Mark Forest obit

Mark Forest (1933-2022)

 

 He was not on the list.

Born Lou Degni in Brooklyn, New York, on January 6, 1933, Mark Forest began bodybuilding at the age of 13 after being inspired by physical culture magazines. Later, Forest and his brother worked with the physically handicapped by developing exercise programs for them. Forest competed for the 1952 Mr. America title and finished 27th, a remarkable feat for a 19 year old. Before entering films, he appeared in some nightclub acts as the "strength premise." Forest was named "Mr. Venice Beach" in 1954, and he came in second in the "Mr. Muscle Beach" competition during the same year.

Forest was the second American actor, after Steve Reeves, to be recruited by Italian producers to star in sword and sandal films. He is a third-generation Italian-American, and some of his films were made in Naples, Italy, the area from which his grandparents came. With an acting style more relaxed than that of Steve Reeves or Reg Park, Forest seemed to glide through his portrayals of muscle-packed heroes.

Forest began bodybuilding at the age of 13, and he eventually opened his own gym in Long Island. A Hollywood talent scout saw his picture and invited him to Hollywood to audition for the role of Tarzan. Though he did not 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.

From Goliath and the Dragon, Mark Forest's first film. This peplum was released in the US by American International Pictures.

Forest made a number of sword and sandal films between 1960 and 1965, starring as Hercules twice in Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun and The Revenge of Hercules (aka Goliath and the Dragon). With the release of The Lion of Thebes, Forest walked away from acting to study opera and voice. For years he resided in Arleta, California, where he sang and taught opera. Sadly, Mark Forest passed away one day after his 89th birthday on January 7, 2022.