Despite His Brief Cameo in Pumping Iron, Frank Zane Helped Raise Money for the Film With Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Corney, Revealed in 2019

Frank Zane is considered one of the most aesthetic bodybuilders in the history of the sport. The 80-year-old former bodybuilder, coach, and author was a visionary who saw the sport beyond the competitions and stardom. The 3x Mr. Olympia once joined hands with his contemporaries Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Corney to raise funds to popularise the sport.

Belonging to the Golden Era of bodybuilding, Zane brought the idea of aesthetics in addition to mass to call a physique competition-worthy. He weighed less than 200 pounds during all three title wins, which speaks volumes about the epic level of proportion and symmetry he maintained. In a 2019 interview, the former Mr. Universe shared how he played a role in materializing the iconic movie on bodybuilding, ‘Pumping Iron.’

Frank Zane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ed Corney pose at the New York’s Whitney Museum. 

The book of the same title written by Charles Gaines, a weightlifter inspired ‘Pumping Iron’ movie. It was not easy to accumulate funds to make a movie, as the sport was still not popular among the masses. Although Zane knew it was going to be about Arnold, he showed a willingness to raise funds for the movie.

Zane, Schwarzenegger, and Corney exhibited themselves as living objects of art on a circular dais in the Whitney Museum. “About five thousand people packed into it and they raised enough money,” he said. 

READ MORE: Despite Winning 3 Mr. Olympia Titles, 80-Year-Old Frank Zane Once Admitted to Having Done Some ‘Stupid Stuff’ During His Career

Furthermore, Zane said that Arnold made huge efforts to promote the movie, which also kick-started his career in movies. However, the former Mr. World said he “could have been his training partner in the movie.” As he was still teaching skills in a school and “my living situation wasn’t too good,” he didn’t participate in the film which revolves around the life of bodybuilders in the historic Gold’s gym in California.

Zane wrote numerous outstanding books on bodybuilding

The Pennsylvania-born former bodybuilder started his professional career as a mathematics and chemistry teacher. Later on, he pursued a degree in psychology. Zane is undisputedly one of the most knowledgeable personalities in the sport. 

He has authored more than ten books to enlighten bodybuilders on what constitutes an aesthetic, healthy, and complete physique- exercise, diet, mind management, and more. Some of his latest books are 91 Day Wonder Body (2016), 91 Day Wonder Abs (2017), and Zane Bodybuilding Manual (2018).

Watch this story: From Young Age to Becoming a Beast Bodybuilding Legend Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Insane Transformation

Which bodybuilder, according to you, has the most aesthetic physique in the modern era? Share in the comments.