Born in California in 1922, Roy Hilligen's family moved him to South Africa at age four. He grew up in an orphanage there after his father died, and he took up bodybuilding after recovery from a fall left him weighing only 85 pounds at age 17. One thing led to another, and he became a title holder in South Africa before moving to Oakland to train for the 1951 Mr. America contest, which he won. Mr. Hilligen continued winning titles into the 1970s when he was 54. Shown above on the cover of Reg Park's magazine Muscleman, he is nude below in a famous Russ Warner photo spread.
Gorgeous physique, w/the handsome looks of Ed Fury!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know where this was taken, but guess it's impossible?
Based on hints from other photos, I'd say somewhere in the hills outside LA which isn't at all specific.
DeleteWow. What a stunning and imaginative pose.
ReplyDeleteOne of the early 70s horde of male nude photographers tried to copy it without success.
DeleteI can see that. But the original is so beautifully lit, and that pose achieves "effortless"...
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