Lewis, Reg

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 13:40

: Reg Lewis in Maciste contro i mostri (1962)

Reg Lewis was an American bodybuilder who played one lead role in an Italian peplum and a few small roles in American features.

He was born on January 23rd 1936 in Niles, California.[1]

He began bodybuilding at an early age and after graduating from high school he joined Mae West's nightclub act (alongside future peplum star Mark Forest). He stayed with the show for 2 years and also began entering body-building competitions, winning the Mr. Universe title in 1957 and Mr. America in 1963.

Reg got the call to come to Italy after submitting his photos to Steve Reeves' agent. After completing Maciste contro i mostri, he was put under contact to Antonio Leonviola to appear in 2 movies as Taur, but this fell through when Leonviola failed to secure the funding (they were eventually made with Joe Robinson in the role). The money offered for further peplum films was minimal, so Reg opted to return to the US.

He made several more film appearances in US films in the 60's, but only in very small roles and made one final film appearance as a favour to his old mentor, Mae West, in Sextette in 1977.

Reg died on February 11th 2021, at the age of 85.

Filmography

1960

The Red Skelton Show (TV series) S. 9, Ep. 20: "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" .... Bodybuilder (credit unknown)

1962
Maciste contro i mostri .... Maciste (credited)

1964
The Brass Bottle .... Slave (uncredited)

1967
Don't Make Waves .... Monster (credited)

1977
Sextette .... Athlete (credited)

Titles to check

Reg is reported to have appeared in a number of TV commercials

Notes and sources

1. Reg's biographical details come mainly from an extensive 2003 interview from Scarlet Street magazine

: Reg Lewis with Mae West

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 13:59

The Red Skelton Show (1960 TV series) S. 9, Ep. 20: "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It", credit unknown, as Bodybuilder.

I wasn't able to find a copy of the episode, but I did find this image from the gettyimages website.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 14:03

Maciste contro i mostri (1962) credited, as Maciste

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 14:06

The Brass Bottle (1964) only glimpsed very briefly as a Slave (on the left)

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 14:10

Don't Make Waves (1967) credited, as Monster

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 14:13

Sextette (1977) credited, as Athlete

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 26/09/2023, 14:16

The bulk of Reg's biographical information comes from this 2003 interview from Scarlet Street magazine. The interview can be read by dragging the images to your desktop.