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Ed Corney
professional bodybuilder
Corney in the 1970s
Personal info
Born	(1933-11-09)November 9, 1933 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
Died	January 1, 2019(2019-01-01) (aged 85) Manteca, California, U.S.
Best statistics
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Professional (Pro) career
Pro-debut	1967
Best win	IFBB Mr. Universe 1972
Active	1967–1998

Edward Charles Corney (November 9, 1933 – January 1, 2019) was an American professional bodybuilder. He won many prizes in his 30s, including Mr. Universe in 1972, and was featured in the 1977 bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron. Known for his excellent posing routines, he continued competitive bodybuilding into his 60s, winning the 60+ division of the Masters Olympia twice. Corney was inducted in the International Federation of Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2004.

Early life

Corney was born on November 9, 1933, in Honolulu, then in the Territory of Hawaii. After graduating from the Saint Louis School in 1952, he served four years in the United States Coast Guard. After his service, he worked first as an aviation radio mechanic in Oakland, California and then "a full-time bar owner and bouncer" in San Jose.

Bodybuilding career

Corney began bodybuilding at the age of 27 after being impressed with the physiques of an opposing volleyball team made up of bodybuilders. Standing at 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), Corney won the first contest he competed in, Mr. Fremont 1967, at the age of 33. In 1968, he added Mr. Heart of California, Mr. Northern California, Mr. Westerner, and Mr. Golden West to his titles.

In the 1970s, Corney continued to climb the bodybuilding ladder with wins at the 1970 Iron Man, the 1971 AAU Mr. California, 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 steroids, 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.

Personal life and death

In 1999, Corney suffered a heart attack while undergoing shoulder surgery, and subsequently suffered two strokes as an after-effect of his heart attack. Despite the health setbacks, he continued to train.

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."

Contest history

Source:

See also

• List of male professional bodybuilders
• List of people from Hawaii

References

1. "Arrivals". The Honolulu Advertiser. November 17, 1933. p. 4. ...Edward Charles was welcomed at Kaiolani Maternity Home on Thursday of last week by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kepa Corney...
2. ^ Robson, David (January 19, 2019). "An Interview with Bodybuilding Legend Ed Corney". Bodybuilding.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
3. ^ Hogan, Carol (August 8, 1983). "Corney left volleyball in the sand for a whole new game in the gym". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 32. Retrieved January 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Cataluna, Lee (February 3, 2019). "Hawaii-Born Bodybuilder Was Posing Perfection". The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. B1. Ed Corney, the Oahu-Born, Saint Louis High School grad, died Jan 1. in Manteca, Calif., where made his home.
5. ^ "Contests". EdCorney.net. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
6. ^ Larcombe, James E. (October 19, 1985). "Pumping iron has its rewards". The Missoulian. p. 11. Retrieved January 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Pollock, Dale (June 3, 1977). "Freaks Become Human in 'Pumping Iron'". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 18. Retrieved January 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Mitchell, Kent (September 10, 1994). "Murray again reigns supreme as Ms. Olympia. Robinson beats Ferrigno for 1st Master Olympia title". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 53. Retrieved January 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Ed Corney | IFBB Professional League". Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
10. "IFBB Hall of Fame Inductees 1999-2011" (PDF). IFBB. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
11. Campbell, Jason (January 3, 2019). "Bodybuilding legend Corney passes at 85". Manteca Bulletin. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
12. Magnante, Matthew (January 2, 2018). "Hall of Fame Bodybuilder Ed Corney Passes Away at 85". Fitness Volt. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
13. ^ "Arnold Schwarzenegger leads tributes to Hall of Fame bodybuilder Ed Corney". South China Morning Post. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.

External links

• Ed Corney at IMDb

• 1933 births
• 2019 deaths
• Businesspeople from San Jose, California
• American male bodybuilders
• Sportspeople from Honolulu
• Military personnel from Hawaii
• People associated with physical culture
• American professional bodybuilders
• United States Coast Guard enlisted
• Deaths from intracranial aneurysm
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• 20th-century American sportsmen