Ed Connors

Ed Connors is a fitness industry pioneer recognized as one of the three owners who expanded Gold's Gym from a single Venice Beach location into a global gym chain. Before entering the fitness sector, Connors established a career as an architect, earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, where he was awarded a Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters. After his military service, Connors began his architecture career with Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo & Associates, contributing to major projects on the East Coast before relocating to Los Angeles to serve as senior designer for the Neiman Marcus store in Beverly Hills. His other architectural projects included the Headquarters for the Port of Los Angeles and Fox Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles.

In partnership with Tim Kimber and Pete Grymkowski, Connors purchased Gold's Gym when it was a single gym in Venice, California. He played a significant role in reshaping the fitness industry by opening the first gym franchise with Gold's Gym in San Francisco and becoming personally involved with 36 additional Gold's Gym locations. Connors introduced group fitness classes at Gold's Gym, well before such classes became widespread. Under his leadership, the company implemented consumer-friendly practices, such as making gyms more affordable, pioneering co-ed fitness, introducing cardio and group exercise, and offering daily, weekly, and monthly membership rates. The team also advocated for regulatory changes, including making lifetime memberships illegal in California.

Connors' architectural expertise influenced the design and functionality of Gold's Gym facilities, contributing to the evolution of gym and fitness center layouts worldwide. By the time he exited the company, Gold's Gym had grown to 704 locations across 47 states and 26 countries. During his tenure, Connors supported the careers of numerous individuals, including Ms. Olympia Cory Everson, Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, and professional wrestlers such as Sting, the Ultimate Warrior, and John Cena, as well as several television personalities.

Connors documented his experiences in his memoir, "The Three Muscleteers," which includes a foreword by professional wrestler and actor John Cena. The book explores the origins and growth of the fitness industry in America and globally. Connors has also appeared in the TV series "Biography: WWE Legends" and the documentary "Driven: The Tony Pearson Story." He continues to contribute to the fitness industry through gym design and thought leadership.