Mark Forest (born Lou Degni in Brooklyn, January 6. 1933) is an
American actor and bodybuilder best known for playing the lead in a
series of peplum movies in the 1960s, including the role of Maciste
several times.Lou Degni began bodybuilding at the age of 13 that led
to him opening a gym on Long Island. A Hollywood talent scout saw his
picture and invited him to Hollywood to audition for the role of
Tarzan. Though he didn't get the part, he became part of Mae West's
troupe of musclemen in her Las Vegas stage show. During this time he
entered several weightlifting competitions and won the title of "Mr.
Muscle Beach" in Venice, California.After the phenomenal worldwide
success of Hercules he became the second American actor to be
recruited by Italian producers. He was signed to a three-picture
contract with La vendetta di Ercole retitled Goliath and the Dragon
for the US market being his first film. His name was changed for the
film but he had a strong advantage due to his speaking fluent Italian
prior to arriving in Europe. For the English version of the film he
was dubbed by Jackson Beck who voiced Bluto in the Popeye
cartoons.Forest continued in the peplum genre but left the cinema for
a career as a European opera singer. He began a third career as a
California voice coach.
American actor and bodybuilder best known for playing the lead in a
series of peplum movies in the 1960s, including the role of Maciste
several times.Lou Degni began bodybuilding at the age of 13 that led
to him opening a gym on Long Island. A Hollywood talent scout saw his
picture and invited him to Hollywood to audition for the role of
Tarzan. Though he didn't get the part, he became part of Mae West's
troupe of musclemen in her Las Vegas stage show. During this time he
entered several weightlifting competitions and won the title of "Mr.
Muscle Beach" in Venice, California.After the phenomenal worldwide
success of Hercules he became the second American actor to be
recruited by Italian producers. He was signed to a three-picture
contract with La vendetta di Ercole retitled Goliath and the Dragon
for the US market being his first film. His name was changed for the
film but he had a strong advantage due to his speaking fluent Italian
prior to arriving in Europe. For the English version of the film he
was dubbed by Jackson Beck who voiced Bluto in the Popeye
cartoons.Forest continued in the peplum genre but left the cinema for
a career as a European opera singer. He began a third career as a
California voice coach.
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