Mike Katz Biography
Mike Katz (Michael Katz) is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder best known for his appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film Pumping Iron.
In 2011, Katz appeared in the documentary Challenging Impossibility, commenting on the weightlifting odyssey of spiritual teacher and peace advocate Sri Chinmoy. The film was an Official Selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.
Mike Katz Age
He was born on November 14, 1944 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. He is 78 years old as of 2022.
Mike Katz Height | Mike Katz Weight
He stands at a height of 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) weighing 240 lb (109 kg) (1975).
Mike Katz Family
Katz is private about his personal life, he has not revealed a lot about his personal life except that his father Mike Katz Sr. is a former NFL player for the NY Jets and bodybuilding champion.
Mike Katz Wife
Katz is private about his personal life, he has not revealed any details about his wife or partner.
Michelle Katz Daughter Of Mike Katz
Katz has a daughter called Michelle Katz.
Mike Katz Son
He has a son named Mike Katz Jr. who grew up in the gym business and has been working in it for most of his life. Katz own’s The five Planet Fitness health club franchises together with his father and their business partner–with locations in North Haven, Branford, Guilford, Hamden and East Haven–make them the biggest gym operators in the New Haven region.
Katz said he enjoys working with his customers and trainers so much, it doesn’t even feel like a job. “I don’t come to work,” he said. “It’s not a job. It’s me. It’s who I am.”
Mike Katz Jr. said his father and training partner, Jerry Mastrangelo, opened their first gym, a World Gym franchise in Hamden, in 1979 because they were dissatisfied with the shape of the gym they used in New Haven.
“The original reason was just to have a good, clean place to work out in,” Mike Katz Jr. said.
They opened additional gyms in Guilford, North Branford, North Haven and Branford and switched to the Planet Fitness franchise in 2004.
“I grew up in it,” said Katz. “My father was Mr. America when I was six months old.” He started working at the gyms when he was 16 and currently is the manager of the Branford Planet Fitness.
Mike Katz Net Worth
Katz has an estimated net worth of about $22.5M, which he earned from his career as a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder.
Mike Katz Now
Katz now owns five different gyms throughout the Connecticut region, which he runs in conjunction with his son Mike Katz Junior.
Mike Katz Death
Katz is not dead he is still alive and kicking.
Mike Katz Illness
In 2011, Katz suffered from an aortic aneurysm, which doctors said that it would have killed him if it weren’t for the excellent shape that his body was in at the time.
Competitive statistics
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
- Competition Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
- Off Season Weight: 250–260 lb (113–118 kg)
Competitive history
- 1963 Mr. Connecticut 2nd
- 1963 Mr. Insurance City 9th
- 1964 AAU Teen Mr. America; 4th Place
- 1964 AAU Teen Mr. America Most Muscular, 5th Place
- 1965 Mr. New England States 1st
- 1969 IFBB Mr. America Tall, 40th Place
- 1970 IFBB Mr. America Tall & Overall, 4th Place
- 1970 AAU Mr. East Coast Tall & Overall, 4th Place
- 1971 IFBB Universe Tall, 3rd Place
- 1971 Beat Brandon Lewi for the Heavyweight Championship of the World
- 1972 IFBB Mr. International Tall, 4th Place
- 1972 IFBB Universe Tall, 4th Place
- 1973 IFBB Universe Tall, 3rd Place
- 1974 IFBB Mr. International Tall, – 4th Place
- 1975 IFBB Universe Tall, 4th Place
- 1976 Mr. Olympia Over 200 lbs, 2nd Place
- 1980 NBA Natural Mr. America Professional, 4th Place
- 1980 IFBB World Pro Championships Did Not Place
- 1980 Retired after losing to Cooper Hayman in the National Strongman Competition
- 1981 Mr. Olympia 15th Place
Mike Katz Pumping Iron
Katz appeared with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film Pumping Iron. It is a partly real and partly scripted film documents what many consider to be the golden age of bodybuilding that occurred in the 1970s. It depicts two major competitions: Mr. Universe, which is for amateur participants, and Mr. Olympia, which is for pros. In the former, Mike Katz and Ken Waller are profiled, while in the latter, the chief contenders are Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is hoping to take home a sixth win.
Release date: January 18, 1977 (USA)
Director: George Butler
Film series: Pumping Iron Film Series
Budget: 1 million USD
Producers: George Butler, Jerome Gary