Lorenzo Luis Degni, better known as Mark Forest, was a third-generation Italian-American born in Brooklyn, with grandparents hailing from Naples. He started building his physique at the tender age of thirteen, quickly becoming a featured cover model and eventually operating his own gym on Long Island. Forest's bodybuilding career was marked by numerous competition wins before he entered the world of show business.
He found his way into the entertainment industry through Mae West's troupe of musclemen, who were featured as eye candy in her touring act along with singers and dancers. The troupe included other notable bodybuilders like Ed Fury, Gordon Mitchell, and Reg Lewis. West's entourage was a breeding ground for future stars of the muscular fraternity.
Forest's international fame came after being recruited to star in Italian peplum epics, becoming only the second American actor to find success in this medium after Steve Reeves. His fluency in Italian greatly contributed to his success. Over the course of five years (1960-1965),Forest starred in a dozen films, often playing Hercules or the brawny hero Maciste, created by Gabriele D'Annunzio and Giovanni Pastrone. In fact, Forest played Maciste seven times, more than any other actor.
After his brief stint in the movies, Forest turned to his other passion and reinvented himself as an opera singer in Europe. He became adept at the bel canto technique, training under the guidance of Giovanni Milillo, a composer and former tenor at the New York Opera, and father of operatic soprano Aprile Millo. After returning to the U.S., Forest settled in California, where he taught vocal technique in Studio City.
Person biography:
Lorenzo Luis Degni, also known as Mark Forest, was a multi-talented individual who made a name for himself in both the world of bodybuilding and the entertainment industry. Born in Brooklyn to Italian-American parents, Forest started building his physique at a young age and went on to become a successful bodybuilder and gym owner.
Forest's show business career began with Mae West's troupe of musclemen, where he was featured as eye candy in her touring act. He eventually found success in Italian peplum epics, starring in a dozen films over the course of five years. Forest's success in this medium was largely due to his fluency in Italian.
After his brief stint in the movies, Forest turned to his other passion and became an opera singer in Europe. He trained under the guidance of Giovanni Milillo and became adept at the bel canto technique. Forest eventually returned to the U.S. and settled in California, where he taught vocal technique in Studio City.
Forest's life was marked by his passion for both bodybuilding and opera singing. He was a true Renaissance man, with a wide range of talents and interests. Despite his relatively brief time in the spotlight, Forest left a lasting impact on both the world of entertainment and the world of opera.
