Bob Paris Photo Gallery

Photos are (c) and are by or courtesy of John Balik and Iron Man Magazine.

Bob Paris – Flawless Marvel Video

Bob Paris – brief bio and contest history:

Born: December 14, 1959, Indiana
Residence: California and Washington State, USA
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs

Bob Paris, a former Mr. Universe, is a gay activist and motivational speaker of international renown and the author of six books. He lives in Washington State and California these days.

By the time Bob Paris was 23 years old he had won both the NPC National Championships and the IFBB World Championships (Mr. Universe). Along the way Bob also won the Mr. Los Angeles and Mr. Southern California. Although his rise to the top of the bodybuilding world seemed meteoric, he overcame tremendous odds in his quest to fulfil his dreams. In a matter of four years Bob Paris went from being a homeless teenager to World Champion, becoming one of the most respected, celebrated and photographed athletes in the history of bodybuilding.

From the very early days of his bodybuilding journey, Bob decided to blend his artistic and athletic backgrounds to create a physique that exceeded the limitations of the competitive stage, emphasizing beauty over mass, intelligence over brutality. Sculpting a classic physique and utilizing intelligent training techniques became Bob Paris’s trademarks. Having placed an indelible stamp on his sport, Bob then defied the reductionist stereotypes many hold about bodybuilders, evolving into an acclaimed writer, award winning lecturer, actor and model.

For the past fifteen year, Bob has travelled the world speaking at universities and corporations on a variety of topics ranging from fitness, self-improvement and motivation, to overcoming adversity and self-esteem. He has been nominated Lecturer of the Year on the national collegiate speaking circuit and has also received recognition for his work, ranging from national awards for his philanthropic efforts, to local awards such as receiving the key to the city of his hometown in Indiana. Throughout his long and varied career, he has appeared extensively on television and has been the subject of countless magazine and newspaper articles.

Bob has been photographed by the world’s foremost photographers, including Bruce Weber (for Italian Vogue), Robert Mapplethorpe (Certain People) and Herb Ritts (Interview; Visual Aid; Duo).

Also a classically trained actor, Bob has appeared in a number of regional theatre productions to great acclaim. In late 1998, Bob made his New York stage debut, starring at Carnegie Hall–opposite Bea Arthur and Tyne Daly–in the Broadway musical, Jubilee.

As an author, Bob Paris began by writing fitness books. They include the titles, Beyond Built, Flawless and Natural Fitness. His workout books are considered among the best in the field because they transcend the simple mechanics of exercise and diet, and explore the deeper aspects of true fitness and self-esteem. He has received tens of thousands of letters over the years from readers who have used his advice to transform their lives, and continues to receive testimonials from people whose lives he has positively affected.

Bob’s writing has evolved over the years to include the critically acclaimed personal memoir, Gorilla Suit: My Adventures in Bodybuilding (Kirkus Reviews called it “unexpectedly eloquent…at once empathetic and scathing.”). He also wrote Generation Queer, a book of personal essays and his answers to frequently asked questions (it has been called, “Enlightened.thoughtful.a spiritual journey.”) This book capped off a long period of intense personal activism in Bob’s life.

Bob’s latest book: Prime, was released in 2002 by Putnam(Perigee). He recently completed writing his second feature screenplay and is at work on a first novel. (Courtesy Critical Bench.)

Bodybuilding Titles Won:

1981 Mr. Los Angeles 1st

1982
Mr. California – NPC 2nd, Light-heavyweight
Nationals – NPC 4th, Heavyweight
IFBB North American Championships 3rd, Heavyweight
NPC USA Championships 3rd, Heavyweight

1983
NPC Nationals Overall Winner
NPC Nationals 1st, Heavyweight
IFBB World Amateur Championships Overall Winner (Mr. Universe)
IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st, Heavyweight

1984:  Mr. Olympia 7th

1985:  Mr. Olympia 9th

1986
IFBB Los Angeles Pro Championships 7th
IFBB World Pro Championships 6th

1988
IFBB Chicago Pro Invitational 5th
IFBB Grand Prix (England) 6th
IFBB Grand Prix (France) 4th
IFBB Grand Prix (Germany) 6th
IFBB Grand Prix (Greece) 6th
IFBB Grand Prix (Italy) 3rd
IFBB Grand Prix (Spain) 5th
IFBB Grand Prix (Spain) [2] 4th
IFBB Niagara Falls Pro Invitational 3rd
IFBB Night of Champions 3rd
Mr. Olympia 10th

1989
Arnold Classic 5th
IFBB Grand Prix (France) 3rd
IFBB Grand Prix (Germany) 6th
Grand Prix (Melbourne) 3rd
Grand Prix (Spain) 2nd
Grand Prix (Spain) 3rd
Grand Prix (Sweden) 4th
IFBB Night of Champions 4th
Mr. Olympia 14th
IFBB World Pro Championships 3rd

1990:  IFBB Night of Champions 14th

1991
Arnold Classic 16th
IFBB Grand Prix (Italy) 5th
Ironman Pro Invitational 10th
Ironman Pro Invitational 11th
Musclefest Grand Prix 3rd
Mr. Olympia 12th

1992: IFBB Chicago Pro Invitational 10th