Lou Zivkovich
Encyclopedia
Lou Zivkovich was a defensive end for the Calgary Stampeders
in the Canadian Football League
. He is widely known for appearing as the July 1974 centerfold in Playgirl
magazine, at the age of 33.
immigrants. He attended the University of Miami
where he received a degree in Physical Education and English.
), the muscular and hirsute Zivkovich displayed his 6'4" 216 lb. physique -- 46" chest and 35" waist -- in a series of shots which consistently featured full-frontal nudity. There were no erections and no rear-view shots.
Copies of the magazine quickly became something of a collector's item and even sparked brief talk of an acting career for Zivkovich. (He played a supporting role in a McMillan and Wife
episode which aired on October 26, 1975.)
However, there were unfortunate ramifications. The high school in Apple Valley, California
, where Zivkovich worked as a phys-ed teacher fired him, charging that his appearance in a nude centerfold showed he was not a proper role model for students. Many of these students as well as fellow teachers then came to the defense of Zivkovich who stated: "I don't see anything wrong with a nude body that is a work of art." The case went to a state appeals panel which admonished Zivkovich for a "mistake in judgment" but ruled in March of 1975 that he could not be fired.
One year later, in March 1976, Zivkovich -- along with a bevy of musclemen -- appeared with Mae West
in a CBS
TV special titled "Dick Cavett's Backlot USA." Mae West's biographer, Simon Louvish, describes Zivkovich at this point as being Mae West's "frequent escort."
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He is widely known for appearing as the July 1974 centerfold in Playgirl
Playgirl
Playgirl is a print quarterly adult magazine published in the United States that is marketed mainly to heterosexual women, but has also gained a considerable gay following...
magazine, at the age of 33.
Early life
Zivkovic is the son of CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
immigrants. He attended the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
where he received a degree in Physical Education and English.
Playgirl pictorial
In this photospread, (taken during an expense paid trip to HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
), the muscular and hirsute Zivkovich displayed his 6'4" 216 lb. physique -- 46" chest and 35" waist -- in a series of shots which consistently featured full-frontal nudity. There were no erections and no rear-view shots.
Copies of the magazine quickly became something of a collector's item and even sparked brief talk of an acting career for Zivkovich. (He played a supporting role in a McMillan and Wife
McMillan and Wife
McMillan & Wife is a lighthearted American crime drama series that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971 to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles, the series premiered in 90-minute episodes as part of the wheel series NBC Mystery Movie, in rotation with...
episode which aired on October 26, 1975.)
However, there were unfortunate ramifications. The high school in Apple Valley, California
Apple Valley, California
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was in 2002.*On average, the coolest month is December.*The lowest recorded temperature was in 1949.*The most precipitation on average occurs in February.-History:...
, where Zivkovich worked as a phys-ed teacher fired him, charging that his appearance in a nude centerfold showed he was not a proper role model for students. Many of these students as well as fellow teachers then came to the defense of Zivkovich who stated: "I don't see anything wrong with a nude body that is a work of art." The case went to a state appeals panel which admonished Zivkovich for a "mistake in judgment" but ruled in March of 1975 that he could not be fired.
One year later, in March 1976, Zivkovich -- along with a bevy of musclemen -- appeared with Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
in a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV special titled "Dick Cavett's Backlot USA." Mae West's biographer, Simon Louvish, describes Zivkovich at this point as being Mae West's "frequent escort."