Arcidi was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. The son of a nurse, Anne Arcidi and orthodontist, Doctor Joseph M. Arcidi. Ted was raised Roman Catholic and attended parochial schools with his 6 siblings, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Throughout elementary and high school, Ted was active in all sports, particularly Ice hockey.[4] Ted received a BS from Norwich University and went on to Graduate School at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.[5] While he was obtaining more science credits to get into dental school he taught junior high and high school biology. That was cut short when his power lifting talent was good enough to compete at a world class level.[4]
Powerlifting/Bench press world record
Ted Arcidi bench pressed 705.5 pounds (320kg) on March 3, 1985 at Gus Rethwisch's Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii for an APF & USPF world record, to become the first man to bench 700 pounds in an officially recognized powerlifting competition.[1][2][6] Then, after being 5 1/2 years away from competition due to his wrestling career, he made a comeback. Weighing 291 pounds, Arcidi set another world record with a 718.1lbs bench press at the APF Bench Press Invitational on September 30, 1990, in Keene, New Hampshire.[7] On September 14, 1991, at a Mr. Olympia contest, he squared off face to face with his greatest rival Anthony Clark to determine who the greatest bench presser of the world was. Arcidi defeated the much bigger Clark (5'8", 375lbs) by pressing 725 pounds off his chest to establish yet a new, but was disqualified when judges deemed he failed to lock out his elbows., world record.[8][9]
Arcidi's 705 pound all-time world record bench press was performed in one of the earliest bench shirts - an original pre-prototype supportive bench press shirt, which was 50% polyester and 50% cotton and only one layer thick.[10][11] It was thus later categorized as "equipped", although it did not improve his bench by much, if anything.[10] It was an equivalent to a modern day Under Armour shirt. In 1984 Arcidi had benched an official 666.9 pounds (302.5kg) at 286.0 pounds bodyweight completely raw, without a bench shirt, elbow or wrist wraps at the Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships as well.[12] He is considered to be one of the strongest bench pressers of all time.[8]
After leaving Pro-Wrestling, Ted created a vitamin supplement company called Arcidi Strength Systems. Among these are his ownership of New England's largest women's gym in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a gym equipment company called Weightlifters Warehouse.[4] Later, Arcidi bought the building with his father.[5]
Acting career
Behind the Scenes - A candid shot of Ted and a fighter, possibly taken by a production assistant on set.
Arcidi started focusing on his acting career in 1997, with parts in films and shows such as Law & Order and in several commercials. He participated in numerous acting classes and casting director workshops on a weekly basis, engaging with both the New York City and Boston markets. During this period, he also seized opportunities to act in various student films and low-budget projects, collaborating with institutions such as Emerson College, Boston University, Boston College, and New York University.[4]
↑ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp.268–269. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
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