'American Gladiators' Then and Now: Here's what happened to Nitro, Laser, Ice, and other TV warriors
Muscles and mayhem: Where are 'American Gladiators' now?
It would be difficult to find a critic of 'American Gladiators' who disliked the cast members with names like Nitro, Laser, and Blaze. The program debuted in 1989 and continued for seven amazing seasons before ending production in 1996. The idea was straightforward: amateur athletes engage in strength and agility competitions against self-described gladiators. These warriors, who were former bodybuilders or elite athletes, presented a full-fledged challenge to the competitors. A '30 for 30' documentary called 'The American Gladiators Documentary' effectively lays out their story. So where are the 'Gladiators' these days?
Danny Lee 'Nitro' Clark
Danny Lee Clark, a bodybuilder and former NFL lineman, was the wildly popular 'Nitro' on 'American Gladiators'. Clark continued to perform in movies and television programs after leaving the show, such as 'Equilibrium', 'Death Becomes Her', and 'Walker', 'Texas Ranger'. Currently, Clark owns and runs a five-kilometer obstacle mud run called the Gladiator Rock 'N Run. He has also published two memoirs: 'F Dying', detailing his recovery from a near-fatal heart attack in 2013, and 'Gladiator', which recounts his experience on the 'American Gladiators'.
Jim 'Laser' Kalafat (Starr)
Jim 'Laser' Kalafat was a huge hit throughout all seven seasons of the show. Laser's real name is Jim Starr, which makes sense considering how successful he became after the show ended. To be firmly rooted in the fitness industry, he founded Sports Nutrition Consulting Group and served as the previous director of product development for 24-Hour Fitness. Currently, he works as the director of product development at the outdoor sporting equipment brand The Grind.
Lori 'Ice' Fetrick
True to her nickname 'Ice', Lori Fetrick was the coolest Gladiator on the show. She also made appearances in movies like 'CIA II: Target Alexa' and 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'. She co-authored the book 'Pure Fitness: Body Meets Mind' and produced the fitness video 'Lori Fetrick's Power Workout'. Fetrick is a professional speaker and influencer who also runs the podcast 'Chillin' with Ice', where she converses with former gladiators. She delves deep into the show, taking viewers behind the scenes of the iconic show of the '90s. "It’s time to get up close and personal on what drove us as Gladiators, what challenges we faced and how we overcame them to reach our goals," per her YouTube channel.
Shirley 'Sky' Eson-Korito
Shirley Eson-Korito was a famous bodybuilder and model before assuming the role of 'Sky' in the fourth season of 'American Gladiators'. Eson-Korito remained associated with the show until 1998 and stayed with the Gladiators on their live tour. She even represented the United States in two seasons of ‘International Gladiators'. Later in 2016, Eson-Korito made a comeback to bodybuilding for two significant contests. She resides in Orlando, Florida, where she co-owns Fur and Feathers Pet Resort, a pet care facility. Moreover, Eson-Korito is an OnlyFans creator and influencer.
Raye 'Zap' Hollitt
Raye Hollitt was cast as 'Zap' in 'American Gladiators' in 1989, following years of professional bodybuilding competition. Hollitt performed in many projects after 'The Gladiator,' including 'The Ode' (2008). Despite her retirement from bodybuilding in the 1990s, Hollitt continues to practice as a personal trainer, including Zoom talks and even virtual training sessions. She also works as a freelance snowboarding instructor and massage therapist.
Sha-Ri 'Blaze' Pendleton-Mitchell
Sha-Ri Pendleton-Mitchell portrayed 'Blaze' in 'American Gladiators' after pursuing bodybuilding as a means of advancing her stellar track career. Pendleton-Mitchell competed on the show until 1992. She then took a few years off to pursue acting, making appearances in films like 'The Alien Within', 'Hard Time: The Premonition', and 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'. Pendleton is happily wed to army marine Roger Mitchell who helped in the training of the Gladiators on the TV show. She currently works as a track coach and math teacher.
Deron 'Malibu' McBee
While injuries on 'American Gladiators' were common, one of the worst happened to Deron McBee when a stuntman landed on him. Known as 'Malibu', he had to recuperate from two blown-out knees, compressed vertebrae, and a herniated disc. Following the conclusion of his Gladiator career, Deron appeared in a few cameos in films such as 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation' and 'Batman Forever'. He was the host of 'The Issues of Life' until December 2020.
Shannon 'Dallas' Hall
Shannon Hall was a resident of Dallas when she joined the show in 1994 and hence got the nickname 'Dallas'. Shannon made an entry that certainly caught people's attention—a sequence of backflips. After the 'Gladiators', she took up boxing and came close to becoming a WWE Diva. She eventually founded Gladiator Arenal, a gym in Florida, but she is currently an MMA trainer.
