Bill Pettis

Bill Pettis (December 23, 1942 - September 27, 2016) was an American competitive bodybuilder. Pettis was friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger when they both trained in Venice Beach starting in the 1970s. Pettis was known for the biggest biceps in the world. Pettis was the subject of a photograph poster made by Garry Winogrand for the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Early life Bill Pettis was born on December 23 or 27, 1942. He was born and raised in Oberlin, Pennsylvania, the youngest of seven children. His father, Collier, worked at the Bethlehem Steel mill. Pettis was friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Pettis's family told police that they had bought him a bus ticket to visit for a family gathering.

Pettis's personal belongings included photographs of Pettis as a young bodybuilder, photographs of Pettis with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a Christian devotional. Arnold Schwarzenegger responded to Pettis's passing, "Bill Pettis was one of my favorite training partners. He had the biggest arms I've ever seen but more importantly, he had the biggest heart. I'm going to miss him."