Ed Corney

 ( 1933 Births ) 

In the 1970s, Corney continued to climb the bodybuilding ladder with wins at the 1970 Iron Man and the 1971 AAU Mr. California. He entered the professional ranks with wins at the 1971 IFBB Mr. USA and the 1972 IFBB Mr. America. His best career win came in 1972, capturing the IFBB Mr. Universe title in Baghdad, Iraq. He also won the IFBB Mr. America in 1972, and Mr. World in 1973 and 1974.

Corney appeared in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. In one scene, he collapses in exhaustion after an intense squat workout with training partner Arnold Schwarzenegger. Later in the film, Schwarzenegger is enthralled watching Corney's disciplined posing routine, saying, "Can you believe that? I mean, that— that's what I call posing!" Corney was also featured on the cover of the film's book companion, Pumping Iron: The Art and Sport of Bodybuilding by Charles Gaines and George Butler.

Corney continued to compete in the 1980s. In a 1985 interview, he acknowledged using anabolic steroid, though he attributed his success to "97 percent training and three percent steroids." In 1994, Corney won the 60+ division of the Masters Olympia. He won again in 1995, he was placed 11th overall in 1996, and he took second in the 60+ division in 1997. He also competed in 1998 in the only Masters event ever to be held at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic. Corney remained active in bodybuilding up until his death. He was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.

Corney suffered a brain aneurysm on December 25, 2018, and died on January 1, 2019, at the age of 85 at his home in Manteca, California. Shortly after his death, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tweeted, "Ed Corney was a jewel of a guy. He was one of the greatest posers bodybuilding has ever seen, and he was a fantastic training partner. He inspired me and I’ll miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his family."