Tamilee Webb

Last updated

Tamilee Webb
Tamilee Webb (July 2022).png
Born (1958-10-09) October 9, 1958 (age 65)
Rio Dell, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)fitness expert, author
Known forStarring in Buns of Steel series, hosting ESPN & Fox Fitness, and writing "Workouts for Dummies"

Tamilee Webb (born October 9, 1958) is an American fitness professional, best known for revolutionizing home workouts with her popular Buns of Steel and Abs of Steel video series, which have sold more than 14 million copies [1] and for writing Workouts for Dummies. Her videos have appeared on Billboard's video charts [2] and her work is considered a best seller by The New York Times. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Tamilee Webb was born on October 9, 1958 [4] and she grew up in Rio Dell, California. [2] Webb has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and a master's degree in Exercise Science from California State University, Chico's College of Communication and Education in 1996. [5]

Career

Webb's career skyrocketed in 1988 with the release of Buns of Steel, a fitness video focused on sculpting and strengthening the buttocks. [6] The concept originated with fitness trainer Greg Smithey, who was only able to sell 114 copies of his videos. [7] At the time, Webb was a professional body builder [8] working at the Golden Door spa and cruise ship as a fitness instructor when she was hired for the lead role. Over the next two decades released over two dozen fitness shows similar to the Buns of Steel, Abs of Steel, and Thighs of Steel series which sold more than 14 million copies. [1] The videos were often able to be ordered direct, allowing one to work out at home. [9] In her subsequent series, she designed functional workouts to cork on core muscles. [10] [11]

In the late 1990s, Webb expanded her business ventures by starting a chain of fitness-focused eateries called Eden in 1996 [12] and authoring Workouts for Dummies. [13] In the mid-2010s, her work remained influential in the press as the fitness space continued its rise to prominence. [14] [15] As of 2024, she remains active in the fitness space. [16]

Personal life

Webb is known to cycle, play tennis, and play golf. [17] [18] [19]

Filmography

YearsTitleRole
1988–2000Buns of SteelLead role [7]
1992–1994Abs of SteelLead role [20]
1993Thighs of SteelLead role [21]
1994Building Tighter AssetsLead role [22]
1994Fit TV Cable Health ClubCo-host [23] [24]
1990s ESPN Fitness ProsCo-host [25]
1990s Fox Sports Body SquadRecurring cast [25]

Webb has also appeared on television shows such as NBC's The Today Show . [26]

Awards

YearsNominationResult
1992 Self Magazine AwardWon [27]
2008 National Fitness Hall of Fame Inducted [25]

Books

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References

  1. 1 2 "Meet Tamilee Webb | Fitness & Health Expert. Best known for my BUNS OF STEEL VIDEOS SERIES. – SHOUTOUT LA". June 13, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Behind the Buns of Steel". EW.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ Nichols, Peter (September 3, 1993). "The mother of fitness tapes offers three more". The New York Times . p. 79.
  4. ↑ "Tamilee Webb". Who's Dated Who?. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ "CSU, Chico Distinguished Alumni – Chico State Alumni Association". California State University, Chico . Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ Smithey, Greg. Buns of Steel, Home Video Release, 1987.
  7. 1 2 Radke, Heather (December 11, 2022). "The Odd Fitness Genius Behind Buns of Steel". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ Goldberg, Leslie (October 25, 1986). "Pumping rubber for a firmer, fitter you". The San Francisco Examiner . p. 11.
  9. ↑ Kaufman, Joanne (August 16, 1987). "Home Video Exercise". The New York Times . p. 26.
  10. ↑ "Tamilee Webb Tighter Assets Weight Loss DVD". Total Fitness DVDs. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ Braff, Danielle; Newspapers, Tribune (August 8, 2012). "Stepping up your game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ Glowka, Wayne; Lester, Brenda K.; Fedeli, Amedeo; Hendrix, Keith; Jackson, LIsa; Scott, Elijah; Sirmans, John M.; Upton, Traci P. (1999). "Among the New Words". American Speech. 74 (2): 203–224. ISSN   0003-1283. JSTOR   455578.
  13. ↑ "Giving 'dummies' a leg up". New York Daily News. March 3, 1998. p. 45.
  14. ↑ Ellin, Abby (November 1, 2007). "I'm Sorry but You're Spinning on My Machine". The New York Times .
  15. ↑ Griffith, Erin (September 6, 2018). "Silicon Valley Jumps Into the Fitness Business, and It Will Cost You". The New York Times .
  16. ↑ "Raquel Welch – Now - '80s Fitness Stars: Where Did They End Up?". Herald Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ Rodriguez, June (September 10, 1995). "'Buns' guru carries superhero schedule". Indiana Gazette . pp. E-5.
  18. ↑ Zaslow, Jeffrey (July 1, 1995). "Get off your couch". Nappa Valley Register. p. 42.
  19. ↑ Landman, Beth (September 15, 2017). "Why Hollywood's Top Plastic Surgeons Are Saying "We'll Fix It in Post"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ Mankani, Sneha (May 14, 2020). "Five '90s workout videos you have to try this week, because remember video tapes?". Vogue. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  21. ↑ Webb, Tamilee (1993). Thighs of Steel. Parade videos.
  22. 1 2 Webb, Tamilee; Arneson, D. J. (1994). Tamilee Webb's Step Up Fitness Workout. Workman Pub. ISBN   978-1-56305-491-4.
  23. ↑ "The rocking ab machine that does so much". Chicago Tribune . November 12, 1996. p. 185.
  24. ↑ "Fitness, Health and Nutrition 24 Hours a Day". The Philadelphia Inquirer . June 15, 1997. p. 225.
  25. 1 2 3 "National Fitness Hall of Fame". National Fitness Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  26. ↑ Staff (September 17, 1994). "Crowning 'Miss America' for 74th Time". The Los Angeles Times . pp. F10.
  27. ↑ "Sports Motivational Speakers Agent | Direct Sportslink - Direct Sportslink Sports". Tamilee Webb | Sports Motivational Speakers Agent | Direct Sportslink — Direct Sportslink Sports Celebrity Website Designs | Official Athlete Websites. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ Webb, Tamilee; Houston, Julie (December 12, 1985). Tamilee Webb's Original Rubber Band Workout. Workman. ISBN   978-0-89480-056-6.
  29. ↑ Webb, Tamilee (December 28, 1998). Workouts For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-0-7645-5124-6.
  30. ↑ Webb, Tamilee (2005). Tamilee Webb's Defy Gravity Workout. Fair Winds. ISBN   978-1-61059-514-8.
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