Known as the "Iron Guru", Vincent Gironda was considered one of the greatest personal trainers who ever lived. He dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and acquired an in-depth understanding of physical training, equipment, and nutrition which was decades ahead of its time (he could name every muscle in the human body and describe its function). In 1946, he opened "Vince's Gym" in Los Angeles, which remained open until shortly before his death in 1997. Movie stars were often sent to shape up under his supervision, as he was able to produce results after only a few weeks or even days of training. Throughout his career Vince trained Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, James Garner, Brian Keith , Tommy Chong , Erik Estrada, Michael Landon, Kurt Russell, Burt Reynolds, Carl Weathers, and Cher. He also played a critical role in developing Arnold Schwarzenegger's physique.