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Joe Weider, Fitness Mentor To Schwarzenegger, Dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Weider, the legendary bodybuilding impresario Arnold Schwarzenegger has often cited as his key mentor, has died at age 93.

Weider's longtime publicist, Charlotte Parker, says the bodybuilder, publisher and promoter died Friday at his Los Angeles home.

Parker told The Associated Press the cause of death was heart failure.

A bodybuilder with an impressive physique himself, Weider became better known in later years as a behind-the-scenes guru to the sport.

He popularized bodybuilding and spread the message of health and fitness worldwide with Muscle and Fitness and other magazines.

He also created the internationally recognized Mr. Olympia competition, an event that rocketed Schwarzenegger and other bodybuilders to fame.

In a statement posted on his website Saturday, Schwarzenegger called Weider a titan of the fitness industry.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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