Ken Waller

Kenny "Ken" Waller is an American former bodybuilder featured in the 1977 movie 'Pumping Iron', which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. He played professional football in Canada, after serving in the United States Marine Corps and teaching high school in Louisville. Waller, at six feet tall and 230 pounds, was one of the most frequent-winning amateur bodybuilders of the 1970s. His Pro-Debut was at the IFBB Mr. America contest, 1971, where he placed 1st in Tall & Overall categories. His most notable win was depicted in 'Pumping Iron', at the IFBB Mr. Universe contest in Pretoria, South Africa, 1975, where he placed 1st in Tall & Overall categories. He was known for his curly red hair, freckles and his graceful, confident posing style. Unlike Frank Zane or lighter competitors, Waller was not known for an aesthetic physique; rather, like fellow competitors, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, he relied on size to gain the attention from judges, which at the time, was only beginning to gain popularity. He officially retired from competition in 1981.