Bill Pearl

Bill Pearl ushered in the modern era of bodybuilding, in my humble yet accurate opinion. He was the first really massive bodybuilder to experience a whole lot of success in the '50s and '60s.

Pearl won the pro Mr. Universe 4 times and would likely have won the Mr. Olympia; however, that contest didn't exist during his heyday so he never entered it. In fact, by the time the first Mr. O was held, in 1965, Pearl had already amassed 3 of his Mr. Universe titles.

Not many remember but Pearl was in his forties when he won his fourth and final pro Mr. U in 1971.

Even fewer remember that he won his first major contest in 1953, beating out Sean Connery in the amateur Mr. Universe.

Many know him to be a vegetarian bodybuilder. But he only converted from being an omnivore to a vegetarian after he'd built all his mass and experienced much of his success. In fact, he was 39 when he became a lacto-ovo vegetarian (meaning he includes dairy and eggs in his daily diet).

Bill Pearl has authored several bodybuilding books. Two of his most popular are Keys to the INNER Universe and Getting Stronger.