Michael Katz (born November 14, 1944) is an American former IFBB

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who work (human activity), works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the partic ...

bodybuilder Bodybuilding is the practice of progressive resistance exercise to build, control, and develop one's muscles via hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. It is primarily undertaken for aesthetic ...

and former professional football player with the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

, most famous for his appearance with

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...

in the 1977 bodybuilding

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

'' Pumping Iron''. He was paid $1,000 to sign a release for appearing in the film. On 1 March, 2025, Mike Katz was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by

at the 2025

Arnold Strongman Classic The Arnold Strongman Classic is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world, determining who is the Strongest Man in the World. Created by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Lorimer and Terry Todd, it is an offshoot of t ...

in Columbus, Ohio. Mike Katz played football for

Southern Connecticut State University Southern Connecticut State University (Southern Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State, SCSU, or simply "Southern") is a public research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Part of the Connecticut State University System, it ...

and pro football for the

before ending his football career with a leg injury in 1968. He was inducted into the Southern Connecticut State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. Katz appeared in the documentary '' Challenging Impossibility'', commenting on the weightlifting odyssey of spiritual teacher and peace advocate

Sri Chinmoy Chinmoy Kumar Ghose (27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007), better known as Sri Chinmoy, was an Indian spiritual leader who taught meditation in the United States after moving to New York City in 1964.Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Enterprises. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. The festival ...

. He is Jewish, and was inducted into the

National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, in Commack, New York, is dedicated to honoring American Jewish figures who have distinguished themselves in sports. Its objective is to foster Jewish identity through athletics, and to commemo ...

Early life

Katz was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Israel George and Anna Elsie Katz, and had an older sister, Linda. Katz's mother was a Swedish immigrant.National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; ''Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Connecticut, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947''; Record Group: ''Records of the Selective Service System, 147''; Box: ''211''

Bodybuilding career

Competitive statistics

* Height: * Competition Weight: * Off Season Weight:

Competitive history

* 1963 Mr. Connecticut 2ndAvidan, Ron
"Almanac of Men's Bodybuilding"

"http://www.bodybuilding.com"
', Retrieved on 9 August 2014. * 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, 2nd 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, 2nd Place * 1972 IFBB Mr. World tall & Overall 1st * 1972 IFBB Universe Tall, 1st 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

References

External links