Jim Morris (August 31, 1935 – January 28, 2016) was an American bodybuilder known for winning competitions over a thirty-year career. Among the titles Morris won are: Mr. USA (1972), AAU Mr. America (1973), Mr. International (1974), and Mr. Olympia Masters Over 60 (1996). He said he stopped eating animal products except for fish and cheese gradually, starting in 1974 and ending in 1985, and then between 1985 and 1999 also stopped eating both of those; he credited much of his excellent health to his diet.Shane Roberts," Black Male Vegan: 77-Year-Old Bodybuilder Jim Morris Proves Vegans Can Be Muscular & Healthy," Frugivoremag.com, 2 October 2012. He posed nude for a PETA ad at age 77 in support of the vegan lifestyle."78-Year-Old Vegan Male Bodybuilder, Jim Morris, Will Make You Reconsider Your Diet," Huffington Post UK, 8 January 2014.
Morris, who still trained regularly as of 2011, had been bodybuilding since September 1954. From 1974 to 1988, he was Elton John's personal bodyguard. He was openly gay. In 1971, he became the first openly gay IFBB professional bodybuilder. In 1973 he became the first openly gay bodybuilder to win AAU Mr. America overall, most muscular, best arms, and best chest titles.
In March 2014, a short documentary-film starring Jim Morris titled Jim Morris: Lifelong Fitness was released on YouTube.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
Morris died on January 28, 2016, at the age of 80.
Competition history
1959 AAU Mr. New York Metropolitan – 3rd 1967 AAU Junior Mr. America – 8th 1967 AAU Junior Mr. USA – 1st 1967 AAU Mr. New York Metropolitan – 1st 1967 AAU Mr. New York State – 1st 1967 AAU Mr. USA – AAU – 9th 1968 AAU Mr. America – 10th 1969 AAU Junior Mr. America – 5th 1970 AAU Mr. America – 8th (most muscular) 1970 AAU Mr. America – 7th 1970 AAU Mr. California – 1st (overall and most muscular) 1970 AAU Mr. Los Angeles – 1st 1971 IFBB Mr. International – 2nd (tall) 1972 AAU Mr. America – 3rd (most muscular) 1972 AAU Mr. USA – 1st (most muscular) 1973 AAU Mr. America – 1st (most muscular) 1974 WBBG Mr. International – 1st (tall) 1977 NABBA Mr. Universe – 1st (tall) 1996 IFBB Masters Olympia – 1st (masters 60+) 1996 IFBB Masters Olympia – 10th
References
External links
10 Keys to a World-Record Bench Press Mr. America has bulk – three decades after winning the title Vegan Bodybuilding