Fitness Guru Jack Lalanne Dead At 96!

[Jon S.]

(CNN) -- American fitness guru Jack LaLanne died Sunday afternoon at his home in Morro Bay, California, according to his long-time agent, Rick Hersh. He was 96.
The cause, said Hersh, was respiratory failure due to pneumonia. LaLanne had been ill for the past week. His wife, Elaine, was at his side, along with his family and friends, Hersh said. No funeral arrangements were announced, but his agent said plans were being made.
LaLanne spent decades talking about the healthful benefits of exercise and fitness. He opened his own health spa in California in 1936, years before the fitness craze swept the United States. LaLanne even designed the world's first leg-extension machine, along with several other pieces of fitness equipment now standard in the fitness industry.
He was born in San Francisco on September 26, 1914. A self-confessed sugar- and junk-food addict as a child, he went on to study bodybuilding and weight-lifting by the time he was in his late teens.
From the 1950s through the 1980s, LaLanne performed multiple feats of strength and endurance. His first such stunt was an underwater swim the length of the Golden Gate Bridge, loaded with 140 pounds of equipment, in 1954. He went on to stage many attention-getting events, including completing over a thousand pushups in a little over 20 minutes, and towing 65 boats filled with thousands of pounds of wood pulp in Japan.
LaLanne had his own workout program, "The Jack LaLanne Show." First broadcast nationally in 1959, the show went on to run for three decades.
In his later years, he was easily recognized because of late-night infomercials on on the benefits of juicing.
He also made many appearances on CNN's "Larry King Live" and was a friend of the talk show host. "There was no one like Jack LaLanne," King said Sunday night. "He would go on forever ... a true guru. I guess Charles Atlas from the old comic books would be the predecessor for Jack LaLanne."
But it wasn't simply LaLanne's physical prowess that impressed King. "Elderly people were encouraged by him because he just kept on going," King said, adding that modern fitness celebrities owe a debt of gratitude to the original impresario of exercise.
LaLanne's wife of 51 years released a statement on her husband's passing: "I have not only lost my husband and a great American icon, but the best friend and most loving partner anyone could ever hope for," Elaine said.

Yes he was 96, but I honestly didn't see it coming! He still looked like the picture of perfect health! However......everyone's time comes EVENTUALLY! Evidently he died from complications related to pneumonia & had been sick the past week.

 

[Trident1]

RIP Jack LaLanne.

 

[~~whimsy~~]

96 is still a nice age to go and with his looks to boot! He was active, healthy, and 96! Most folks end up falling in health in their late 60s to early 70s. He outlasted.

Let his ways be a testament to how to live to a late age.

How dare you not include his good bye song!

 

[dbradford8589]

RIP Jack LaLanne.

 

[stranger]

Sad to hear. He was a great role model for everyone to get your ass off the couch and eat right. RIP

 

[busaguy79]

Well he had a good outing but no matter how healthy you are your body will still give out. RIP

 

[Christa]

RIP Jack LaLanne.

 

[~~whimsy~~]

I can't find the clip of him on The Man Show.

 

[Jon S.]

Sorry for not including his signature farewell song in my post....that was remiss of me indeed! Still learning the ropes with including media in posts so to speak!

But, Jack was definitely the perfect example of HOW to LIVE your life RIGHT! He looked every bit as healthy at 96 as he did at 36! Anyone would be lucky to live to 96 & still be half as healthy as he was! Sadly, genetics has the deck stacked against me....I'm 38 & I just had my 1st heart attack (albeit a "mild one")!

People SHOULD look to the example he set......sadly I doubt many will!

RIP Jack LaLanne!!!

 

[Tittyman5000]

RIP Jack Lalanne You got me into Juicing, Now I wheat grass & juice every chance I get.
You will be missed.

 

[Bearded_Menace]

Damn! I know he was 96, but it was still a bit unexpected really. I guess this is a sign for me to go and buy that juicer then.

 

[~~whimsy~~]

Damn! I know he was 96, but it was still a bit unexpected really. I guess this is a sign for me to go and buy that juicer then.

It make me feel healthy as I mix my vodka juice! :tongue:

 

[squallumz]

i actually knew him personally. and he was a friend of my dad. he was a good guy. very respectful. and his wife was very sweet.