Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne

 Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne (September 26, 1914 – January 23, 2011)

He was a fitness, exercise, and nutrition expert and motivational speaker who is sometimes referred to as the "Godfather of Fitness" and the "First Fitness Superhero". He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was age 15. He also had behavioral problems, but "turned his life around" after listening to a public lecture about the benefits of good nutrition by health food pioneer Paul Bragg. Decades before health and fitness began being promoted by celebrities like Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons, LaLanne was already widely recognized for publicly preaching the health benefits of regular exercise and a good diet. He published numerous books on fitness and hosted the fitness television program The Jack LaLanne Show between 1953 and 1985. As early as 1936, at age 21, he opened one of the nation's first fitness gyms in Oakland, California. LaLanne published several books and videos on fitness and nutrition, appeared in movies, and recorded a song with Connie Haines. He marketed exercise equipment, a range of vitamin supplements, and two models of electric juicers. Besides producing his own series of videos, he coached the elderly and disabled not to forgo exercise, believing it would enable them to enhance their strength. LaLanne was inducted to the California Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. LaLanne died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia at his home on January 23, 2011. He was 96. His family stated that LaLanne was doing his regular exercise routine the day before he died. LaLanne is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.