Editing Chris Dickerson (bodybuilder)

{{Short description|American former professional bodybuilder (1939–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{more citations needed|biography|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox bodybuilder
|image=Chris Dickerson 1970.jpg
|caption=Dickerson, circa 1970
| name = Chris Dickerson
| nickname = 
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1939|08|25}}
| birth_place = [[Montgomery, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|23|1939|8|25}}
| death_place = [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=1982 Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson Has Passed Away At 82 |url=https://generationiron.com/chris-dickerson-passed-away/ |website=generationiron|date=24 December 2021 }}</ref>
| height = 5 ft 6 in
| weight = 195 lbs <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greatestphysiques.com/male-physiques/chris-dickerson/ | title=Chris Dickerson - Greatest Physiques | date=5 July 2016 }}</ref>
| firstproshow = Mr Atlantic Coast
| firstproshowyear = 1966
| bestwin = IFBB [[Mr. Olympia]]
| bestwinyear = 1982
| predecessor = [[Franco Columbu]]
| successor = [[Samir Bannout]]
| yesorretiredyear = 1966–1994
}}

'''Henri Christophe Dickerson''' (August 25, 1939 – December 23, 2021) was an American [[Professional bodybuilding|professional]] [[bodybuilding|bodybuilder]].<ref>{{cite web |title=IN MEMORIAM: CHRIS DICKERSON (1939-2021) |url=https://ifbb.com/in-memoriam-chris-dickerson-1939-2021/ |website=ifbb|date=25 December 2021 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Dickerson was born in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], on August 25, 1939.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifbbpro.com/hall-of-fame-welcome-message/chris-dickerson/ |title=IFBB Chris Dickerson |publisher=Ifbbpro.com |date=1939-08-25 |access-date=2014-06-29 |archive-date=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724180800/http://www.ifbbpro.com/hall-of-fame-welcome-message/chris-dickerson/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the youngest of triplets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chris Dickerson|url=http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1265|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama|language=en}}</ref> His mother, [[Mahala Ashley Dickerson]], was a lawyer and civil rights advocate for women and minorities. He graduated high school at [[Olney Friends School]] in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahala Ashley Dickerson |url=https://www.nps.gov/people/mahala-ashley-dickerson.htm |website=nps.gov}}</ref> In 1959, he began attending the [[American Academy of Dramatic Arts]] in New York City, studying acting, singing, and ballet. There, a teacher recommended he strengthen his chest to strengthen his voice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Greg |date= December 24, 2021|title=Chris Dickerson (1939-2021): The Life of the 1982 Mr. Olympia |url=https://thebarbell.com/chris-dickerson-life-of-1982-mr-olympia/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Bodybuilding career==
One of the world's most titled bodybuilders, Dickerson's competitive career spanned thirty years; he was known for both his heavily muscled, symmetrical physique and for his skills on the posing dais.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Dickerson |url=https://www.greatestphysiques.com/male-physiques/chris-dickerson/ |website=greatestphysiques|date=5 July 2016 }}</ref>

After seeing Mr. Universe [[Bill Pearl]] in a magazine, Dickerson changed his focus from acting to bodybuilding, and, at age 24, he began training at Pearl's Los Angeles gym.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Greg |date= December 24, 2021|title=Chris Dickerson (1939-2021): The Life of the 1982 Mr. Olympia |url=https://thebarbell.com/chris-dickerson-life-of-1982-mr-olympia/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}</ref> Dickerson first entered a [[bodybuilding]] competition in 1965 by taking third place at that year's Mr. Long Beach competition.  He turned pro in 1973 and won a total of 15 professional bodybuilding titles across four organizations during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Dickerson (1939-2021): The Life of the 1982 Mr. Olympia |url=https://www.thebarbell.com/chris-dickerson-life-of-1982-mr-olympia/ |website=thebarbell|date=24 December 2021 }}</ref> Bill Pearl trained and advised him throughout his career.

Dickerson was the first African-American AAU Mr. America, the first openly gay winner of the IFBB [[Mr. Olympia]] contest, and one of only two bodybuilders (along with [[Dexter Jackson (bodybuilder)|Dexter Jackson]]) to win titles in both the Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia competitions.<ref name="gay">{{cite web|url=http://healthyblackmen.org/2011/03/20/talking-truth-with-chris-dickerson/|title=Exclusive Conversation with Chris Dickerson|publisher=Healthyblackmen.org|access-date=2014-06-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804060733/http://healthyblackmen.org/2011/03/20/talking-truth-with-chris-dickerson/|archive-date=2014-08-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://barbend.com/mr-olympia-winners/|title=Every Winner of the Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Competition|date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>

He won the Mr. Olympia once (1982), a distinction he shares with [[Samir Bannout]] (1983) and [[Dexter Jackson (bodybuilder)|Dexter Jackson]] (2008) who have since retired, [[Shawn Rhoden]] (2018) who has since died, as well as [[Brandon Curry]] (2019), [[Hadi Choopan]] (2022), [[Derek Lunsford]] (2023), and [[Samson Dauda]] (2024) who are currently active.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Interview With 1982 Mr. Olympia, Chris Dickerson |url=https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson270.htm |website=bodybuilding|date=25 April 2007 }}</ref>

Dickerson retired after winning the 50+ division at the 1994 Masters Olympia and was inducted into the [[IFBB Hall of Fame]] in 2000. Dickerson lived in Florida where he continued to train, conduct seminars, and correspond with current athletes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Dickerson's bodybuilding career at a glance |url=https://fitnessvolt.com/chris-dickerson-passes-away/ |website=fitnessvolt|date=24 December 2021 }}</ref>

==Modeling==
During the 1960s, Dickerson did much physique modeling. His 1970s nude work for photographer [[Jim French (photographer)|Jim French]] is today considered{{by whom|date=December 2021}} some of the best in an admittedly limited field. He appeared in French's hardcover photo essay, ''Man'' (1972), and also posed for the photographer ten years later. These photos ran in an issue of Olympus, published by [[Colt Studio Group|Colt Studios]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Who is Chris Dickerson?|url=http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Chris_Dickerson|access-date=16 March 2013|newspaper=opentopia.com|date=16 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411145045/http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Chris_Dickerson|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Dickerson was gay, which was known in bodybuilding circles, but he did not often publicly discuss this at the height of his career. He later acknowledged that his sexual orientation, along with being black, was a barrier.

Dickerson died on December 23, 2021, at age 82, from heart failure.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/10/sports/chris-dickerson-dead.html Chris Dickerson, Who Broke Bodybuilding Barriers, Dies at 82] ''New York Times''</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lockridge |first1=Roger |title=1982 Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson Reportedly Dies At Age 82 |url=https://barbend.com/bodybuilder-chris-dickerson-obituary/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=Bar Bend |date=23 December 2021}}</ref>

==Bodybuilding titles==
{{Div col}}
* 1966 Mr North America - AAU, 2nd
* 1966 Mr New York State - AAU, Overall Winner
* 1966 Mr Eastern America - AAU, Overall Winner
* 1966 Mr Atlantic Coast - AAU, Overall Winner
* 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
* 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Winner
* 1967 Mr California - AAU, Winner
* 1967 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 4th
* 1967 Mr America - AAU, 6th
* 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 5th
* 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, 4th
* 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
* 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Winner
* 1968 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 3rd
* 1968 Mr America - AAU, 3rd
* 1968 Junior Mr America - AAU, 3rd
* 1969 Mr America - AAU, 2nd
* 1969 Junior Mr America - AAU, 2nd
* 1970 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
* 1970 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
* 1970 Mr America - AAU, Winner
* 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
* 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Winner
* 1971 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
* 1973 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
* 1973 Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
* 1973 Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
* 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 1st
* 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
* 1975 World Championships - WBBG, 2nd
* 1975 Universe - Pro - PBBA, 2nd
* 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 2nd
* 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, 3rd
* 1976 Olympus - WBBG, 4th
* [[1979 Mr. Olympia]] - IFBB, Lightweight, 4th
* 1979 Grand Prix Vancouver - IFBB, 2nd
* 1979 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
* 1979 Canada Diamond Pro Cup - IFBB, 2nd
* 1980 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd
* [[1980 Mr. Olympia]] - IFBB, 2nd
* 1980 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
* 1980 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
* 1980 Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, Winner
* 1980 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, 2nd
* 1980 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
* 1980 Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, Winner
* 1980 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
* 1981 Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
* [[1981 Mr. Olympia]] - IFBB, 2nd
* 1981 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
* 1981 Grand Prix World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
* 1981 Grand Prix Washington - IFBB, Winner
* 1981 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
* 1981 Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 2nd
* 1981 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, Winner
* 1981 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
* [[1982 Mr. Olympia]] - IFBB, Winner
* [[1984 Mr. Olympia]] - IFBB, 11th
* 1990 Arnold Classic - IFBB, 8th
* 1994 Masters Olympia - IFBB, Overall, 4th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musclememory.com/show.php?s=Chris+Dickerson&g=M |title=Chris Dickerson |publisher= www.musclememory.com | date=1939-08-25 | access-date=2014-06-29}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110814150353/http://www.ifbb.com/halloffame/2000/dickerson.htm IFBB Hall of Fame]
* [https://www.evolutionofbodybuilding.net/mr-olympia-chris-dickerson-dies-age-82/ Chris Dickerson passes away at 82]
* [http://www.builtreport.com/dickerson.html Chris Dickerson Gallery ]
* {{IMDb name|id=1966824}}

{{s-start}}
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Mr. Olympia]]''' 
|- 
|  style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:<br/>'''[[Franco Columbu]]'''
|  style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| First (1982)
|  style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by:<br/>'''[[Samir Bannout]]'''
{{s-end}}
{{Mr. Olympia winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickerson, Chris}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:African-American bodybuilders]]
[[Category:African-American male models]]
[[Category:American male models]]
[[Category:American male adult models]]
[[Category:African-American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Gay models]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Florida]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ models]]
[[Category:American gay sportsmen]]
[[Category:American professional bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Florida]]
[[Category:LGBTQ bodybuilders]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Olney Friends School alumni]]