Fitness icon Jack LaLanne had a lifelong goal to make it to his 100th birthday (and beyond), while spending his career making others smile and feel better.
His motto was “Work out and eat right and you will retain youthfulness and vigor,” a mantra that served him well until his death at age 96 at his home in Morro Bay, California, in January 2011. He died as a result of respiratory failure following a bout with pneumonia.
Jack’s older brother Norman LaLanne preceded him in death in September 2005 and lived to be 97.
Jack always said, “I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image.”
I’ve had the good fortune of counting Jack and Elaine, his wife of more than 50 years, as friends during the course of my writing career. It’s always been a favorite keepsake moment during the holidays to receive my annual Christmas card and newsletter from the couple, and in recent years, from Elaine and family.
Jack is certainly smiling from the clouds, knowing that earlier this month, on March 19, wife Elaine, aka “Lala,” celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and tiered cake hosted by the Health and Fitness Association during the organization’s annual fitness industry trade show this month at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. Dateline NBC Correspondent Keith Morrison did the cake presentation honors as well as helping induct Elaine in the HFA Hall of Fame. A second birthday celebration of family and friends held later included a smaller coconut chiffon cake decorated with a wax candle 100 crowning the icing and white chocolate shavings, along with extra cupcakes passed out to guests.
Columnist Philip Potempa interviewed Jack and Elaine “Lala” LaLanne in March 2005 at the International Housewares Show at McCormick Place in Chicago. (Photo by Eloise Marie Valadez)
I first met the LaLannes in March 2004 while they were in Chicago at McCormick Place, touting their juicer line at the annual housewares show. Jack’s advice was the same as decades before, encouraging all to slowly change bad habits into good habits, such as convincing wife Elaine to quit smoking 50 years earlier and replace the practice with daily exercise incentives.
Besides creating his proven and popular regular exercise routines, long before the late Richard Simmons or Jane Fonda routines, Jack was watched by millions who tuned in to his television show from 1951 to 1985.
He was an early advocate of drinking plenty of water, and once told me he would eat at least 10 raw vegetables and five pieces of fresh fruit daily. His menus also consisted of fish, egg whites and high-fiber foods. Of course, he also urged others to pass on caffeine, refined sugar and Elaine’s former foe of cigarettes.
“If man makes it, don’t eat it” was one of Jack’s favorite mottos.
By the 1980s, he also had more than 200 Jack LaLanne European Health Spas around the country, including throughout Chicagoland. However, by the late 1980s, he licensed franchises and then eventually sold all his health clubs to the Bally Company, which by 1995 became known as Bally Total Fitness.
Jack always maintained a great sense of humor, which he also credited for adding to his longevity. In 1966, already a household name, he appeared as himself on an episode of “The Addams Family” for a plot that had him hired by Uncle Fester, who was trying to get fit to impress his romantic gal interest. For a scene in the campy 1966 feature film adaptation of “Batman,” he starred as himself, leading a rooftop exercise class for a group of bikini-clad women, causing the Dynamic Duo to blush when they interrupted the fitness session.
Ranking among his favorite guest star moments was a skit on the popular CBS television variety show of the 1970s hosted by Carol Burnett, padded to portray a hefty woman at home trying to follow the exercise plan of her fellow cast member Lyle Waggoner in his guise as Jack, spoofing his TV fitness show.
After Jack’s passing, Elaine’s next Christmas card attempted to explain her loss.
“I have not only lost my husband and a great American icon, but the best friend and most loving partner anyone could ever hope for,” Elaine said.
Elaine LaLanne celebrates her century birthday with a coconut chiffon layer cake surrounded by family and friends at her California home on March 19, 2026. (Photo courtesy of LaLanne Family)
She has always said that even once she joins her husband “in the heavens,” Jack’s name and legacy will live for many years thanks to their large family of children and grandchildren. For example, one of the LaLanne holiday cards featured the couple’s son Jon’s wedding to wife Lora from Oct. 6, 2007, in Santa Monica with the entire extended family in formals surrounding the bride and groom, all flexing their muscles for the camera.
One of Jack’s favorite smoothie recipes was named “The Green Machine.” Though the ingredients are meant to be squeezed through one of his name-branded juicing machines, the same final result can be achieved with a couple of added steps when using a traditional blender and puree setting, then squeezing the liquid from the contents through a sieve, colander or strainer. Adding a splash of water helps for proper consistency before chilling or serving over crushed ice, or an option of blending the juice with a few ice cubes before serving as a traditional “frozen smoothie.”
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is a weekly radio host at WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.
Jack LaLanne’s Green Machine Health Drink
Makes 1 pint
Ingredients
1/2 a bunch of kale (stems and all)
2 ribs celery
1 whole Granny Smith apple sliced (peel and all)
1/2 cucumber peeled
1-inch piece of fresh ginger root
Directions
Rinse all ingredients and chop to fit inside carafe of electric blender.
Place on “blend” setting and then “puree” setting until all ingredients are broken down and liquid is visible.
Strain contents of blender through a sieve or colander to capture juice and liquid component. Pulp can be discarded.
A splash of water can be added to collected liquid for desired consistency and then poured over crushed ice to serve. Liquid can also be returned to blender with 3-4 ice cubes added to blend into a traditional icy “frozen smoothie.”
The calorie content of one 8-ounce glass of green drink is around 150 calories. If a ripe banana is added for more desired sweetness, the calorie content for an 8-ounce glass is 250 calories.
