Dennis Tinerino
| Dennis Tinerino | |
|---|---|
| — Bodybuilder — | |
 |
|
| Personal info | |
| Nickname | Servinator |
| Born | December 23, 1945 Brooklyn, New York City |
| Died | May 7, 2010 (aged 64) Los Angeles, California |
| Height | 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) |
| Weight | Contest: 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Professional career | |
| Best win | Mr. Universe (1968, 1975, 1980 and 1981), Mr. America (1978), |
Dennis Tinerino (December 23, 1945 – May 7, 2010) was an American bodybuilder, most prominent in the late 1960s and 1970s. He won the Mr. Universe title four times in 1968, 1975, 1980 and 1981 and Mr. World in 1971 in the tall man's category, and Mr. America in 1978. After becoming involved in a life of crime, running one of the biggest escort services in California, he became an international evangelist. The 1983 edition of The Gold's Gym book of bodybuilding cited him as "one of the most successful bodybuilders of the past decade or two". He is an inductee of the National Fitness Hall of Fame, IFBB Hall of Fame and National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
Tinerino was born into an Italian-American family in Brooklyn in 1945. At the age of 12 he resolved to become a champion bodybuilder and actor after looking in the mirror and feeling that he was "so skinny he could duck raindrops". His father, a boxer, started his training at the local YMCA. He grew up in a rough area, white in a black neighborhood, surviving numerous death threats, but remained focused. Attending East New York Technical High School from aged 13–16, he "packed three inches onto his arms, netting 16 inches total at a bodyweight of 175 pounds." After graduating high school he worked for Olympic Radio and TV. There he met Joe Abbenda who became his mentor, along with Bill Pearl, advancing his training sessions to 5 days a week.
Tinerino won the Teen Mr. America, Mr. Atlantic Coast, Mr East Coast, and Mr. Brooklyn contests in 1964, and finished second to Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Mr. Universe contest in 1967 at the age of 21. He won the NABBA Mr. Universe title in England in 1968, and later in 1975, 1980 and 1981 in the tall man's category. He won the Mr. World contest in the tall man's category in 1971. He finished 6th overall in the 1977 Mr. Olympia contest, 3rd in the over 200 lb category, and 9th overall in the 1978 Mr. Olympia coast, 4th in the over 200 lb category. Tinerino also won the title of Pro Mr. Natural America in 1978. His last contest was in the 1982 Mr. Olympia, finishing in 14th place.
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