Mike O’Hearn is quite simply the complete package. Listing his talents and achievements would take a whole page. He is one of the funniest, coolest, most respected and well-liked guys I have ever met. To have achieved so much at such a young age, while maintaining his easygoing attitude and approachability to all who come in contact with him, shows he is a man among men.
Mike, you have excelled in so many different areas. What makes you proudest?
I appreciate being given today to enjoy my accomplishments because tomorrow is promised to no one. Just hanging out with my family, knowing what I’ve achieved to date, is a great source of pride.
What sports have you participated in?
Judo, bodybuilding, powerlifting, football, …
How about your career in powerlifting?
I was California champ four times and placed second at the Nationals.
What drives you to keep pushing so hard?
Training is both a game and a meditation for me. It’s like a game when I work out with someone else. I don’t want anyone to last through a workout with me. It’s almost like a martial arts match. Even though weight training is you against the weight, I believe it also involves the heart. Who’s willing to put more weight on, push more reps, or go faster?
I’ve seen you training with Lou Ferrigno. What’s that like?
When I train with Lou, the feeling is like wanting to take down the Hulk. Lou’s arm strength is still incredible. No matter what weight he does, I try to do more reps and more weight. Being a powerlifter, that’s my mentality.
What were your major successes in bodybuilding?
I won the NPC superheavy California and then the Universe four times. I took that road as far as I could.
How do you regard training as meditation?
I need to get inside my mind. I’m always challenging myself. I’m thinking: ‘Was that enough weight that I just squatted? I can do more, even if it’s only 5 or 10 pounds. I can push out a couple more reps.’ When I finish a workout, I feel I’m invincible. After what I’ve just put my body and mind through, nothing the world can throw at me is more difficult.
You and Ferrigno must get quite a lot of attention at Gold’s/Venice.
I think most of the attention is because Lou is a screamer. When he lifts heavy weights he wants everybody to know, so he lets out a couple of Hulk-like screams. He also drops the weights after he’s done. Training with him is a blast! We get a lot of attention, but it’s all because of Lou. He’s a legend in our sport, and he’s a great friend. We share the same beliefs about training. Go big or go home!
What recommendation would you give to young, upcoming competitors?
Build your body how you want it to look, not for judges who tell you you’re first, second, third, or even last place because you have to live with that body.
What is your take on how the bodybuilders view you?
I can speak only for the ones I know like Lou Ferrigno and other guys I’ve trained with. They think I’ve taken my physique to a nice pleasing look that is commercially viable worldwide. They also tell me I’m one of the most intense and strongest guys they’ve ever trained with, and I’m too damned pretty to be a fighter. (I don’t know about that one!)
You have had a great deal of success in mainstream modeling. What are some of the highlights?
There have been so many highlights in my modeling career – traveling to the most incredible places in the world that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise, learning about different cultures, meeting such diversified people … Just seeing how big the world is brings you back to reality. And I got paid for it!
You seem to really enjoy the physical side of acting. Do you think people are surprised that you are such a hard man?
People who don’t know me are very surprised about my athletic background. After seeing me in the magazines as a fitness model, they usually assume I don’t have other facets, and I want to keep that image. If they think of me as one-dimensional, I can surprise a few people in the future. They are also surprised that I stand well over 6’2″ and weigh 270 pounds. They seem to think fitness models are all 5’9″ and 160 pounds until they see me in person. That’s another advantage for me.
[Gallery not found]What was your first movie?
Death Becomes Her [1992] with Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. I was just one of the buff guys in the movie so it wasn’t a big role. But you’ve got to pay your dues.
What kind of guy is Mike O’Hearn?
I’m like a big, goofy, smart-alecky, overgrown kid. If you’ve ever seen the movie Big with Tom Hanks, that’s me.
Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise readers?
My true passion is writing and directing besides acting, bodybuilding, martial arts, basketball, ping pong, air hockey, skiing, PlayStation Halo and food. I don’t take too much seriously. Life if too short. “Ski your life away” is my motto.
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I was at at Golds Gym in Venice Beach and saw Lou and meet him, very nice guy.