James Gregory Henderson, also known as Big James Henderson and James "Hollywood" Henderson, (born April 9, 1965) is a former American
powerlifter
Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight singl ...
who specialized in the
bench press
The bench press or chest press is a weight training exercise where a person presses a weight upwards while lying horizontally on a weight training bench. The bench press is a Compound movements, compound movement, with the primary muscles involved ...
. He competed in the
International Powerlifting Federation
The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
The IPF was founded in 1972, and comprises member f ...
(IPF) and was five times Super Heavyweight World Bench Press Champion. He was the first man to bench press over raw. James set several world records throughout his career, including the all-time
world record
A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...
Henderson won five consecutive bench press world titles from the
International Powerlifting Federation
The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
The IPF was founded in 1972, and comprises member f ...
in the 1990s:
*1994
Järvenpää
Järvenpää (; , ; ) is a town in Finland, located in the southern interior of the country. Järvenpää is situated in the centre of the Uusimaa region in the immediate vicinity of Lake Tuusula. The population of Järvenpää is approximately ...
,
*1995
Frýdek-Místek
Frýdek-Místek (, ; ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 54,000 inhabitants. The historic centres of both Frýdek and Místek are well preserved and are protected as two Cultural monument (Czech Republic) ...
,
*1996
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).Leduc,
*1998
Amberg
Amberg () is a Town#Germany, town in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the Upper Palatinate about halfway between Regensburg and Bayreuth.
History
The town was first mentioned in 1034 with the name Ammenberg. It became an important trading c ...
,
Henderson became the second man to bench press over 700 lb raw in May 1996 when he pressed 705 lb in just a T-shirt and made it on the cover of
Powerlifting USA
''Powerlifting USA'' is an American international magazine covering the sport of powerlifting
Powerlifting is a competitive strength athletics, strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: Squat (exercise), ...
magazine.
Personal records
Powerlifting competition record:
''done in official powerlifting meets''
*
Bench press
The bench press or chest press is a weight training exercise where a person presses a weight upwards while lying horizontally on a weight training bench. The bench press is a Compound movements, compound movement, with the primary muscles involved ...
- 711.0 lb (322.5 kg) @ 390 lb (SHW) ''raw without wrist wraps and belt'' (July 13, 1997 USPF/IPF)
:→ former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) for over 7 years; surpassed by
Brian Siders
Brian Cameron Siders (born September 11, 1978) is an American world champion powerlifter and regular participant in the Arnold Strongman Classic. Brian is regarded as one of the strongest men to ever walk the planet, especially in press-movements ...
's 712.1 lb (323.0 kg) (equipped in singleply bench shirt) in 2004
:→ former all-time raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class); surpassed by Scot Mendelson's 713 lbs (323.4 kg) (raw) in 2003
:→ current all-time drug-tested raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) since 1997
Gym record (unofficial):
''done in the gym according to James himself''
* Bench press - 744 lb (337.5 kg) ''raw without wrist wraps and belt''
Heaviest lift
James Henderson is the current world record holder for heaviest drug tested raw bench press in history and held the highest raw bench press ever done in a full powerlifting 3-lift-meet ( squat-bench press-
deadlift
The deadlift is a strength training exercise in which a weight-loaded barbell is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, with the torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground. It is one of the three powerlifting ...
) until Thomas Davis in 2021. His record setting lift was 711.0 lbs. (322.5 kg) and was performed on July 13, 1997, in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
as the 3rd attempt at the USPF Senior Nationals (IPF/USPF sanctioned three-lift-event) under strict IPF-conditions. On the same day, he pressed on the 1st, on the 2nd and even went for on the 4th, but barely missed it. Henderson bench pressed unequipped in the strictest meaning of the word - without belt, without elbow bandages and even without wrist wraps - in just a T-shirt and a singlet.
Personal life
Henderson is a graduate of
Mercer University
Mercer University is a Private university, private Research university, research university in Macon, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1833 as Mercer Institute and gaining university status in 1837, it is the oldest private university in the s ...
, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in
theology
Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...
and
psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...
. He also attended
Albany State University
Albany State University is a Public university, public Historically Black College and University, historically black university in Albany, Georgia, United States. In 2017, Darton State College and Albany State University consolidated to become ...
, where he played football from 1984 to 1986. His career as an offensive lineman ended when he blew out his knee.
In 1989 Henderson was convicted of drug trafficking and obstruction of justice, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He served 3 years at Rivers State Prison before being paroled and later pardoned in 1992. While at Rivers State he began reading the Bible and became a devoted born again
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
.Parolee Finds Success: Rev. James “Hollywood” Henderson, By John Mooney, Dooley State Prison Now Henderson gives motivational speeches to groups such as students, business leaders, and prisoners. He currently tours the Georgia Prison System as a speaker for Heartbound Ministries. During his appearances he tells his story of how he became the bench press champion and performs feats of strength.
Shear'Ree
Shear'Ree is a powerlifter from California who is reported by some, on November 15, 1982, as the first man to bench press 700 pounds raw (without the usage of any aids).
Background
Even-though James Henderson is credited as the first man to ...
Ted Arcidi
Theodore Arcidi (born June 16, 1958) is an American former professional wrestler, actor and powerlifting, powerlifter. He is known to be the first man in history to bench press over 700 pounds in competition, establishing an official world recor ...