Mae West: Jim Morris

Beefy biceps still define the muscular upper torso of Jim Morris, who played a gymnast in the MAE WEST vehicle "Sextette" [1978]. Thirty years later he is not letting his meat loaf — — even though he's 72.
• • Mae West also exercised and kept fit well into her seventies, prodded and monitored by her longtime lover Paul Novak, a former bodybuilder. If Mae were here to watch, she's probably tell Jim Morris, ex-Mr. America, that he's doin' real good.
• • According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, Jim Morris's Mr. America win in 1973 propelled him into Tinseltown's social turbine. "I was living by the Hollywood sign, I was known in the gay community, I was invited to all the A-list parties," he said. The former food company sales rep had a modest onscreen career, and even became a bodyguard for Elton John, but never really left the place he loves best: the gymnasium.
• • L.A. Times staffwriter Carla Hall writes: Mr. America of 1973 stood in a Marina del Rey gym of 2007, exhorting a new pupil to hold a little longer on the leg extension machine despite that torturous burning sensation in the quads. Curiously, Carla Hall adds, though he entered his final body building competition at age 61 — — he won — — and plans to stay a personal trainer as long as there's rent to pay, Jim Morris is now shy about the very thing that brought him fame: showing off his physique. ...
— — excerpt — —
• • Source: Los Angeles Times
• • Byline: Carla Hall
• • Published: 9 September 2007
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West posing with Jim Morris and the gang • • 1977 • •
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Mae West.