Albert Beckles

Albert Beckles (14 July 1930 – 16 May 2026) was a Barbadian-born British IFBB pro bodybuilder and Mr. Universe. He was a three-time New York City ‘Night of Champions’ winner. Beckles was celebrated for being competitive at the top level in his fifties. He was the oldest professional male bodybuilder to win the overall of an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League (IFBB Pro League) contest at the age of 60.

Early life and bodybuilding career Beckles was born on 14 July 1930 in Barbados, but immigrated to London, England. In the mid-1960s, he won several British regional titles before winning the 1969 and 1970 NABBA Mr. Britain titles. In 1971, Beckles joined the IFBB, earning the overall at the IFBB "Mr. Universe."

Beckles was one of the most active participants in bodybuilding history, having been in over 100 contests. In 1982, at the age of 52, he won the Night of Champions competition in New York.

Beckles’ 13 forays into the IFBB Mr. Olympia yielded six placings among the top five, including coming second to Lee Haney in 1985 at the age of 55.

In 1991, at the age of 60, he won the Niagara Falls Pro Invitational.

Personal life and death Beckles later resided in Los Angeles. He was a "pollo-vegetarian", which means he ate poultry but no red meat.

Beckles died on 16 May 2026, at the age of 95.

Contest history YEAR CONTEST HEIGHT/WEIGHT CLASS PLACING 1965 Mr. Britain NABBA 5th 1965 Universe NABBA Medium 3rd 1966 Universe NABBA Medium 6th 1967 Mr. Britain NABBA 3rd 1968 Mr. Britain NABBA 2nd 1969 Mr. Britain NABBA 2nd 1969 Mr. World IFBB Medium 2nd 1969 Universe NABBA Medium 3rd 1970 Mr. Britain NABBA 1st 1970 Mr. Europe 1st 1970 Mr. Europe Medium 1st 1970 Universe NABBA Medium 2nd 1971 Mr. Britain NABBA 1st 1971 Mr. World AAU 1st 1971 Mr. World AAU Medium 1st 1971 Mr. World AAU Most Muscular 1st 1971 Universe IFBB Medium 1st & Overall 1971 Universe NABBA Medium 1st & Overall 1973 Mr. Europe IFBB Medium 1st & Overall 1973 Universe IFBB Medium 1st 1975 Olympia IFBB Lightweight 3rd 1975 Universe IFBB Medium 2nd 1977 Olympia IFBB Short 4th & 7th Overall 1978 Olympia IFBB Lightweight 8th 1979 Best in the World IFBB, Professional 3rd 1979 Grand Prix Pennsylvania IFBB 3rd 1979 Olympia IFBB Lightweight 7th 1979 World Pro Championships IFBB 2nd 1980 Universe Pro IFBB 4th 1980 World Pro Championships IFBB 4th 1981 Canada Pro Cup IFBB 2nd 1981 Grand Prix Belgium IFBB 2nd 1981 Grand Prix California IFBB 4th 1981 Grand Prix Louisiana IFBB 2nd 1981 Grand Prix Massachusetts IFBB 2nd 1981 Grand Prix New England IFBB 1st 1981 Grand Prix New York IFBB 2nd 1981 Grand Prix Wales IFBB 3rd 1981 Grand Prix World Cup IFBB 6th 1981 Professional World Cup IFBB 6th 1981 World Grand Prix IFBB 2nd 1982 Grand Prix Belgium IFBB 2nd 1982 Grand Prix Sweden IFBB 4th 1982 Night Of Champions IFBB 1st 1982 Olympia IFBB 5th 1982 World Pro Championships IFBB 1st 1983 Grand Prix England IFBB 5th 1983 Grand Prix Las Vegas IFBB 3rd 1983 Grand Prix Portland IFBB 4th 1983 Grand Prix Sweden IFBB 5th 1983 Grand Prix Switzerland IFBB 5th 1983 Night Of Champions IFBB 3rd 1983 Olympia IFBB 7th 1984 Canada Pro Cup IFBB 1st 1984 Olympia IFBB 4th 1984 World Grand Prix IFBB 1st 1984 World Pro Championships IFBB 1st 1985 Night Of Champions IFBB 1st 1985 Olympia IFBB 2nd 1986 Olympia IFBB 4th 1987 Grand Prix France IFBB 4th 1987 Grand Prix Germany (2) IFBB 6th 1987 Grand Prix Germany IFBB 4th 1987 Olympia IFBB 7th 1987 World Pro Championships IFBB 3rd 1988 Chicago Pro Invitational IFBB 4th 1988 Grand Prix England IFBB 7th 1988 Grand Prix France IFBB 11th 1988 Grand Prix Germany IFBB 8th 1988 Grand Prix Italy IFBB 8th 1988 Grand Prix Spain (2) IFBB 8th 1988 Grand Prix Spain IFBB 7th 1988 Night Of Champions IFBB 5th 1988 Olympia IFBB 15th 1988 World Pro Championships IFBB 10th 1989 Arnold Classic IFBB 7th 1989 Grand Prix England IFBB 9th 1989 Grand Prix Finland IFBB 9th 1989 Grand Prix France IFBB 9th 1989 Grand Prix Holland IFBB 11th 1989 Grand Prix Melbourne IFBB 4th 1989 Grand Prix Spain (2) IFBB 10th 1989 Grand Prix Spain IFBB 10th 1989 Grand Prix Sweden IFBB 9th 1989 Grand Prix US Pro IFBB 4th 1989 Night of Champions IFBB 8th 1989 Olympia IFBB 15th 1989 World Pro Championships IFBB 4th 1990 Arnold Classic IFBB 9th 1990 Houston Pro Invitatinal IFBB 11th 1990 Niagara Falls Pro Invitatinal IFBB 12th 1990 Night of Champions IFBB DID NOT PLACE 1991 Grand Prix Denmark IFBB 7th 1991 Grand Prix England IFBB 7th 1991 Grand Prix Finland IFBB 9th 1991 Grand Prix Italy IFBB 8th 1991 Grand Prix Spain IFBB 9th 1991 Grand Prix Switzerland IFBB 8th 1991 Niagara Falls Pro Invitational IFBB 1st 1991 Night of Champions IFBB 7th 1991 Olympia IFBB DID NOT PLACE 1991 Pittsburg Pro Invitational IFBB 12th 1991 San Jose Pro Invitational IFBB 5th 1992 Chicago Pro Invitational IFBB 16th 1992 Niagara Falls Pro Invitational IFBB 8th