Famous Personal Trainers

Richard Simmons, a high-energy fitness guru, brought self-confidence and manageable weight loss to millions using his Emmy-winning TV series, countless videos, and books. He found a new direction after struggling with being overweight and depressed as a child. His exercise method, mixing zany humor with heartfelt motivation, gained national attention, establishing him as a leading figure in the exercise movement and a pop culture icon.

Jillian Michaels, a tough trainer, aimed to make Americans healthy, one couch potato at a time. She appeared as the sharp trainer on "The Biggest Loser" (NBC, 2004- ). Michaels used strict exercise and diet plans to shape obese contestants. She showed no sympathy and accepted zero excuses. Michaels' methods worked well; she trained the season's winner routinely. From there, Michaels quickly carved out...

Kiana Tom, born March 14, 1965, is an American television host, fitness expert, author, actress, and businesswoman. She is best known as the creator and host of Kiana's Flex Appeal on ESPN.

Lou Ferrigno was one of the most recognizable faces and physiques from 1970s professional bodybuilding. Ferrigno became an actor and a beloved pop-culture icon for portraying "The Incredible Hulk" (CBS, 1978-1982). Seen opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the "Pumping Iron" documentary (1977), the muscleman caught the attention of "The Incredible Hulk" producers, who needed a huge performer for the green-skinned giant. The series success led to work in film.

Denise Austin, born February 13, 1957, is an American fitness instructor, author, and columnist. She was also a former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Susan Powter, born December 22, 1957, is an Australian-born American motivational speaker, nutritionist, personal trainer, and author. She gained fame in the 1990s with her catchphrase, "Stop the Insanity!," which was the core of her weight-loss infomercial. Powter hosted her own talk show, The Susan Powter Show, during the 1990s.

Robert Harper, born August 18, 1965, is an American personal trainer and author. Harper appears on the television series The Biggest Loser. On September 8, 2015, Harper became the new host of The Biggest Loser, replacing Alison Sweeney. He also served as an advisor on The New Celebrity Apprentice.

Michelle Christine Heaton, born July 19, 1979, is an English pop singer, actress, television personality, and personal trainer. Heaton joined the pop group Liberty X in 2001. The group split in 2007, reforming for a small gig a year later. October 2012 confirmed the group would appear once at the Hammersmith Apollo and be on the ITV2 series The Big Reunion with Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, Five, 911, and Honeyz.

Jessie Pavelka, born September 26, 1982, is an American fitness expert and TV host. He specializes in extreme weight loss. In the UK, he presented Obese: A Year to Save My Life on Sky1 and Fat: The Fight of My Life on Sky Living HD. Pavelka joined The Biggest Loser's 16th season as a new trainer in the fall of 2014.

Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. was a professional wrestler who had a successful Hollywood career. Lister started acting with roles in "Runaway Train" (1985) with Jon Voight, "Blue City" (1986) with Judd Nelson, and "Wired to Kill" (1986). He also acted in the Nick Nolte film "Extreme Prejudice" (1987), the Eddie Murphy film "Beverly Hills Cop II" (1987), and the thriller "Prison" (1988) with Lane Smith. Lister continued acting in "Men of War" (1995) with Kevin Tighe and the Johnny Depp film.

Anthony Sawyer Horton Jr., born July 2, 1958, works as an American personal trainer, author, and former actor. Tony Horton created the P90X commercial home exercise regimen.

Doug Blasdell, born December 14, 1962, and died January 22, 2007, was an American trainer and reality show personality. Blasdell appeared on Bravo's reality TV series Work Out. He was the oldest trainer on the series.

Natalie Bolton was a former contestant on the reality television show Survivor: Micronesia.

Montaque N. Brown, born April 13, 1970, was an American former professional wrestler and NFL linebacker. Brown wrestled under his real name with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and as Marcus Cor Von on WWE's ECW brand. He used the nickname "The Alpha Male" in both companies. As an NFL player, he competed at Super Bowl XXVIII for the Buffalo Bills.

Keith Jardine built his acting career through film roles. Jardine starred in comedies like "Crank: High Voltage" (2009) with Jason Statham and Amy Smart. Jardine got TV work early on, starring on "Hawaii Five-O" (CBS, 2010-). Jardine kept his acting skill sharp in projects like the Stone Cold Steve Austin action flick "Tactical Force" (2011) and the Stone Cold Steve Austin action picture "Recoil" (2012). Jardine used his talent in the 2010s.

Carlos Leon acted in many films during his Hollywood career. Leon started with roles in films like the crime flick "Contacto Chicano" (1986) with Gerardo Reyes, the action movie "The Replacement Killers" (1998) with Mira Sorvino, and the Jeff Bridges crime thriller "The Big Lebowski" (1998). Leon also appeared in the TV movie "Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies" (HBO, 1998-99). Leon also worked on TV early in his career, including a part on "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1995-2001). Leon continued working in film.

Melinda Midajah McCullum, born March 23, 1970, is an American personal trainer, fitness model, and former professional wrestling manager. She goes by the ring name Midajah. Midajah appeared with World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001.

Matty Whitmore was a former contestant on the reality television show Survivor: Gabon.

Adrianne Therese León, born March 15, 1987, is an American singer-songwriter, chef, personal fitness trainer, model, and actress. León co-founded and leads the rock band Caught Crimson. León began writing songs for the soap opera General Hospital. León played the punk rock teen Brook Lynn Ashton, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination and a Soap Opera Digest Award. León moved from the ABC soap General Hospital to the CBS soap The Young and the Restless, where she played Colleen Carlton.

Shaun T. Fitness, born May 2, 1978, is an American motivational speaker, fitness trainer, fitness motivator, businessman, television personality, and choreographer. Shaun T. Fitness is known for his home fitness programs for adults and children. These include T25, Insanity, and Hip-Hop Abs.

Jackie Warner, born Jacqueline Renee Waddell on August 17, 1968 in Fairborn, Ohio, is an American fitness trainer. Warner gained recognition on the Bravo TV reality show Work Out. Warner owns Sky Sport and Spa, a gym and spa located in Beverly Hills, California.

Richard Alan "Ric" Drasin, born July 12, 1944, is an American bodybuilder, personal trainer, actor, stuntman, author, and former professional wrestler. He wrestled professionally for 36 years, from 1965 to 2001, and won amateur bodybuilding titles while younger. Drasin designed the original Gold's Gym logo—a cartoon sketch of a bald weightlifter—and the World Gym gorilla logo. Drasin started his fitness career in Bakersfield, California, in 1962. He taught nutrition and exercise classes at the YMCA before he became...

Donna Richardson Joyner, born November 3, 1962, is an American fitness and aerobics instructor, author, and ESPN sports commentator. She gained fame through her fitness videos. President George W. Bush appointed her in 2006 to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She produces and hosts Donna Richardson: Mind, Body, & Spirit on TV One and Sweating In The Spirit on The Word Network. She served on the Women's Sports Foundation Board of Trustees and is an Advisory Board Member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Matthew Gordon Taylor, born November 30, 1971, is a Canadian actor. He played Nemesis in Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Taylor joined the television and film industry in 1998. He grew up in a Toronto suburb and attended College in Hamilton, Ontario, graduating in 1994. Taylor was a former police officer who used his force experience in his acting work. He stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 280 pounds, and studied martial arts for many years, offering him unique acting chances.

William Chase Tatum wrestled for World Championship Wrestling. He lived from November 3, 1973, to March 23, 2008.

Adrienne-Joi Johnson acted many times throughout her career. She appeared in TV specials like "Coming to America" (CBS, 1988-89) and "A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story" (NBC, 1989-1990). Johnson worked in TV early in her acting career on "In the Heat of the Night" (CBS, 1987-1994). Her film career included the action movie "Double Trouble" (1992) with Peter Paul and the box office hit musical comedy "Sister Act" (1992) starring Whoopi Goldberg.

The Nitro Girls were a dance team in World Championship Wrestling. Their first job was to dance and entertain live crowds during commercial breaks.

Stephen "Scott" Helvenston (June 21, 1965 – March 31, 2004) was a United States Navy SEAL. He worked as a security contractor for Blackwater Security. He died in the March 31, 2004 Fallujah ambush in Iraq, days after arriving. Helvenston trained Hollywood celebrities like Demi Moore for G.I. Jane. He appeared on the reality shows Combat Missions and Man vs. Beast. He finished an obstacle course faster than a chimpanzee in Man vs. Beast. He starred in the reality series Extreme Expeditions: Model Behavior before leaving for Iraq.

Prince Daniel of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland (born Olof Daniel Westling on September 15, 1973), is married to Crown Princess Victoria. Before marrying the heir apparent, Daniel worked as a personal trainer and gym owner. He ran a company named Balance Training with three gyms in central Stockholm.

Lee Latchford-Evans, born January 28, 1975, is an English singer, dancer, stage actor, personal trainer, and one of the five singers in the British pop group Steps.

Steven Dasz acts, performs stunts, produces films, and directs movies.

John Turk is an American model, bodybuilder, personal trainer, former Chicago police officer, and actor. He has three siblings. The video game world knows him as the actor who played characters in Midway's Mortal Kombat series. Turk earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in physical education with a nutrition minor. He competed in bodybuilding contests, earning titles like Mr. Illinois. He appears on covers for magazines such as Muscle & Fitness, Physical, and Plan, making him a familiar face in fitness.

Rebecca Lynn Cardon, born June 10, 1975, is a film and television actress, personal trainer, and product spokesperson. Cardon appeared on several reality-TV shows. In 2013, she self-published the book Breakups Blow! A Guided Workbook to Help You Break Free.

Carmen Marton, born June 30, 1986, is a taekwondo athlete from Australia. She became Australia's first world taekwondo champion. Marton has Polish Australian descent; her parents were born in Poland and moved to Australia as refugees. Her parents, siblings, and partner all trained in taekwondo.

Harley Samuel Pasternak, born August 6, 1974, is a Canadian-American personal trainer, motivational speaker, author, and television host. Pasternak wrote books like The Body Reset Diet and The 5-Factor Diet. He works with many celebrity clients as a personal trainer. Most audiences know Pasternak as a co-host of ABC's 2012 daytime talk show, The Revolution.

Rochelle Okoye acts.

Jason Cameron, born April 19, 1969, is an American television presenter and actor. He gained recognition on the TLC reality show While You Were Out and currently hosts Man Caves and Desperate Landscapes for the DIY Network.

Bob Greene, born December 8, 1958, is an American exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer. He specializes in fitness, metabolism, and weight loss. Greene created Best Life, a diet and fitness plan, and Best Life Foods, which sells butter substitutes.

Christian Boeving acted in "Batman & Robin," "Nash Bridges," and "Grown Ups."

Kieran Govers is an Australian field hockey player. He plays field hockey professionally in Germany. He plays for the NSW Warrtahs in the Australian Hockey League. Govers first played for the Australian national team in 2010. He won a gold medal at the 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup. He also won a gold medal at the 2010 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy. He plays for the national team that competes at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Rachel Cawthorn, born November 3, 1988, is a British sprint canoer. She has competed since the late 2000s. Cawthorn represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics. She was a double Olympic finalist in the Women's K1 and K4 events.

Kathy Smith, born December 11, 1951, is a personal trainer. She gained fame through workout videos during the late 1980s and 1990s. She sold over 16 million workout videos since 1980. Kathy Smith created Project:You! Type 2, an exercise and nutrition program with the American Diabetes Association to help manage Type 2 diabetes. Her daughter is Kate Grace, a Yale University All American and runner in the 800-meter event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Cathe Friedrich, born July 20, 1964, is an American ACE certified group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and entrepreneur from Glassboro, New Jersey. Friedrich released over 190 fitness videos since her first video in 1989. She taught fitness classes on the now defunct FitTV for several years. She co-owns the Four Seasons Health Club in Glassboro, New Jersey, where she regularly teaches classes. In 2011, she joined the National Fitness Hall of Fame.

Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian, known online as Zyzz, was a Russian-born Australian bodybuilder, internet celebrity, personal trainer, model, and part-time stripper. Shavershian built a following after posting videos on YouTube starting in 2007. In July 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article about his older brother, Said, being arrested for illegal steroid possession. On August 5, 2011, Shavershian suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand and died at age 22.

Tosin Oke, born October 1, 1980, in London, England, is a Nigerian track and field athlete who competes in the triple jump. He is a dual national; he first competed for Great Britain. Oke set the current UK junior indoor record and was only 1 cm from the outdoor junior record. He won the 1999 European Athletics Junior Championships and placed 5th at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. After winning many UK indoor and outdoor titles, he switched to compete for Nigeria. Since competing for Nigeria, he has won back-to-back African Championships in Athletics titles and the Commonwealth Games championship.

Özge Akın, née Gürler, born June 17, 1985, is a Turkish female sprinter competing in the 400m events. She holds the current Turkish record in the 400 m and 400 m hurdles. After marrying her coach, her name changed to Akın. Özge Akın started in the long jump and running sprint and middle distance, but she specialized in the 400 m and 400 m hurdles based on her coach's advice. Özge Gürler played for İzmir Gençlik sports club, Anadolu University, Ankara MTA, and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality sports club before joining Enkaspor in Istanbul. She studied Phy.

Andrew McCabe is an Australian track and field sprinter. He played on the Australian 4 x 100m relay team. That team equaled the Australian record when they qualified for the finals at the 2012 London Olympics.

Kathryn Mitchell is an Australian athletics competitor who specializes in the javelin throw. She finished first at the 2008 National Championships. She finished second at the 2012 National Championships. Australia selected Kathryn Mitchell to represent them at the 2012 Summer Olympics after she made an Olympic A-Qualifying throw in Germany.