Larry Scott: The Life of A Golden Era Legend

When you hear the name Larry Scott, which man comes to mind?

• The Pac-12 NCAA Conference sports administrator
• The Florida Gators football coach
• The IFBB professional bodybuilder, and 1965-1966 Mr. Olympia champion

Since you’re reading here at Old School Labs, we assume you immediately think of Mr. Olympia Larry Scott. The man who, throughout his career, gained the nicknames “The Legend” and “The Golden Boy.”

However, if you would have known Larry as a young boy, you may not have thought he’d live up to those names. Today, we explore the life of Larry Scott, who made an impression on everyone he met in his life.

Without him, the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest may never have been. Let’s take a look back at how Larry got his start and cruise down memory lane to be reminded of his bodybuilding greatness.

Larry Scott of Humble Beginnings

He was born Larry Dee Scott on October 12, 1938, to Thea and Wayne Scott in Pocatello, ID. Skinny and not very tall, no one thought Larry would grow to become one of the best bodybuilders of the Golden Era.

When he was just 16, Larry came across a bodybuilding magazine he found at the city dump. At the time, he was just 5’8” and 120 pounds. Looking at the photos of the muscle-bound men, he saw advertisements stating “ ‘You, too, can have arms like these.’ ”

He went home and began to work out without much success. It took incredibly hard work and lots of food for Larry to increase his weight to 170 pounds. With newfound confidence, he was finally able to compete at the age of 20.

He competed in and won the Mr. Idaho competition in 1959. With that success, he moved to California, where he would begin to become The Legend.

Larry Scott, the Bodybuilder

Once in California, Scott wasted no time getting into the bodybuilding competition circuit through the AAU. He competed in several comps and took the following titles over the next few years:

• 1960 – Mr. California, won Mr. Muscular and overall 1st place title
• 1960 – Mr. Los Angeles, won 3rd place in Mr. Muscular and also 3rd place overall title
• 1961 – Mr. Pacific Coast, won Mr. Muscular and overall 1st place title

During those years, Larry reached his plateau and wasn’t going to progress any further without some help. Luckily for him, he was in the right place at the right time and happened to meet his future mentors.

With the help of these men, he was able to bust through his plateau and really hone his physique. Taking some time to get his body into peak condition, he was ready to move onto bigger and better competitions.

At this point, he moved on to the Mr. America and Mr. Universe competitions. He won Mr. America in 1962 and then Mr. Universe in 1964. Larry had finally been acknowledged and rewarded for all the hard work he’d been putting in.

But who were these mentors and how did they help him become one of the best competitors of the Golden Era?

The Mentors Who Changed the Game

In the early 1960s, Larry happened to meet a man by the name of Irving Johnson at the gym. This man, better known in the industry as Rheo H. Blair, had a line of supplements he was trying to sell.

The Nutrition Mentor

Blair discussed his success with actors and models in Hollywood and wanted to help change some lives that day. Larry Scott was ready to have his body transformed and reach new heights, regardless of his stature.

While Blair’s supplement line was much more expensive than what Larry was currently taking, he knew he needed a change. From then on, Blair became Scott’s nutritional mentor.

Scott listened to Blair and started taking his supplement products and following his diet recommendations (more on this later). Scott was then able to bust through his leveling-off period and put on pounds of muscle.

The Bodybuilding Mentor

Not long before this happened, Scott teamed up with another man who would change the course of his bodybuilding career. Vince Gironda, the Iron Guru, took Scott into his gym and coached him to build his physique.

Ironically, his feature that was notably the weakest, his arms, ended up becoming his best feature. His long upper arms allowed him to build impressive biceps. 

Larry Scott built his biceps to an impressive and unprecedented 20”, the largest in the industry at the time.

How was he able to do this? Through dogged perseverance, dedication in the gym, and the right coach and mentors. Gironda had invented a specific bicep curl called the “Preacher Curl,” and Scott practiced this curl religiously. So much so that the curl became known as the Scott Curl.

Now he had the physique that most could only dream of, after working with some of the best mentors in the business. But, where would he compete? He’d already gotten to the top of the AAU and there was nowhere else to go from here.

Or was there?

The IFBB Mr. Olympia is Born

In 1964, Larry Scott had reached the best shape of his life. That same year, the Weider brothers, Joe and Ben, were looking for a way to compete with the AAU.

As the story goes, Larry and Joe were having a beer and talking about the industry. Larry expressed his frustration with there not being another level of competition to reach. Joe realized an opportunity when he saw one, and the Mr. Olympia contest was born.

The Weiders’ knew they needed just the right poster boy to be the face of the IFBB. Realizing that the All-American Golden Boy who had topped the AAU was the perfect person, they got to work. 

In 1965, the Mr. Olympia contest debuted in New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Mr. Olympia contest was created as the Champion of all Champions. Only those who had won the Mr. America or Mr. Universe competitions could compete.

To make the event irresistible and ensure a huge turnout, the Mr. America and Mr. Universe competitions were held that same night. The best bodybuilders in the world would attend and compete. 

Larry, of course, and others, including:

• Dave Draper
• Sergio Oliva
• Rick Wayne
• Chuck Sipes
• Harold Poole

The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the show and once Larry hit the stage, they were beside themselves. Twenty minutes of straight applause brought down the house and saw Larry Scott crowned the inaugural winner of the 1965 Mr. Olympia.

Larry became the only winner of the Mr. Olympia to win an actual crown. In 1966 and years going forward, the winner instead received a cash prize.

A Shocking Turn of Events at the 1966 Mr. Olympia

The Weiders hit their mark and heavily promoted the event for 1966 as a rematch of Poole and Scott. In 1966, Poole was greatly improved but was no match for the perfectly sculpted physique of The Golden Boy.

Larry Scott won his second title (this time winning $1,000 in prize money) that year. Much to everyone’s shock, Scott announced that he would retire from bodybuilding in 1966. 

He had won two consecutive Mr. Olympia titles and everyone thought he’d go on to compete. However, he had other plans. After conquering the world of bodybuilding, Scott wanted to focus on having a family and concentrate his efforts elsewhere.

Larry Scott: The Model and Actor

Throughout the early 1960s, Larry wasn’t just a bodybuilder. He was also a model and an actor. With his amazing physique and all-around good looks, he was a natural.

During that time, he graced the covers of many magazines, including:

• Mr. America
• Muscle Builder
• Demi Gods
• Muscleboy 
• Muscles a Go-Go
• The Young Physique
• Ironman
• MuscleMag International

In 1964, he played a part in the movie Muscle Beach Party starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. He also later portrayed himself in the documentaries Muscle Beach Then and Now (2011) and Evolution of Bodybuilding (2012).

By the time the Mr. Olympia contest was created, many people already had “Larry Fever.” His story of triumph and building himself up against physical odds made him a favorite to look up to.

The Author

During and after his time competing, Larry Scott also authored articles in Joe Weider’s magazines. As an IFBB member, he wrote exclusively for Weider’s publications, including:

• Flex
• Ironman
• MuscleMag International

He collaborated on several articles in the publications with freelance writer Rod Labbe. Scott had been someone that Labbe looked up to as a child, so to work with him was something he cherished. 

Over the years, Scott and Labbe became friends and worked on different articles together. Labbe also interviewed Scott for other publications as well.

In an interview that Larry did with Labbe, he had this to say about his role in the movie Muscle Beach Party. “If my example encourages one person to abandon his or her sedentary lifestyle and join a gym, I’ll wear pink shorts and a matching cape every day.”

That was just the kind of man that Larry was. The All-American Golden Boy who talked the talk and walked the walk. People loved him because he was a nobody who became a somebody.

And just how did Larry Scott perfect the physique that won him title after title? Here’s a look at his workout routine and diet.

Larry Scott’s Workout Routine

Not only did Larry author articles in various Weider publications, but he also created booklets and How-to books. He provided fans and aspiring bodybuilders with instructions on how to build the body that he did using his methods. 

One, titled “The Art of Posing,” detailed how Larry got to grace the covers of so many magazines. Another very popular booklet, titled “How I Built My 20-Inch Arms” was popular among aspiring bodybuilders. 

Larry detailed the exercises he did to create the best arms ever made in bodybuilding at the time. The initial routine he put together for the booklet included these exercises:

• Two-Arm Barbell Curl: 8 – 10 reps for 3 sets
• Incline Dumbbell Curl: 8 reps for 4 sets
• Reverse Barbell Curl: 10 reps for 3 sets
• Standing Triceps Press: 10 reps for 4 sets
• Incline Barbell Triceps Press: 8 reps for 3 or 4 sets
• Lying Dumbbell Press: 10 – 12 reps for 4 sets

Complete these six exercises three times per week for at least two months. After the first month, increase by one set if you are able to. Once you’ve accomplished these workouts, move onto the second routine:

• Flat Bench Dumbbell Curl: 10 reps for 5 sets
• Bent-over Barbell Concentration Curl: 10 – 12 reps for 3 sets
• Dumbbell Kickbacks: 10 – 12 reps for 4 sets
• Barbell Kickbacks: 6 reps for 4 sets

Follow the same tips as the first routine above. If you continue to work hard at this routine, you may just develop arms similar to Larry Scott!

The Time Commitment

However, keep in mind that he was extremely disciplined during his workouts. 

He lifted for 12 hours each week, working out six days for two hours each day when training for competitions. He built his physique by training heavy and taking little rest in between.

It was this dedication and level of commitment that made the Iron Guru himself want to invest his time into Larry. The specialized equipment that Vince’s Gym had allowed for isolation moves that Larry could use to define his muscles.

During his time competing, do you know what Scott’s preferred diet was? Let’s take a look and see what he was eating and the supplements he was using.

Larry Scott’s Bodybuilding Diet

As what is considered a “hard gainer,” Larry was someone to emulate for those who struggled. Both his workout routine as well as his diet was something that people wanted to copy.

With Blair as his mentor, he was taking a number of supplements and eating a large number of calories. He needed to keep his weight up and continue to pack on the muscle, and his diet and gym routine worked.

Larry Scott focused on a high-protein, low-fat, low-carb diet. Here is what his daily food intake looked like when he was competing:

• Three eggs throughout the day
• Lean meat and cottage cheese three times per day
• One cup of cream and milk each mixed with two-thirds cup of Blair’s protein powder three times per day

On top of the food he consumed, he also took a number of Blair’s approved supplements:

• Desiccated beef liver capsules
• Hydrochloric acid capsules
• Blair B Complex capsules
• Amino acid capsules

He was taking over 100 capsules per day of the various vitamins and minerals. While this may seem excessive, it certainly paid off for the Legend that was Larry Scott.

Larry Scott in Retirement

Though he retired from bodybuilding in 1966, like many competitors, he didn’t leave the world of bodybuilding completely.

He settled in Utah after leaving the competition circuit and created his own personal training company. He created a line of supplements and also designed and customized gym equipment.

Through his work, Larry continued to keep himself in great shape. So much so that he decided to compete again in 1979. He entered the Canada Diamond Pro Cup and the Grand Prix Vancouver competitions that year.

Unfortunately for Larry, he did not place in the Grand Prix and only placed ninth in the Canada Diamond. It seemed those 13 years in between competitions had taken their toll on his physique.

He was no match for the newer competitors and he knew his competing years were officially over.

The Personal Life of Larry Scott

Not long after moving to California to pursue bodybuilding, Larry enrolled in Electronics at Valley College. He was a man of faith and a practicing Mormon.

Larry Scott married the love of his life, Rachel Ichikawa, on October 29, 1966. After living his adult life in California, the Scotts decided to retire to Salt Lake City, Utah to raise their family.

They went on to have five children, daughter Susan and four sons: Erin, Nathan, Derek, and Michael. Son Derek passed away in 1992 after being involved in a motorcycle accident. The following year, son Michael also passed. 

In 2012, it was revealed to his old friend Rod Labbe that Scott had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It started with forgetfulness, and he went for evaluation at Idaho State University where he was given his prognosis.

Both of Scott’s parents suffered from dementia as they got older. He also considered an old head injury from when he was a child, which could have increased his risk. Regardless of the reason that Alzheimer’s disease came for him, Scott remained in good spirits.

How did Larry Scott die? He passed away from complications of the disease on March 8, 2014, at his home. He lived a full life for 75 years and has impacted millions of lives as The Golden Boy.

When discussing his life after the diagnosis, he had this to say to Rod, “Maintaining a good attitude’s essential…I’ve been extremely lucky, no doubt about it. Just a naive kid from Pocatello, ID, who went on a great adventure.”

Final Thoughts

We can all agree that Larry Scott’s life was a great adventure indeed. From making history in the Golden Era of bodybuilding to creating a powerful legacy still felt today, Larry impacted many.

His good looks and charisma, along with the dedication to his body and the industry, made him successful and sought after. The Mr. Olympia, a contest still help today, was largely due to Larry’s quest to continue competing.

Once he’d done everything he set out to do, competing took a back seat to build a family and business.

Larry’s death in 2014 was felt around the world in the fitness industry. The loss of an icon and a great friend to many, his impact and status became immortalized. He inspired many in and around bodybuilding to persevere and hone their physique to exceed their goals.

The world of bodybuilding, particularly the Golden Era, was truly changed for the better having Larry Scott in the industry.

Did Larry Scott have an impact on your bodybuilding goals and desires? Have you tried any of his workout routines? We’d love to learn more about how Larry may have impacted your weight lifting in the comments below.