Bodybuilding icon Lenny Persin, better known as ‘Big Lenny’, has died at the age of 60 after reportedly suffering from congestive heart failure.
The tragic news was announced by fellow bodybuilder Dave Palumbo in a YouTube video last weekend.
Palumbo said: ‘Big Lenny Persin is no longer with us. He passed over the last couple days, we’re not really sure exactly what day.
‘He was suffering from congestive heart failure for quite some time now.
‘Big Lenny was an icon in the sport. He carved out a unique niche for himself, leading a group of bodybuilders who went by the name of the Del Rey Misfits.
Bodybuilding icon Lenny Persin, better known as ‘Big Lenny’, has died at the age of 60
Persin was reportedly suffering from congestive heart failure prior to his tragic passing
‘He was their fearless leader.’
Persin – who last competed in the 2017 NPC Ruby Championship, finishing in second place – became famous on the bodybuilding scene for his eccentric appearance and larger-than-life personality.
He also suffered from a disease known as palumboism, a difficulty contracting the abdominal muscles which is typically caused by the usage of HGH and insulin, meaning he did not have a conventional bodybuilding appearance.
While he was reportedly struggling with heart problems, Persin’s official cause of death is yet to be announced.
In another recent YouTube video, bodybuilding expert Jon Bravo also confirmed Lenny’s death while paying tribute to him.
Bravo said: ‘I had a chance to know him and he was a gentle giant, you know.
‘One of the biggest guys, the biggest guy in the room and, you know, if there’s one thing we can all learn from Big Lenny is that he lived each day to the fullest and it didn’t matter if he lived in a rundown apartment filled with roaches and dirt and mould, each day, he had a smile on his face, and each day he found a way to make himself happy.’
