Jimmy Caruso checks Arnold’s lighting in 1975.

Update: Jimmy Caruso died on July 18, 2021 at age 95.

Last weekend, we published a story on the 1969 Mr. Olympia. The photographer who shot that contest was Jimmy Caruso. The Montreal gym owner, who captured studio and contest photos for Weider muscle magazines from the mid-’50s to the late ’70s, was, in 1968, the first lensman to shoot Arnold Schwarzenegger in America; and he took some of the most iconic images of the Austrian Oak in his prime. Additionally, the bodybuilding (and boxing) trainer and gym owner taught Arnold much about posing.

Well into his 80s, Caruso was still working as a personal trainer in Montreal. On the morning of November 13, 2019, at Gold’s Gym Venice, the 94-year-old Caruso reunited with Arnold for a filmed interview. We have TMZ-style video captures of the two legends before the interview—and before the sneaky videographer was told to get lost. We’ll let you know when you can see this reunion of two bodybuilding legends—the photographer and his greatest subject.

Arnold with Caruso (center)
Caruso (left) and one of his legendary Arnold shots

Below are four examples of Caruso’s Arnold photography from 1968-75.

Arnold Schwarzenegger 1968
21-year-old Arnold at the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami, Florida, September 29, 1968, the day after he lost the Mr. Universe to Frank Zane and the day and place where he signed with Joe Weider. This was his first American photo shoot. / Caruso

Arnold Schwarzenegger cover
May 1971 Muscle Builder/Power cover

Arnold Schwarzenegger 1975
One of a classic set of studio images from 1975 / Caruso

Arnold Schwarzenegger 1968
October 1968, shooting Arnold inside Caruso’s Montreal gym / Caruso

Related: How Strong Was Arnold? and Howard Stern Interviews Arnold: 5 Things We Learned