Dave Draper

David Draper
Born	David 'Slick' Draper April 16, 1942 (1942-04-16) (age 69) Secaucus, New Jersey
Other names	The Blond Bomber, Uncle Slick

David Draper (born April 16, 1942) bodybuilder, actor and author, nicknamed "The Blond Bomber."

Biography

Draper was born in Secaucus, New Jersey.^[1] His weight training began at the age of ten and was a well-formed habit by the time he was about twelve, in the mid-1950s.

In high school he participated in wrestling, gymnastics and swimming, but was most inspired by training with weights.

Bodybuilding

At 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. During this period he also worked in motion pictures.

In the early days, Draper says, "There wasn't a whole bunch of encouragement or inspiration from a society which considered you either stupid or egotistical and probably a sissy."

In California, Draper initially trained 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. Training partners included Frank Zane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Mike Katz.

Draper is 6'0" (1.83 m) tall, and his bodybuilding competition weight was around 225 lb. (102 kg).

Later life

Dave Draper continues to train with weights into his 60s, and to write, including a free weekly newsletter, emailed and published on his website nonstop since 1999.

Competition history

• 1962 Mr. New Jersey ^[2]
• 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

Acting

Screen appearances

• Lord Love a Duck (1966) as Billy Gibbons
• Don't Make Waves (1967) as Harry Hollard

TV guest appearances

While dressed as David The Gladiator, Draper hosted a TV show on Los Angeles Channel 9 KHJ from 1964 to 1965. From 8-10 pm Saturday nights, he would host a 'sword and sandal' movie from the late 1950s - early 1960s.

Draper played himself in the October 25, 1967 episode of The Beverly Hillbillies titled, "Mr. Universe Muscles In," in which Granny thinks that he is sick with "the barbell bloat."

The Monkees playing Bulk, in the October 16, 1967 episode "I Was a 99-lb. Weakling."

Here Come the Brides in the December 19, 1969 episode, "Lorenzo Bush."

See also

• List of male professional bodybuilders
• List of female professional bodybuilders

References

1. ^ IFBB.com's page for 2000 Hall of Fame inductees
2. ^ http://www.cbass.com/DRAPER.HTM

• IMDB entry

Bibliography

• 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 1-931046-778
• West Coast Bodybuilding Scene Dick Tyler with Dave Draper, ISBN 1-931046-298

External links

• Official website
• Biography of Dave Draper
• David Draper at the Internet Movie Database
• article reference
• Photo gallery

Persondata
Name	Draper, Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 16, 1942
Place of birth	Secaucus, New Jersey
Date of death
Place of death