Jack LaLanne Birthday & Fun Facts

Jack LaLanne Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

Francois Henri Jack LaLanne

Place Of Birth

California, USA

Age

109 years old

Birth Date

September 26 1914

Jack LaLanne Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Fitness Expert, Motivational Speaker

Education & Qualifications

Net Worth

$15,000,000

Children

Jon LaLanne, Yvonne LaLanne, Janet LaLanne, Daniel LaLanne

Parents

Jean LaLanne, Jennie LaLanne

Siblings

Ervil LaLanne, Norman LaLanne

Jack LaLanne was an American nutrition guru who spoke about health problems and how to deal with them in the best way possible.

Until the age of 15, Jack LaLanne considered himself a junkie of junk food and sugar, but soon after, he realized the importance of physical fitness and decided to turn his life around. He believed that the country's overall health depends on the population's overall health, and the country's physical culture could become their source of salvation.

Jack LaLanne was one of the first few to preach the health benefits of remaining physically fit publicly. This happened long before celebrities like Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda started publicly preaching good physical health. LaLanne published several books dedicated to the exercise and fitness category. He was also the host of 'The Jack LaLanne Show,' a fitness-based television program. The show lasted from 1951 - 1985. At age 21, he was one of the first people ever to open gyms in Oakland, California. That gym became an inspiration and prototype for the other gyms that followed.

Apart from being a successful health expert, he was also recognized as a bodybuilder. When LaLanne was 54, he beat 21-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger at an informal contest and was termed an animal by the latter. During his time as the governor of California, Schwarzenegger placed LaLanne on the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness.

Jack LaLanne was born to Jennie and John LaLanne in San Francisco, California, on September 26, 1914. His name during his birth was Francois Henri LaLanne.

His parents were French immigrants who hailed from Oloron-Sainte-Marie. They came to the US during the '80s, when they were both children. The couple had two other children apart from Jack, older brothers, Ervil (1906 - 1911) and Norman (1908 - 2005). Norman was the one who gave Jack his nickname.

Jack ate mostly vegan food to maintain his healthy diet. However, he did add fish to the evening meal. The diet then converted to a complete vegan meatless diet.

What was Jack LaLanne’s net worth?

Jack Lalanne was a motivational speaker who advised keeping yourself fit and healthy. He spent his life encouraging others to lead a healthy lifestyle until his death at 96. Over the years, he gave innumerable speeches and hosted television programs on fitness and health. His net worth at the time of his death was approximately $15 million.

How much did Jack LaLanne earn per year?

Jack Lalanne was a celebrated fitness expert. He coached many celebrities and famous personalities to become healthy. His annual income, however, is unknown.

How tall was Jack LaLanne?

According to his pictures, Jack Lalanne seems to be of average height. He was approximately 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall from head to toe.

How old was Jack LaLanne?

Jack Lalanne was born on September 26, 1914. He passed away at the age of 96 on January 23, 2011. He was a great fitness expert and motivational speaker. In his life, he inspired millions of people, including celebrities, and taught them the importance of fitness.

Jack LaLanne was born in the city of San Francisco, California. He spent his childhood with his brother, Norman, in Bakersfield, California. The family later moved to Berkeley sometime around 1928. When Jack was about 24 years old, his father died in a hospital in San Francisco at age 58.

Jack LaLanne stated in his book 'The Jack LaLanne Way to Vibrant Health' that he was addicted to junk food, especially sugar. Due to his ill health, he also suffered severe headaches and bulimia. This was the reason he dropped out of high school for some time at the age of 14. Within a year, he heard the speech of Paul Bragg, a pioneer of healthy food, who spoke about the importance of nutrition and the harmful effects of sugar and meat on the human body. That speech was a turning point in LeLanne's life, and he started focussing more on his health and, more importantly, his diet. Soon, he became a swimmer and started weight training.

He then completed high school and also joined the football team. After that, he received a doctor of chiropractic degree from a college in San Francisco.

Who was Jack LaLanne’s partner?

At the time of his death, Jack LaLanne was married to Elaine Doyle LaLanne, who was his second wife. They were married for more than 50 years. The couple has a son, Jon LaLanne. Jack LaLanne had a daughter from his first marriage, Yvonne LaLanne. Elaine had a son from a previous marriage, Dan Doyle. The family of five stayed together.

His daughter, Yvonne, works in California as a chiropractor, and Jon and Dan run a fitness business, BeFit Enterprises, together.

Best Known For…

Jack LaLanne was the first person to open a health club in Oakland, California. This was the start of his career in the health industry. He offered training and exercise machines in the club and gave health advice. The main goal of the fitness club was to encourage clients to improve their overall health.

The concept of gyms was so new at the time that the doctors advised people to stay away from LaLanne's health club. They also stated that the gyms could cause severe physical damage and muscle problems. LaLanne was also responsible for designing the first pulley machines or the leg extension machines, along with the weight training, which has now become standard for the industry. He was also the inventor of the original Smith Machine design.

By the '80s, Jack LaLanne had more than 200 European health spas licensed under the Bally Company, known as Bally Total Fitness. He was not associated with any gyms during his death. However, his passion for weightlifting did not die.

He also had a very brief career as a professional wrestler in 1938. He did a few wrestling matches in the Bay Area for a few months. He was a well-respected wrestler, so much so that his name was booked opposite some big names for wrestling even though he had little to no experience. People placed bets that he would draw rather than lose to those opponents.

LaLanne was also a host of a television show, 'The Jack LaLanne Show', where he gave fitness advice to people. The show ran for 34 years and was the longest-running fitness show. The show first aired on September 28, 1953, on local TV. Initially, it was just 15 minutes long. However, the show was picked up nationwide soon after. He used his show to promote his gym and products relayed to fitness. Apart from that, the show focused on something unique. LaLanne showed that people could use basic household objects like a chair or table for fitness. He also introduced an object, the Glamour Stretcher, an elastic cord used to stretch, on his workout album, 'Glamour Stretcher Time'. Since his show was daytime, his target audience was stay-at-home women.

In his career, he published books and appeared in videos related to fitness. He also marketed fitness equipment like vitamin supplements and other nutrition products.

Jack LaLanne was best known as the father of fitness as he made it his life's mission to make America more healthy as a nation. He was so fit that even in his last years, at an advanced age, he used to lift the weight.

He was the first person to design the pulley machines that are used to exercise, along with other fitness products.

He was also very well known for working out so repetitively that it could lead to muscle fatigue, he also moved from one exercise to another exercise which can also be called training to failure.

Charity Work

Jack LaLanne was a nutrition guru who advised innumerable people regarding their health, including diet and nutrition. His work greatly impacted the people of America over the 75 years he was active as a nutritionist.

What awards did Jack LaLanne win?

Jack LaLanne lived a healthy lifestyle for over 75 years, and during those years, he also managed to encourage millions of people to do the same. He has received several awards and honors.

The president's Council gave LaLanne the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. The winner is chosen based on their career and how many lives they have touched. Jack LaLanne influenced millions of people with his inspiration to remain fit.

He was also given a plaque at the California Hall of Fame in 2008 by then governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The plaque was given in honor of the 75 years he spent leading and encouraging others to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Some of his other awards include the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Gold Circle Award for completing 50 years in the industry, The Jack Webb Award that he received from the Los Angeles Police Historical Society, the Healthy American Fitness Award, The Freddie, Medical Media Public Service Award, and many more.

Jack LaLanne’s Hobbies And Interests

Jack LaLanne was passionate about his diet and a healthy lifestyle from a very young age. He was just 15 years old when he decided to dedicate his life to fitness and good health. Before then, he considered himself a food junkie, but a speech by diet expert Paul Bragg changed his life and made it his goal to be healthy.

• Jack LaLanne described himself as a junk food junkie and a sugarholic until he was 15, after which he turned his life around and became a health guru.
• Jack LaLanne received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His name was also admitted to the California Hall of Fame.
• Back when women were encouraged to look slim and delicate, LaLanne was the one who encouraged them to do weight lifts and become strong.
• Jack LaLanne had two dogs on his show, Happy was introduced first as a way to attract children to exercise, and second was Walter, whose name meant 'We All Love To Exercise Regularly.'
• On his 95th birthday, LaLanne released a book titled 'Live Young Forever', where he discussed how one could maintain health and be active at such an advanced stage in life.
• Jack passed away due to pneumonia that caused lung failure. According to his family, he did his daily workout the day before he died.
• Jack's home had one swimming pool and two separate gyms he used to do daily workouts.
• Even when he was in his '90s, he continued to do his two-hour workouts that included all exercises as well as walking.
• Jack grandly celebrated his 70th birthday. His healthy lifestyle motivated him to tow 70 rowboats with 70 people on board for 1.5 miles across the Long Beach Harbour while he was handcuffed and his feet were shackled.
• Jack was 43 years old when he swam on the English Channel.
• Almost 30 years ago, LaLanne swam from Alcatraz Island.
• He jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and swam his way as well.
• He is known for his world record of doing 1033 push-ups in the span of 23 minutes.

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