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Peter Lupus
1932-
Updated 12/17/2007 with more DVDs available.
biography
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 17, 1932, Peter Lupus has had an on-again, off-again film career. Before becoming an actor, Lupus had won the titles Mr. Indianapolis (1954), Mr. Indiana (1960), Mr. Hercules, and the world title of Mr. International Health Physique. As with many bodybuilders of the era, he tried his hand at acting and took roles in the Indianapolis Starlight Musicals series. In addition, he did summer stock work in the east. His first film role came in the 1964 release Muscle Beach Party.
LEFT: July 1968 magazine cover featuring Lupus (thanks to Michael Barnum). CENTER: Photo taken during the same shoot. RIGHT: Mid 1970s photo
In his first film, Peter Lupus (billed as Rock Stevens) portrays Flex Martian, the biggest bodybuilder in Jack Fanny's (Don Rickles) troupe of athletes. Look for famed bodybuilders Chet Yorton and Larry Scott as fellow bodybuilders. Of course, the movie stars the usual AIP beach movie regulars, such as Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, John Ashley, Jody McCrea, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones, and Candy Johnson. Others include beautiful Italian sexpot Luciana Paluzzi, Buddy Hackett, Morey Amsterdam, and Don Rickles. After production wrapped on Muscle Beach Party, Lupus went to Italy to make five quickie sword and sandal movies for AIP.
Before Muscle Beach Party was released by American International Pictures, producer Samuel Z. Arkoff told Lupus to come up with a stage name, stating that American audiences liked American-sounding names; therefore, Lupus is billed as 'Rock Stevens' in his early film appearances. He went back to using his real name when he was cast in the role of Willy Armitage in the CBS TV series Mission: Impossible (1966-1973).
the films of peter lupus
Images from Muscle Beach Party. LEFT: With Luciana Paluzzi. CENTER A: With Buddy Hackett. CENTER B: Production still. RIGHT: With Chet Yorton, Luciana Paluzzi, and Larry Scott
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964)
From AIP's Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon
Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus (1964)
From AIP's Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus
Giant of the Evil Island (1965)
Lupus in AIP's Giant of Evil Island
Mission: Impossible (1966-1973 CBS TV Series)
From the CBS TV series Mission: Impossible. LEFT: Cast photo with Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Greg Morris, and Peter Graves. CENTER and RIGHT: Press photos of Lupus
Mission Impossible Versus the Mob (1968)
Lobby card from the theatrical release Mission Impossible Versus the Mob with Peter Graves
peter lupus today
Peter Lupus met his future wife, Sharon, in the late 1950s when she visited the Indianapolis gym that Lupus owned. They were married in 1960 and have a son, Peter Lupus III, who is also an actor.
For a number of years, Lupus has been a vitamin company representative and spokesman in the Hollywood Hills area, but he occasionally accepts small parts in films and TV shows. Now over 70 years old, Lupus is still working out and is in great shape, only 10 pounds off his early 1960s weight of 250 pounds. At 6'4", Lupus is one of the more physically imposing sword and sandal actors, his size roughly comparable to that of Samson Burke.
Mission: Impossible: The Complete First TV Season [DVD](1966) DVD
All 28 episodes from the debut season--including the pilot, "Operation Rogosh," "Fakeout," "Snowball in Hell," and "The Psychic"--have been collected in a seven-disc set. 23 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono.
Mission: Impossible: The Second TV Season [DVD](1967) DVD
All 25 episodes from the second season--including "The Widow" (featuring the first appearance of Peter Graves as Jim Phelps), "The Bank," "Echo of Yesterday," "A Game of Chess," and "Recovery"--have been collected in a seven-disc set. 21 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish.
Mission: Impossible: The Third TV Season [DVD](1968) DVD
All 25 episodes from the third season--including "The Heir Apparent," "The Elixir," "The Mind of Stefan Miklos," "Doomsday," and "The Interrogator"--have been collected in a seven-disc set. 21 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish.
Mission: Impossible: Three TV Season Pack [DVD] DVD
Hercules And The Tyrants Of Babylon (Ercole Contro I Tiranni Di Babilonia) [DVD](1964) DVD
Rock Stevens (later Peter Lupus of "Mission: Impossible" fame), as Hercules, is called on to save the Queen of Helledes, a ruler desired by the evil king of Babylon and his three sleazy siblings. Although Herc has his work cut out for him, the large club he wields helps matters, in this adventure-filled epic. Helga Line, Mario Petri co-star. Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English.
Hercules And The Tyrants Of Babylon (Ercole Contro I Tiranni Di Babilonia) [VHS](1964) VHS
Rock Stevens (later Peter Lupus of "Mission: Impossible" fame), as Hercules, is called on to save the Queen of Helledes, a ruler desired by the evil king of Babylon and his three sleazy siblings. Although Herc has his work cut out for him, the large club he wields helps matters, in this adventure-filled epic. Helga Line, Mario Petri co-star. Dubbed in English.
Goliath At The Conquest Of Damascus [DVD](1964) DVD
When an exiled king gets in trouble, the mighty Goliath comes to his rescue, helping him regain his throne. Rock Stevens, Helga Line star in this European sword-and-sandal tale featuring rugged battle sequences. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Goliath At The Conquest Of Damascus [VHS](1964) VHS
When an exiled king gets in trouble, the mighty Goliath comes to his rescue, helping him regain his throne. Rock Stevens, Helga Line star in this European sword-and-sandal tale featuring rugged battle sequences. Dubbed in English. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.
Frankie & Annette: M-G-M Movie Legends Collection [DVD] DVD
"Surf's up" in this four-disc boxed set saluting AIP's teen comedy series and seaside sweethearts Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Anthropologist Bob Cummings uses the pair as part of a study of modern mating habits in the original "Beach Party" (1963), with Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Annette has her hands full when the Potato Bug, a British pop star who's Frankie's double, arrives at "Bikini Beach" (1964). Don Rickles and Little Stevie Wonder guest star. Gym owner Rickles wants to take over the kids' surf spot, and heiress Luciana Paluzzi wants to woo Frankie from Annette, in "Muscle Beach Party" (1964). Avalon trades his board for slats and joins Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley and James Brown for a "Ski Party" (1965). "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) boasts a missing singer, a mermaid, and skydiving surfdogs. Avalon wants to keep pal Hickman away from Funicello while he's on military duty in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965), with Buster Keaton. Frankie's a moonshine-running hot rodder competing with racer Fabian for Annette's hand in "Fireball 500" (1966). And Fabian and Funicello burn rubber together in "Thunder Alley" (1967). 12 1/2 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English mono.
Police Squad!: The Complete Series [DVD](1982) DVD
Creators Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker spoofed the TV cop drama genre with this short-lived 1982 CBS series that would serve as the backdrop for their popular "Naked Gun" films. Watch as bumbling, deadpan detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) battles bad guys amidst a host of hilarious sight gags and over-the-top humor. With Alan North, Peter Lupus, Ed Williams, William Duell, and Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln. All six episodes from the series are featured on this disc. 150 min. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono; audio commentary on selected episodes; featurettes; interview; photo gallery; more.
Assassination [DVD](1987) DVD
Charles Bronson's back as an iron-tough secret serviceman with the thankless job of safeguarding uncooperative First Lady Jill Ireland. After several near misses on her life, though, she knows she needs him...and he knows he'll need all the deadly skill he can muster. Michael Ansara, Jan Gan Boyd co-star. 88 min. Widescreen (Enhanced) and Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
The Nutt House [DVD](1992) DVD
In this outrageous farce, a lunatic with multiple personalities escapes from a mental hospital to search for his identical twin brother, a successful politician. When the two siblings reunite, unpredictable slapstick wackiness abounds. Traci Lords, Stephen Kearny and Amy Yasbeck star; co-written by Alan Smithee, Jr. and Sr. AKA: "The Nutty Nut." 90 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
The Nutt House [VHS](1992) VHS
In this outrageous farce, a lunatic with multiple personalities escapes from a mental hospital to search for his identical twin brother, a successful politician. When the two siblings reunite, unpredictable slapstick wackiness abounds. Traci Lords, Stephen Kearny and Amy Yasbeck star; co-written by Alan Smithee, Jr. and Sr. AKA: "The Nutty Nut." 90 min. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
filmography
FILM
Carlo's Wake (1999) with Martin Landau
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994) with Ami Dolenz, Soleil Moon Frye, Steve Kanaly, Gloria Hendry, Roger Clinton, and Peter Lupus III
Love, Cheat & Steal (1993)
Acting on Impulse (1993) with C. Thomas Howell, Linda Fiorentino, Nancy Allen, Adam Ant, Paul Bartel, Isaac Hayes, Miles O'Keeffe, and Cassandra Peterson
The Nutt House (1992) with Amy Yasbeck, Traci Lords, Sandra Gould, and Barry Livingston
Hangfire (1991) with Lyle Alzado, Lou Ferrigno, and Fred Schneider
Think Big (1990) with David and Peter Paul, Martin Mull, and Richard Kiel
Assassination (1987) with Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland
The Escapist (1983)
Mission Impossible Versus the Mob (1968) with Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, and Greg Morris
Giant of Evil Island (1965)
Challenge of the Gladiator (1964)
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964) with Helga Liné
Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus (1964) with Helga Liné and Daniele Vargas
Muscle Beach Party (1964) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, John Ashley, and Jody McCrea
TELEVISION
Spy Game, episode Why Spy?, originally aired March 3, 1997
Police Squad! (1982) series regular
Fantasy Island, episode One Million B.C., originally aired March 1, 1980
CHiPs, episode Roller Disco: Part 2, originally aired September 22, 1979
Vegas (1978?) (guest shot)
Mission: Impossible (1966-1973) series regular
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1963) (guest shot)
The Jack Benny Show (1962?) (guest shot)
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