biography
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 17, 1932, Peter Lupus has had an on-again, off-again film and television 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 comedy Muscle Beach
Party (1964; with Annette Funicello).  
LEFT: July 1968 magazine cover featuring Lupus (thanks to Michael Barnum). CENTER: Photo taken during the same shoot. RIGHT: Mid 1970s photoIn 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 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 sword and sandal movies for American International Pictures (AIP). Before Muscle Beach Party was released by AIP, 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. |
the films of peter lupusMuscle Beach Party (1964)     
Images from the AIP comedy Muscle Beach Party. LEFT: With Don Rickles as Jack Fanny. CENTER A and B: With Luciana Paluzzi. CENTER C: With Buddy Hackett. CENTER D: Production still. RIGHT: With Chet Yorton, Luciana Paluzzi, and Larry ScottHercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964) 
From AIP's Hercules and the Tyrants of BabylonGoliath at the Conquest of Damascus (1964)  
From AIP's Goliath at the Conquest of DamascusGiant of the Evil Island (1965)
Lupus in AIP's Giant of the Evil IslandMission: 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 LupusMission Impossible Versus the Mob (1968)
Lobby card from the theatrical release Mission Impossible Versus the Mob with Peter GravesPolice Squad! (1982 ABC TV Series)
With series star Leslie Nielsen in the short-lived ABC comedy series Police Squad!peter lupus todayPeter Lupus met his 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 90 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. |
filmographyFILM
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Watch Peter Lupus (billed as Rock Stevens) in the 1964 film Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon |
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This page premiered June 1, 1998.
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