Steve Reeves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Reeves
Reeves in 1990
Born	Stephen Lester Reeves (1926-01-21)January 21, 1926 Glasgow, Montana, U.S.
Died	May 1, 2000(2000-05-01) (aged 74) Escondido, California, U.S.
Occupation	Bodybuilder, actor, philanthropist
Years active	1949-1968
Spouse(s)	Sandra Smith ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1956)​ Aline Czartjarwicz ​ ​ (m. 1963; her death 1989)​ Deborah Ann Engelhorn ​ (m. 1994)​

Stephen Lester Reeves (born January 21, 1926 – died May 1, 2000) was an American bodybuilder, actor, and person who helped others. He became very famous in the mid-1950s as a movie star in Italian films. These movies were often called sword-and-sandal films because they were about ancient heroes. Steve Reeves played strong characters like Hercules, Goliath, and Sandokan. At the best part of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe. Even though he was best known for playing Hercules, he only played the character twice: in Hercules (1958) and its sequel Hercules Unchained (1959). By 1960, Steve Reeves was the most popular movie star in 25 countries around the world.

Early Life and Bodybuilding Success

Steve Reeves was born in Glasgow, Montana, in 1926. When he was 10, his father died in a farming accident. Steve and his mother, Goldie Reeves, then moved to California. In high school, Steve became very interested in bodybuilding. He trained at Ed Yarick's gym in Oakland, California.

After high school, he joined the United States Army during World War II. He served in the Philippines. After his time in the military, Steve went to California Chiropractic College in San Francisco.

He became a top bodybuilder, winning many titles. He was Mr. America in 1947, Mr. World in 1948, and Mr. Universe in 1950. These wins happened before the Mr. Olympia contest even started in 1965. An agent noticed him and suggested he try acting.

Steve Reeves' Acting Career

Trying Out for Big Roles

Steve Reeves moved to New York to study acting. He first studied with Stella Adler, but then switched to the Theodora Irvin School of the Theatre. He also performed in a comedy show. A talent scout for famous director Cecil B. De Mille saw him. Steve was tested for a big movie called Samson and Delilah (1949). He even got a seven-year contract with Paramount.

Reeves said that De Mille wanted him for the main role. But De Mille told him he needed to lose 15 pounds to look right on camera. Steve tried to lose the weight and practiced acting for three months. In the end, De Mille gave the role to another actor, Victor Mature.

First Movie and TV Appearances

In 1949, Steve filmed a TV pilot (a test episode) for a show called Kimbar of the Jungle, which was like Tarzan. In 1950, he became Mr. Universe. He also appeared on TV shows like Stars Over Hollywood and Topper.

In 1954, Steve Reeves had a small role as a police officer in the movie Jail Bait. This was his first film, and it helped him get his Screen Actors Guild card. He later joked, "I had a suit on at all times... Only took my shirt off once. Those were the days, huh?"

That same year, Reeves was in the musical movie Athena. He played the boyfriend of Jane Powell's character. These two movies were the only ones Steve made in the United States where his real voice was heard. For the rest of his career, he acted in Italian-made films. In these films, all the talking and sounds were added later.

Steve also appeared on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as a gym owner. In 1955, he was in two Broadway shows, Kismet and The Vamp. He also worked for American Health Studios, helping to open fitness centers. In 1955, he married his first wife, Sandra Smith.

Becoming the Famous Hercules

Steve Reeves as Hercules in the 1958 film

In Italy, director Pietro Francisci wanted to make a movie about Hercules. But he couldn't find the right actor for the strong hero. His daughter suggested Steve Reeves after seeing him in Athena. Francisci offered Steve the role and a plane ticket to Italy. Steve wasn't sure at first, but he agreed and flew to Italy. He was paid $10,000 for the movie.

The film, Hercules, was a low-budget epic. It was loosely based on the stories of Jason and the Argonauts, but it put Hercules in the main role.

The movie became very popular in Europe. It became a huge hit around the world when Joseph E. Levine bought the rights to show it in the US. He spent over $1 million promoting it. The film made $5 million in the United States in 1959. But by then, Steve Reeves had already made four more movies in Europe.

The first was a sequel to Hercules, called Hercules Unchained (1959). Francisci directed it again. Steve was paid the same amount, but his pay would double after this film. This movie was also a huge success. It was the third most popular film in Britain in 1960. However, Steve Reeves never played Hercules again, even though he was known for that role.

Steve's third film as a star was The White Warrior (1959). It was based on a book by Leo Tolstoy called Hadji Murat. Steve played Hadji Murad, a Chechen leader from the 1800s who fought against the Russian invaders.

A movie poster for Goliath and the Barbarians (1959)

Reeves also played Emilio in Terror of the Barbarians. This movie was about the Lombard invasion of Italy. In the US, it was called Goliath and the Barbarians (1959), and Steve's character was renamed "Goliath." The film made $1.6 million in North America when it was shown with another movie, Sign of the Gladiator.

An Injury and More Films

Steve Reeves played Glaucus Leto in The Last Days of Pompeii (1959). This movie was based on a famous novel. During filming, Steve hurt his shoulder when his chariot crashed into a tree. He hurt it again while swimming in an underwater scene later. This injury got worse with his stunt work in each movie he made. This eventually led him to stop making films.

After this, Steve made The Giant of Marathon (1959). He played Pheidippides, a famous messenger from the Battle of Marathon. By this time, Steve's movies were so popular that Hollywood directors started working on them.

Steve tried a different kind of role in Morgan, the Pirate (1960). He played Captain Henry Morgan, a pirate and governor of Jamaica. He then made an "Eastern" film, The Thief of Baghdad (1961), where he played Karim. In The Wooden Horse of Troy (1961), Steve Reeves played Aeneas of Troy. He also starred with another bodybuilder, Gordon Scott, in Duel of the Titans (1961). They played Romulus and Remus. Steve played Randus, the son of Spartacus, in The Slave (1962). He then played Aeneas again in War of the Trojans (1962), also known as The Avenger.

Later Roles and Retirement

Virna Lisi and Steve Reeves in Duel of the Titans (1961)

Steve Reeves played Sandokan in two films directed by Umberto Lenzi: Sandokan the Great (1963) and Pirates of Malaysia (1964). Steve said that by this time, he was earning $250,000 for each film. In 1968, Steve Reeves appeared in his last movie, a spaghetti Western he helped write, called I Live For Your Death! (later released as A Long Ride From Hell). He later said, "I ended up with an ulcer from that... That was my last."

Steve Reeves reportedly turned down the James Bond role in Dr. No (1962) because the pay was too low. He also said no to the role that went to Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars (1964). Steve didn't think Italians could make a good western movie from a Japanese samurai film.

His last time on screen was in 2000. He appeared as himself in a TV show called A&E Biography: Arnold Schwarzenegger – Flex Appeal.

Steve Reeves decided to stop acting for a few reasons. He felt stressed, his shoulder injury was bothering him, and the types of movies he made were becoming less popular. He had earned enough money to retire. He moved to a 360-acre ranch in Jacksonville, near Medford, Oregon. He later bought another ranch in Valley Center, California. This was his home for the rest of his life. Steve Reeves raised horses and supported drug-free bodybuilding. He lived in Valley Center with his second wife, Aline, until she passed away in 1989.

Other Interests and Books

Steve Reeves' official biography, Steve Reeves – One of a Kind, was published in 1983. He also wrote a book called Powerwalking. He self-published two other books: Building the Classic Physique - The Natural Way and Dynamic Muscle Building.

In 1994, Steve Reeves and his friend George Helmer started the Steve Reeves International Society. This group later became Steve Reeves International, Inc. George Helmer also wrote several books about Steve Reeves.

Death

Steve Reeves had surgery on April 28, 2000. He passed away shortly before noon on May 1, 2000, from a blood clot. He died at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California. His second wife had also passed away there.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Steve Reeves para niños

• List of male professional bodybuilders