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EDDIE ROBINSON AS CONAN'S SON? Bodybuilders and wrestlers pray to Crom! Reported By: Randy Jennings Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Eddie Robinson, IFBB retired Pro bodybuilder, contacted TheArnoldFans in hopes to have John Milius give him the role of a lifetime in "King Conan: Crown of Iron"! "I'm looking for a contact address for John Milius. I have talked to Arnold in the past when I was competing in the Arnold classic regarding auditioning for the part King Conan. I'm hoping that Arnold will put in a good word for me to John Milius, As you know it's who you know in this business. Joe Weider had told me so many stories about Arnold during my contract with Muscle & Fitness and Flex. I remember Joe telling me that he had received a call one day from a director asking if he knew of any muscular men with acting experience to play the role Hercules and Joe stated yes, Arnold. This was Arnold's big break into the movies. However Arnold had no acting ability even though Joe stated he was a big actor in Austria. Go figure, it goes back to who you know." I wanted to find out more about Eddie. Although I had seen him on the covers of dozens of muscle magazines, I really did not know to much about the man. He was kind enough to answer all my questions. TAFs: How did you first come to hear of TheArnoldFans.com? Eddie Robinson: I was talking to Randy Savage aka (Macho Man) last week and he mentioned that Triple H may be casted for Kon in the movie King Conan. Stated he read it on your site, so I did the search and found you. TAFs: Do you know Chyna who was already offered a role by Milius? Eddie Robinson: Yes, I know Chyna. I have worked with her a few times. Very nice lady. I am also good friends with Shaq, he would be great to add in King Conan. Can you imagine Shaq, Randy Savage, Chyna, being cast in King Conan? TheArnoldFans: Are you looking to play Conan in King Conan or to have another meaty role? Eddie Robinson: "I'm not looking to play King Conan but Kon, son of King Conan... I want to be the young stud with the muscles and get in on the bloodbath scenes. It may be my only chance to carry a sword and kill hundreds of people without getting arrested for it. Now that I think of it, with my acting ability I think I should play both parts. Seriously, I think Sean Connery would be the ideal actor for the role of King Conan unless there was a way that Arnold could resume his role as Conan. I think that I could easily play Kon at a variety of ages and do justice to the character and to the Conan tradition." TAFs: What is your favorite Arnold movie and why? Eddie Robinson: "Of course, Conan the Barbarian- The original! I like the medieval look of swords, chains and gladiator-type bodies. Arnold was a true superhero with 19˛ arms. Today you have Ben Affleck in a plastic suit and computer enhanced stunts. Some hero! The Conan movies utilized true athletes that became heroes because they were different than the average person. Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlin, Arnold, all these athletes had their own style that made them unique. They weren't actors at heart but athletes that let their true personalities shine through and that quality set them apart from the traditional actors." TAFs: Have you ever won an Arnold Classic or how close did you place in the competition? Eddie Robinson: "First of all, placing in the Arnold Classic is almost irrelevant. The Arnold Classic is by invitation only. Only the best in the world are hand picked by Arnold and Jim Lorimar to compete. Just being there is like placing! Secondly, I didn't crack the top 5. This was the first year that I was back after leaving the IFBB to start Vince McMahon's WBF. Vince McMahon had recruited a number of the top bodybuilders in the world to join his federation and had kept me on an additional 2 years after his federation ended. The Master Blaster himself, Joe Weider wanted me back in the Weider publications and on the IFBB stage so he bought out my WBFcontract. I don't think the judges ever forgave me for that as I didn't have to pay the penalty to re-enter the IFBB but walked onstage with a killer contract and Joe Weider's blessing! I owe a lot to Joe Weider for taking me under his wing as a teenager. If it wasn't for this man I never would have accomplished over 75 National and International covers or had the 20+ years of exposure in the Weider magazines." TAFs: What kind of a guy is Joe Gold? Eddie Robinson: "Joe Gold is a man's man. He is a bodybuilder at heart with outstanding business sense and the ability to maintain loyal friendships. He was present when I first was introduced to Arnold- I went to World's Gym Venice with Lou Ferigno when I was about 18 years old. Lou introduced me to Joe and showed him my then 20-21" arms. Joe hollered across the gym to Arnold, "Hey Arnie- I have to show you something!" When Arnold came over, Joe had me hit a bicep shot for them. Louie said, "Look Arnold, his arms are bigger than yours!" and I will never forget Arnold's response. He looked at me, smiled and said, "Joe, don't let him fool you, those are implants", laughed and walked away" TAFs: What do you have to say about Joe Weider? Eddie Robinson: I met Joe Weider Back in 1983 right after I took the World Record in the bench press and captured the titles of Mr. Florida and teen Mr. USA. I was 19 years of age at the time and Chris Lund was photographing me for a cover. I was introduced to Joe by Chris Lund one of the worlds greatest photographers who at that time was under contract with Weider Publications. When Chris introduced me to Joe he stated that you are going to be the next superstar of Bodybuilding. That very day Joe signed me to a very lucrative contract to endorse His publications Muscle & Fitness and Flex. I remember many times sitting in Joe's back yard talking about the success of Arnold how he brought him down from Austria bought him a VW and rented an apartment for him in Venice. Arnold and I owe a lot to Mr. Weider for if it wasn't for him taking us under his wings to sponsor us we would not have had the opportunity to train and compete full time that enabled us to be the greatest in the sport. Thanks Joe. TAFs: What about your Vince McMahon experience? Eddie Robinson: I met Vince McMahon After the 1990 Mr. Olympia competition. Vince had told me that he was very impressed at my Dynamic Posing routine and how I displayed myself on and Off stage during the Mr. Olympia. At that Time Vince asked me what I thought about a new federation called the WBF (World Bodybuilding Federation). Vince went on to say that this federation would only consist of 12 of the worlds greatest bodybuilders and each would have their own character. I told Vince that it sounded like a great idea, he replied then what would it take for you to join me and the new WBF. I gave him a sick figure due to the fact that I was one of the newest top pro's in the IFBB and requested a four year contract. Vince then shook my hand and said agreed, welcome to the WBF Major Gunns Eddie Robinson. TAFs: Have you had any roles in TV or film yet? If so, what was your proudest moment? Eddie Robinson: "Well, back in 1983, 84' as a teenager, Mattel Toys hired me on as the live He-Man, the cartoon character. I traveled with them for a full year, was cast for the movie role and then was beat out by Dolph Lundgren at the last minute. I just missed my chance to break into the movies as a super hero then so I'm overdue! I've been holding back all this raw talent for years! I was in the movie Intimate Strangers with Teri Garr and Stacey Keach as a helicopter pilot, a few game shows, talk shows, Vince McMahon's Body Stars, commercials and posed for the halftime show at SuperBowl XVIII in my hometown Tampa Florida. My proudest moment was probably being on the 50-yard line hitting a flurry of poses as Mr. Florida at the halftime show. I have never seen so many people at one time all watching me." TAFs: Speaking of Lundgren, why do you suppose Arnold has lasted three decades as Hollywood's best action hero whereas the fame of others like Van Damme, Stallone and Lundgren have all faded? Eddie Robinson: Arnold had lasting power because he was the first real live super hero type, and when everyone else did similar roles they were always compared to Arnold since he was the first real live action hero. Arnold always picked rolls that best fit him and as his acting abilities improved he progressed into more challenging rolls as he got better taking voice lessons, etc., he broadened his acting ability to more comedy such as kindergarten cop and twins. Arnold is a very smart man who always had a game plan, Build his body to be the best in the world, capitalize on his bodybuilding career to get into acting then after acting? You guessed it politics. Arnold has always been good at marketing himself as a product, very smart and strategic at everything he did. I watched Arnold since I met him as a teenager and followed basically the same game plan. It's a very hard and long road but once you have those achievements in your back pocket you can utilize them for the next steps. Arnold never played checkers like everyone else did, Arnold plays three D Chess and has every angle covered. TAFs: How often do you currently work out now that you are retired? Eddie Robinson: "I try to get into the gym 5 times a week for 1.5-2 hours. Start my day off by heading to the gym at 5:30. This gets me home in time to take care of my two children Cara and Seth, get them ready for school, change diapers, etc. My training has been maintenance based until I can get either a movie role or another endorsement contract that gives me a reason to train hard and heavy again! As far as retiring, never say never. I may show up when you least expect it!" TAFs: Arnold traveled to the other side of the world and endured freezing temperatures in his loin cloth... to what extent of torture would you put yourself through to prove to Milius how badly you want a role in Conan? Eddie Robinson: "You mean 3,000 acres of shitty diapers isn't enough? With bare hands? And no wet wipes? I bet Arnold hasn't had to change too many diapers! The secret, breathe through your mouth, not your nose! What would I do? Give me the role and find out! There has never been a time that I have quit, given less than 100% or taken the easy road. I broke world records as a teenager and in the men's open bench press with no bench press shirt for 575lbs. And 610 lbs. I won the USA's and the Nationals both in 1 year. I could have turned pro with just one show but wanted to do something that no one else has done in the history of bodybuilding. I immediately competed in the Gold's Classic and won my first Pro show. I challenge myself constantly and don't know how to live life any other way. Consider this a challenge to Milius - you dream it, I'll do it." Good luck on your journey to Barbarian-hood master Robinson! Even if Milius has another man in mind for Kon, we will at least ask him to give you a shot at another good role. Your muscles need to be seen on screen. Who knows, maybe you will be Kon. Maybe not. Only Crom knows for sure so start praying! For more information on Eddie Robinson visit his official website www.eddierobinson.org     ----------   
 
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