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David Draper (April 16, 1942 – November 30, 2021) was an American bodybuilder, actor and author.
| Dave Draper | |
|---|---|
| Bodybuilder | |
.jpg) Draper in September 1966 | |
| Personal info | |
| Born | April 16, 1942 Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | November 30, 2021 (aged 79) Aptos, California, U.S. |
Early life
editDraper was born in Secaucus, New Jersey on April 16, 1942.[1] His weight training began at the age of ten and was a well-formed habit by the time he was about 12, in the mid-1950s.[citation needed] In high school he participated in wrestling, gymnastics and swimming, but was most inspired by training with weights.[citation needed] In 1962, his physique having attracted the attention of Joe Weider, he began working at the Weider Barbell company in New Jersey as a part-time shipping clerk.[2]
Career
editBodybuilding
editAt 21, he won the Mr. New Jersey title. Six months later he moved to Santa Monica, California, working for the Weider Barbell Company until 1969. Weider magazine coverage and advertising made this shy New Jersey native an icon of the California beach and muscles lifestyle. “That I was a West Coast beach boy to a world of bodybuilding fans eluded me,” Draper wrote.[3] In those days, he said, "There wasn't a whole bunch of encouragement or inspiration from a society which considered you either stupid or egotistical and probably a sissy."[citation needed]
In California, Draper trained initially at a gym many called "The Dungeon", which he described as "a large, awful space dug out of the ground on the corner of 4th and Broadway," and later at the original Gold's Gym. He trained in the company of the world's top bodybuilders, which included Frank Zane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, Mike Katz, and Robby Robinson.[citation needed] He later admitted to his use of anabolic steroids: "I was ten years into my training, 235 pounds and already Mr. America before steroids came on the scene. I used them sparingly under a doctor's supervision and noticed marked improvement in my muscularity and separation."[4]
Draper was 6'0" (1.83 m) tall, and his bodybuilding competition weight was approximately 235 lb. (106,6 kg).[citation needed]
Television appearances
editAppearing as David The Gladiator, Draper was a movie host on KHJ Channel 9 in Los Angeles, from 1964 to 1965. From 8–10 pm Saturday nights, he hosted a 'sword and sandal' movie from the 1950s and '60s.[citation needed]
Draper played himself in the 1967 episode of The Beverly Hillbillies titled, "Mr. Universe Muscles In," in which Granny thinks that he is ill with "the barbell bloat." The storyline included Draper suggesting that Ellie May is pretty enough to be "Miss Universe" which had the Clampetts thinking since he was Mr. Universe, that he wanted to marry Elly May, not understanding that "Universe" was not his last name.[citation needed]
He appeared in the 1967 movie Don't Make Waves, co-starring opposite Sharon Tate.
He appeared in The Monkees playing Bulk, in the October 16, 1967 episode "I Was a 99-lb. Weakling". He later appeared in Here Come the Brides in the December 19, 1969 episode, "Lorenzo Bush".
Personal life
editAfter a reported battle with alcoholism in the late 1970s and, with rehabilitation, gaining sobriety in 1983, Draper resumed his bodybuilding career to guest-pose at bodybuilding competitions and appear at exhibitions.[5]
Draper's nickname "The Blond Bomber" was bestowed on him by Joe Weider when Weider was pushing "muscle bombing" (intense weight-training) in his muscle magazines in the 1960s. Draper hated it at first but eventually embraced it.[6]
Draper continued to train with weights into his 70s, and to write, including a free weekly newsletter, emailed and published on his website until 2021. He died of congestive heart failure[7] on November 30, 2021, at the age of 79.[8][9]
Competition history
edit- 1962 Mr. New Jersey[10]
- 1965 IFBB Mr. America Tall Class & Overall, 1st
- 1966 IFBB Mr. Universe Tall Class & Overall, 1st
- 1967 Mr. Olympia 4th
- 1970 AAU Mr. World 3rd
- 1970 IFBB Mr. World Tall & Overall, 1st
- 1970 NABBA Mr. Universe Tall, 3rd
Filmography
edit- Lord Love a Duck (1966) as Billy Gibbons
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1967) as Himself
- Don't Make Waves (1967) as Harry Hollard
- The Monkees (1967) – Bulk in S2:E6, "I Was a 99-Pound Weakling"
Bibliography
edit- Brother Iron, Sister Steel ISBN 1-931046-65-4
- Your Body Revival: Weight Loss Straight Talk ISBN 1-931046-34-4
- Iron On My Mind ISBN 1-931046-77-8
- West Coast Bodybuilding Scene Dick Tyler with Dave Draper, ISBN 1-931046-29-8
- Iron In My Hands
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ IFBB.com's page for 2000 Hall of Fame inductees Archived February 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Merritt, Greg (December 2021). "The Blond Bomber: The Life of Dave Draper (1942-2021)". The Barbell. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Merritt, Greg (December 2021). "The Blond Bomber: The Life of Dave Draper (1942-2021)". The Barbell. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ "Dave's Thoughts about Steroid Use". www.davedraper.com.
- ^ "L-Tryptophan". February 11, 2010. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ Merritt, Greg (December 2021). "The Blond Bomber: The Life of Dave Draper (1942-2021)". The Barbell. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (December 24, 2021). "Dave Draper, Bodybuilding's 'Blond Bomber,' Dies at 79". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ Lockridge, Roger (November 30, 2021). "Bodybuilding Legend Dave Draper Dead At 79 Years Old". Bar Bend. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Estrada, Mia (December 2, 2021). "Dave Draper, iconic American bodybuilder, dies at 79". NPR. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Dave Draper". www.cbass.com.