Joe Bonomo

• Born 1901-12-25 · Died 1978-03-28

Joseph Bonomo was an American weightlifter, strongman, film stunt performer, actor, and writer. He won the "Mr. Modern Apollo" contest of 1921, a prize of which included a ten-week movie contract. Beginning as a stunt double, he moved on to a variety of roles, including The Light in the Dark (1922), Vamping Venus (1928), and The Lost Special (1932). He lost the role of Tarzan in Tarzan the Mighty (1928) when he injured himself before filming began. He authored several books and courses on health, including "Calorie Counter and Control Guide", which sold 17 million copies. His courses and training equipment were advertised from 1943-1958 in comics under the names Mini-Gym, Black Beauty, Strongmen's Club of America, and Bonomo Culture Institute.