Ralf Moeller battling in “Gladiator” / Dreamworks
Who is the big guy in Gladiator? It’s still a frequent question, over two decades after the blockbuster movie was released. The big guy is Ralf Moeller, and he is indeed very big: 6’6” and, at his muscular peak, around 300 pounds. He’s a former pro bodybuilder—the tallest to ever compete in the Mr. Olympia—and a prolific movie and TV actor. This is the story of Ralf Moeller.
MOELLER TOWERS OVER THE COMPETITION
Ralf Möller was born on January 12, 1959, in the small city of Recklinghausen in what was then West Germany. As a youth he was an avid swimmer. Inspired by a bodybuilder he met when swimming, Moller turned to lifting weights. He began training at a primitive gym equipped with rusty, old equipment. “Back in the day, I was motivated by Bruce Lee, and he had a great body,” Moeller remembers. Rep after rep, the lanky 6’6” teenager began to fill out his very tall frame.
Moeller was in the West German Army when he won the tall class of the Junior (aged 20 or under) Mr. Germany bodybuilding championships in 1978 and again in 1979 (Jusup Wilcosz, who went on to finish third in the 1984 Mr. Olympia, won the overall that year). In 1983, at 24, Moeller won the overall Mr. Germany. Meanwhile, placing high in the heavyweight class of the World Championships (third in 1982 and 1983, fifth in 1985) got him noticed for his great height, even in American muscle magazines. But would he ever be able to fill out enough to earn pro status?
The answer was yes. In 1986, at 288 pounds, the German giant won the heavyweight class of the World Championships, earning a ticket to the pro league. His arms and abs were strengths. Two years later, he competed in the Mr. Olympia, but finished last. Officially, it was his only pro bodybuilding contest (he was disqualified from the 1990 Arnold Classic for a drug-testing violation).
No one taller than 6’2” has ever won a pro bodybuilding contest, and The Barbell determined that 5’10” is the ideal height for Mr. Olympia success. Moeller later spoke of the challenges that come from towering over other bodybuilders: “I always looked big from the front, but when I turned to the side there wasn’t enough weight to look huge from that angle. It all took time. Being 6’6”, I was definitely the tallest bodybuilder.”
RALF MOELLER: PRE-GLADIATOR
After a bit part on a German TV show, Ralf Moeller brazenly flew to Los Angeles in 1988 to break into Hollywood. There, he repeatedly called prolific movie producer Menahem Golan, but got nowhere. So, he went to Golan’s office. This never works—but then how often does a 6’6” professional bodybuilder show up at the reception desk? Moeller somehow finagled a brief meeting with the producer, who financed his English and acting lessons, and eventually cast him in the Jean-Claude van Damme action flicks Cyborg (1989) and Universal Soldier (1992).
Ralf Moeller moved to America in 1993, living in Santa Monica, California, like his friend, another German-speaking bodybuilder who turned to acting: Arnold Schwarzenegger. As with bodybuilding, success came slowly for Moeller, and then all at once. The same year, 1997, that he had a small role in Batman & Robin, in which Arnold plays Mr. Freeze, Moeller was cast in one of Arnold’s iconic roles: Conan. In the syndicated TV series Conan the Adventurer, the German giant played the titular character.
“I got the blessing [from Arnold Schwarzenegger] and I went and did [Conan the Adventurer],” Moeller said. “We did only one season. There were some complications, but we had good [ratings] numbers. It was a big success in Germany and some other countries. Then, some partner stepped out and it fell apart. A couple of months later, I got a call from Steven Spielberg. He was producing Gladiator, and the casting director wanted me.”
WHO IS THE BIG GUY IN GLADIATOR?
Ralf Moeller played the giant gladiator Hagen in 2000’s Gladiator, and the film, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, was both a worldwide box office smash and a critical success. Nominated for 12 Oscars, it won five, including Best Picture. “Who is the big guy in Gladiator?” is still a frequently Googled question.
“I still can’t believe sometimes [that I was in it] when I watch it,” Moeller said of Gladiator. “When we grow up as kids, there are certain kinds of films you watch over and over again, even if you’ve seen them. This is also that kind of film. I haven’t seen it for a while, but of course, when I see it, suddenly I appear, and I say to myself, ‘You were in that kind of movie.’ With Russell Crowe, Richard Harris, Oliver Reed, Joaquin Phoenix, there were so many great characters in it, and of course, Ridley Scott, the legendary director.”
RALF MOELLER: POST-GLADIATOR
Another sword-and-sandal role in the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson 2002 hit The Scorpion King followed. Ralf Moeller has worked steadily, mostly in low budget films, ever since. His small but memorable part, with fellow German pro bodybuilder Gunter Schlierkamp, in the 2006 cult comedy Beerfest is one fans frequently reference.
Ralf Moeller was married from 1990-2013, and he and his ex-wife have two adult daughters. Since 2016, he’s been, as he says, “90% vegan,” cutting out all red and white meat but occasionally eating fish. Last year, his co-written book, Vegan Gladiators, was published in German. Moeller still lives in Santa Monica. He often hangs out with Arnold Schwarzenegger, his frequent training partner and close friend. At 65, he still works out regularly at Gold’s Gym Venice; and the big guy from Gladiator is still, almost always, the tallest guy in the gym.
RALF MOELLER: TWO MORE THINGS
When did Ralf Moeller meet Arnold Schwarzenegger?
In 1982, when Arnold came to West Germany to promote Conan the Barbarian. Moeller says of Arnold: “He told me he felt comfortable because I wasn’t trying to bother him and asking, ‘Could you do this and that for me?’ I wasn’t trying to become the next Arnold. That’s not possible. But he was always a big inspiration and helped. He helps people. He was always a big supporter, but you have to do it on your own.”
Is Ralf Moeller the tallest pro bodybuilder ever?
Yes. He held that distinction alone for three decades. He currently shares it with 6’6” (197 cm.) pro classic physique competitor Pavel Szotkowski. Ralf Moeller is still the all-time, tallest, professional, open-division competitor and the tallest Mr. Olympia competitor. For more on this, check out: Tallest Bodybuilders Ever
