Henri Christophe Dickerson (August 25, 1939 – December 23, 2021) was an American

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

bodybuilder Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses o ...

Early life

Dickerson was born in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

, on August 25, 1939. He was the youngest of triplets. His mother,

Mahala Ashley Dickerson Mahala Ashley Dickerson (October 12, 1912 – February 19, 2007) was an American lawyer and civil rights advocate for women and minorities. In 1948 she became the first African American female attorney admitted to the Alabama State Bar; in 1951 ...

, was a lawyer and civil rights advocate for women and minorities. He graduated high school at

Olney Friends School Olney Friends School is a small, co-educational boarding and day school affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Barnesville, Ohio, the school "challenges students to grow ...

in 1957.

Bodybuilding career

One of the world's most titled bodybuilders, Dickerson's competitive career spanned thirty years; he was known for both his heavily muscled, symmetrical physique and for his skills on the posing dais. Dickerson first entered

bodybuilding Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses ...

competition in 1965 by taking third place at that year's Mr. Long Beach competition. He turned pro in 1973 and won a total of 15 professional bodybuilding titles across four organizations during his career. He trained for many of his most important competitions in the 1980s with former Mr. Universe

Bill Pearl William Arnold Pearl (October 31, 1930 – September 14, 2022) was an American professional bodybuilder and athlete. During the 1950s and 60s, he won many titles and awards, including winning the Mr. Universe contest five times, and was named ...

. Dickerson was the first African-American AAU Mr. America, the first openly gay winner of the IFBB

Mr. Olympia Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend—an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation ...

contest, and one of only two bodybuilders (along with Dexter Jackson) to win titles in both the Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia competitions. He won the Mr. Olympia once (1982), a distinction he shares with

Samir Bannout Samir Bannout ( ar, سمير بنّوت) is a Lebanese retired former IFBB professional bodybuilder. Biography Known as "the Lion of Lebanon", Samir Bannout won the Mr. Olympia title in 1983. Bannout has appeared on the covers of many fitness ...

(1983) and Dexter Jackson (2008) who have since retired,

Shawn Rhoden Shawn Rhoden (April 2, 1975 – November 6, 2021) was a Jamaican-American International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness, IFBB professional bodybuilder and past Mr. Olympia. He won the 2018 Mr. Olympia contest by defeating seven-time Mr. Oly ...

(2018) who has since died, as well as

Brandon Curry Brandon Curry (born October 19, 1982) is an American professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB pro league. He is the 2019 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion. Biography Early life Curry was born a ...

(2019) and

Hadi Choopan Hadi Choopan ( fa, هادی چوپان; also as Hādi Chupān; born September 26, 1987), known by his nickname "The Persian Wolf", is an Iranian professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. ...

(2022) who are currently active. Dickerson retired after winning the 50+ division at the 1994 Masters Olympia and was inducted into the

IFBB Hall of Fame The IFBB Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor outstanding athletes and officials in the sport of bodybuilding. There have been no inductees since 2011. Induction years 1999 *Carla Dunlap *Cory Everson *John Grimek *Lee Haney *Rachel McLi ...

in 2000. Dickerson lived in Florida where he continued to train, conduct seminars, and correspond with current athletes.

Modeling

During the 1960s, Dickerson did much physique modeling. His 1970s nude work for photographer Jim French is today considered some of the best in an admittedly limited field. He appeared in French's hardcover photo essay, ''Man'' (1972), and also posed for the photographer ten years later. These photos ran in an issue of Olympus, published by Colt Studios.

Personal life and death

Dickerson died on December 23, 2021, at the age of 82, from heart failure.

Bodybuilding titles

* 1966 Mr North America - AAU, 2nd * 1966 Mr New York State - AAU, Overall Winner * 1966 Mr Eastern America - AAU, Overall Winner * 1966 Mr Atlantic Coast - AAU, Overall Winner * 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st * 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Winner * 1967 Mr California - AAU, Winner * 1967 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 4th * 1967 Mr America - AAU, 6th * 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 5th * 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, 4th * 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd * 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Winner * 1968 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 3rd * 1968 Mr America - AAU, 3rd * 1968 Junior Mr America - AAU, 3rd * 1969 Mr America - AAU, 2nd * 1969 Junior Mr America - AAU, 2nd * 1970 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st * 1970 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st * 1970 Mr America - AAU, Winner * 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st * 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Winner * 1971 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st * 1973 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st * 1973 Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner * 1973 Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner * 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 1st * 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner * 1975 World Championships - WBBG, 2nd * 1975 Universe - Pro - PBBA, 2nd * 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 2nd * 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, 3rd * 1976 Olympus - WBBG, 4th *

1979 Mr. Olympia The 1979 Mr. Olympia contest was an International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held October 6, 1979 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio. Results The total prize money awarded was $50,000. Ov ...

- IFBB, Lightweight, 4th * 1979 Grand Prix Vancouver - IFBB, 2nd * 1979 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner * 1979 Canada Diamond Pro Cup - IFBB, 2nd * 1980 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd *

1980 Mr. Olympia The 1980 Mr. Olympia contest was an International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held on October 4, 1980, at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. The event was one of the most debated competitions ...

- IFBB, 2nd * 1980 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner * 1980 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner * 1980 Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, Winner * 1980 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, 2nd * 1980 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner * 1980 Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, Winner * 1980 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner * 1981 Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd * 1981 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd * 1981 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner * 1981 Grand Prix World Cup - IFBB, 2nd * 1981 Grand Prix Washington - IFBB, Winner * 1981 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner * 1981 Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 2nd * 1981 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, Winner * 1981 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner * 1982 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, Winner * 1984 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 11th * 1990 Arnold Classic - IFBB, 8th * 1994 Masters Olympia - IFBB, Overall, 4th

References

External links

IFBB Hall of Fame

Chris Dickerson passes away at 82

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Franco Columbu Francesco Maria Columbu (August 7, 1941 – August 30, 2019) was an Italian bodybuilder, powerlifter, actor, author, producer, and a licensed chiropractor. Originally a boxer, Columbu won the Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981, and competed in the i ...

, style="width:40%; text-align:center;", First (1982) , style="width:30%; text-align:center;", Succeeded by:

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickerson, Chris 1939 births 2021 deaths African-American bodybuilders African-American male models African-American models American male models American male adult models Gay sportsmen LGBT African Americans Gay models LGBT people from Florida LGBT people from New York (state) American LGBT sportspeople Professional bodybuilders Sportspeople from Manhattan Sportspeople from Florida American sportsmen LGBT bodybuilders 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century American LGBT people