Women’s bodybuilding pioneer Lisa Lyon is in a grave condition with pancreatic cancer, according to TMZ.
Lyon, who also posed for Playboy in 1980, is apparently being treated in a hospice in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.
While being best known as a bodybuilder, she is also believed to have inspired Frank Miller to create the Marvel Comics character Elektra. In 2005, Jennifer Garner starred in ‘Elektra’ action film.
But Lyon’s impact stretched wider than the comic book world. She wrote a book on bodybuilding – ‘Lisa Lyon’s Body Magic’ – in 1980 and struck up a friendship with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He is even quoted by TMZ as saying that Lyon ‘is the best – I love her’.
Women’s bodybuilding pioneer Lisa Lyon is said to be in a grave condition with cancer
Lyon believed to have inspired Frank Miller to create the Marvel Comics character Elektra
In 2000, she entered the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Hall of Fame and was, according to GreatestPhysiques.Com, described as ‘a one-woman media-relations activist on behalf of the sport and Elevating bodybuilding to the level of fine art’.
Lyon also modeled for Robert Mapplethorpe – a photographer who is best known for photographing the artist Andy Warhol.
According to numerous bodybuilding websites, Lyon was born in 1953 – meaning she is around 70 years old – but the exact date is not given.
She was born and raised in Los Angeles and also appeared in three films in the 80s, after her profile increased following her Playboy work.
In 1983, she was in Thee Crowns of the Sailor and a year later was seen in Getting Physical. Her last appearance, in 1986, was in Vamp.