies](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-117-e1454594404155.jpg)
![Steve Reeves bodyweight fluctuated for movie roles.](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-118-e1454594329448.jpg)
![Artwork for Steve Reeves White Warrior](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-119-e1454594233808.jpg)
![Steve Reeves with a show of strength in Hercules](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/steve-reeves-120-e1454594100651.jpg)
![Steve Reeves valley Center Built Report](https://www.builtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/steve-reeves-089-e1454593892260.jpg)
The Life and Legacy of Steve Reeves: The Original Hercules
In the annals of bodybuilding and Hollywood history, one name stands out as the original embodiment of the mighty Hercules—Steve Reeves. His journey from a small town in Montana to becoming a renowned bodybuilder and an international movie star in the 1950s is nothing short of extraordinary. This is the story of Steve Reeves, a man whose physique and charisma left an indelible mark on both the world of bodybuilding and the silver screen.
Early Life and Introduction to Bodybuilding:
Steve Lester Reeves was born on January 21, 1926, in Glasgow, Montana. Tragedy struck his family when his father, Lester Dell Reeves, died in a farming accident. This loss led to a significant change in the young boy’s life. At the age of 10, Reeves, along with his mother Goldie Reeves, relocated to California, seeking a fresh start.
It was in California that Reeves’s lifelong fascination with bodybuilding began to take shape. He attended Castlemont High School, where he not only pursued his education but also started nurturing his passion for physical fitness. Ed Yarick’s gym in Oakland, California, became a significant part of his life, where he honed his body and built the strong foundation that would eventually lead him to the world stage.
World War II Service and Ascent in Bodybuilding:
The outbreak of World War II saw a young Steve Reeves enlist in the United States Army. He served his country dutifully, including deployments to the Philippines. These experiences undoubtedly contributed to his physical discipline and mental fortitude, which would later serve him well in both bodybuilding and acting.
Following his military service, Reeves decided to pursue higher education, enrolling at the California Chiropractic College in San Francisco. While his academic endeavors were essential, it was in the world of competitive bodybuilding that he truly made a name for himself. During the pre-Mr. Olympia era, Steve Reeves achieved impressive titles such as Mr. America in 1947, Mr. World in 1948, and Mr. Universe in 1950. These achievements marked the ascent of a future legend.
Transition to the Silver Screen:
As Reeves’s reputation in the bodybuilding world continued to grow, fate intervened when he was approached by a talent agent who saw potential beyond the physique. The agent recognized something special in Reeves and encouraged him to explore a new path in acting. Steve Reeves embraced this opportunity, launching the next phase of his remarkable career.
Italian Sword-and-Sandal Epics:
In the mid-1950s, Steve Reeves ventured to Italy, where he found fame as a leading man in a series of sword-and-sandal films. These movies, set in ancient times, featured Reeves portraying muscular characters such as Hercules, Goliath, and Sandokan. Although he is most closely associated with the character of Hercules, Reeves played this role only twice, first in “Hercules” (1958) and then in its sequel “Hercules Unchained” (1959). It was during this period that Reeves’s popularity skyrocketed.
International Stardom:
By the turn of the 1960s, Steve Reeves had achieved a level of fame that was truly international. He became the highest-paid actor in Europe, and his popularity extended far beyond the continent. In fact, by 1960, he held the distinction of being the number-one box-office draw in an astonishing 25 countries around the world. His blend of charisma, athleticism, and good looks resonated with audiences everywhere.
Legacy and Beyond:
Steve Reeves’s influence reached far and wide. He inspired countless individuals to pursue bodybuilding and, in a broader sense, a life of fitness and health. His timeless portrayal of Hercules continues to captivate audiences, making him an enduring icon in the realm of cinematic mythology.
On May 1, 2000, Steve Reeves passed away, but his legacy remains as potent as ever. He may have portrayed Hercules on the silver screen, but in the world of bodybuilding, he was the embodiment of a real-life hero who rose from humble beginnings to conquer hearts and minds worldwide. Steve Reeves’s life is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the pursuit of one’s dreams, leaving an indomitable mark on the realms of both bodybuilding and cinema.
Steve Reeves Articles
A Long Ride From Hell
The Slave
Morgan the Pirate
Steve Reeves on the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Athena
The Giant of Marathon
Duel of the Titans
Goliath and the Barbarians
Hercules Unchained
The Trojan Horse
Hercules
The White Warrior
Steve Reeves and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Steve Reeves always looked like Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves Bodybuilding Competition History
1946
Mr Pacific Coast – AAU, Tall, 1st
Mr Pacific Coast – AAU, Overall Winner
1947
Mr America – AAU, Winner
Mr Pacific Coast – AAU, Winner
Mr Western America – AAU, Winner
1948
Mr USA, 2nd
Mr Universe – NABBA, 2nd
Mr Universe – NABBA, Tall, 1st
Mr World, Winner
1949
Mr USA, 3rd
1950
Mr Universe – NABBA, Tall, 1st
Mr Universe – NABBA, Overall Winner
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