They were encouraged to move to California in 1979 to see if they could break into show business and have success attained by bodybuilders-turned-actors including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.
Their public strength feats included 500-pound reverse-grip bench presses (by David), 150-pound dumbbell cheat curls for reps (by Peter), and 315-pound presses behind the neck for reps.[3] In 1982, David and Peter Paul were featured in magazines including Powerlifting USA, Muscle & Fitness, and a high-profile, 8-page Sports Illustrated article [4] along with a segment on Showtime's "What’s Up, America?"
The pair made news by being the first nominees to attend the Golden Raspberry Awards in which they were nominated for a Razzie in the category of "Worst New Star" though losing to David Mendenhall for his work in Over the Top.
David and Peter were filmed for a small part in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers in which they are in a bodybuilding public gym milieu being interviewed by Robert Downey Jr.'s character; but the scene ended up on the cutting room floor.
[13] In California, they were regulars at Gold's Gym in Venice and demonstrated unusual techniques including placing smelly boots in each other's face to humorously kickstart their next feat of strength.
[14] They made personal appearances at various gyms, bodybuilding competitions as celebrity judges or autograph sessions, and at high profile locations including Disneyland.
Articles in the Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated and a wide array of bodybuilding magazine paved the way for their acting careers.