Jack LaLanne: 1914-2011

Jack LaLanne pumps iron in the gym in his home in Hollywood, Calif., on Feb. 20, 1980. LaLanne, the fitness guru who inspired television viewers to trim down and pump iron for decades before exercise became a national obsession, died on Jan. 23, 2011. He was 96.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Fitness guru Jack LaLanne shows off his brand of Vitamins at his home in Hollywood, Calif., on Feb. 20, 1980. Born in San Francisco in 1914, LaLanne said that as a child he was addicted to sugar and junk food. At age 15, he heard nutritionist Paul Bragg give a talk, and was inspired to change his diet and exercise habits.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne flexes his muscles in a 1981 photo. In addition to his line of gyms (which were eventually sold to the Bally company and became Bally Total Fitness) and his successful television show, LaLanne has also published books, created fitness videos and marketed exercise equipment and vitamin supplements.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

In 1954, Jack LaLanne set a world record by swimming the length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, entirely underwater while towing 140 pounds of equipment including air tanks. On Nov. 6, 1975, he performed the feat again, seen here, but this time he was also shackled and towed a 1,000-pound boat.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Fitness expert Jack LaLanne, 61, comes out of the chilly water after a successful swim from the Marin County side along the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco on Nov. 7, 1975. Lalanne made the swim underwater, shackled and handcuffed, while towing a 2,000 pound-laden boat as an additional handicap.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

American physical fitness buff and showman Jack LaLanne marks his 65th birthday by towing 65 boats a mile on Japan's Lake Ashinoko near Hakone, southwest of Tokyo, on Oct. 15, 1979.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Physical fitness buff Jack LaLanne demonstrates, at age 75, that he still has the strength and body of someone 20 years his junior as his wife, Elaine, looks on at their home in Morro Bay, Calif., on Sept. 20, 1990.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne and his wife, Elaine LaLanne, are seen in on Sept. 20, 1990. The two have been married since 1959 and live in Morro Bay, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

In the early 1950s, Jack LaLanne took his message of health and fitness to the then-new medium of television, and his "The Jack LaLanne Show" was broadcast continuously for 34 years. He also designed the first leg extension machines, pulley machines using cables, and weight selectors, which are now standard in the fitness industry.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne, seen here in a 1992 photo, was an inaugural inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2005 and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2008 in a ceremony presided over by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Physical fitness expert Jack LaLanne receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sep. 26, 2002, in Hollywood, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Fitness expert Jack LaLanne strikes a characteristic pose as he takes the first official step on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and his 88th birthday, following dedication ceremonies on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on Sept. 26, 2002.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne, seen here receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his 88th birthday in 2002, remained active in his 90s (he turned 95 on Sept. 26, 2009), noting on his website that he continued to work out every morning for two hours, spending an hour and a half in the weight room and half an hour swimming.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Veteran physical fitness expert Jack LaLanne, center, poses with bodybuilders Mickey Hargitay, left, and Lou Ferrigno as LaLanne receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 26, 2002, in Hollywood, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Actress Jane Russell sings "Happy Birthday" to physical fitness expert Jack LaLanne during the dedication of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and his 88th birthday, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002, in Los Angeles. LaLanne opened his first gym in 1936, and in the decades that followed turned his passion for fitness into a life-long career.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Fitness expert Jack LaLanne arrives at the Petersen Automotive Museum's Annual "Cars and Stars" gala at Peterson's Automotive Museum on June 24, 2004, in Los Angeles.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, jokes around with fitness expert Jack LaLanne after presenting LaLanne with the Schwarzenegger lifetime achievement award the finals of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, on March 5, 2005.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Elaine and Jack LaLanne pose at Petersen's 7th annual 2006 "Cars and Stars" gala on May 11, 2006, in Los Angeles.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

TV Host Jack LaLanne attends the 51st Annual Thalians Ball at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Oct. 7, 2006, in Century City, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

This undated file image provided by Ariel Hankin shows fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne and wife Elaine arrive for his 95th birthday celebrations on Sept. 24, 2009, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home

Jack LaLanne arrives for his 95th birthday celebrations on Sept. 24, 2009, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne, 96, Dies at Home