He was famous in the mid-1950s as a movie star in Italian-made sword-and-sandal films, playing the protagonist as muscular characters such as Hercules, Goliath, and Sandokan.

[5] Reeves developed an interest in bodybuilding at Castlemont High School and trained at Ed Yarick's gym in Oakland, California.

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, and served in the Philippines.

[citation needed] Reeves moved to New York where he studied acting under Stella Adler, but after arguments he was refunded his tuition.

[6] In Italy, director Pietro Francisci wanted to make a film about Hercules but could not find anyone suitable to play the role.

His daughter recommended Reeves on the basis of his appearance in Athena and Francisci offered him the role and a plane ticket to Italy.

What made it an international sensation was that US distribution rights were bought by Joseph E. Levine, who promoted it and turned it into a major box-office success, grossing $5 million in the United States in 1959.

He played Hadji Murad, a 19th-century Avar naib who led his warriors in raids against the Russians invading his homelands in the North Caucasus (modern-day Dagestan and Chechnya).

The film earned $1.6 million in North America during its initial release, when it was double billed with Sign of the Gladiator.

During the filming, Reeves dislocated his shoulder when his chariot slammed into a tree;[1][5] he re-injured it while swimming in a subsequent underwater escape scene.

By now Reeves' success was such that his films would use Hollywood directors: Marathon was directed by Mario Bava and Jacques Tourneur.

In The Trojan Horse (film) (1961) Reeves played Aeneas of Troy, opposite John Drew Barrymore.

He co-starred with fellow body builder Gordon Scott in Duel of the Titans (1961), playing Romulus and Remus respectively.

"[20] Reeves reportedly turned down the James Bond role in Dr. No (1962)[1] because of the low salary the producers offered.

[21] Reeves also declined the role that finally went to Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars (1964) because he did not believe that Italians could make a western out of a Japanese samurai film.

He had earned enough to retire and moved to the 360-acre (150 ha) Suncrest Stock Ranch he purchased in Jacksonville just outside of Medford, Oregon – 33 miles (53 km) north of the California border.

Moore worked with Reeves and Steve's wife at the time, Aline, for over 12 years before receiving publishing approval.

[25] In 1991, writer Chris LeClaire began writing and researching Steve Reeves' life and career for a biography.

[25][28] Freelance writer Rod Labbe interviewed Reeves in 1997, and the article appeared in Films of the Golden Age magazine, summer 2011.

[21] Reeves had exploratory surgery late Friday afternoon on April 28, 2000, while being treated for lymphoma, and died shortly before noon from a blood clot on Monday, May 1, 2000.