THERE HAS BEEN much discussion about the evolution of the superhero body—including on this very site. But the boom in superhero films over the last two-plus decades has still put some of our most jacked, ripped, and swole superheroes (and the actors playing them in live-action) to the forefront. These actors often undergo stunning transformations, gaining tens of pounds of muscle in a short period of time. Turns out getting there often takes a little bit of help, at least according to actor Frank Grillo.
“[The actors] do it by taking Anavar, and Deca, and all the things that are now prescribable by doctors, which is good because now it can at least be monitored by a medical professional,” Grillo says in the latest episode of Men’s Health‘s “Strong Talk” vodcast. “But none of those are natural bodies. Those guys don’t walk around looking one way for six months out of the year, and then all of a sudden, they have 35 pounds of muscle on them. We all know what they’re doing. They might not want to say it, but they all do it. Everybody.”
In response to Grillo’s comment about steroid use in Hollywood, Men’s Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., asked the actor if he’s seen the use of performance-enhancing drugs first hand. “100 percent,” Grillo says, before pausing for a moment and laughing.
Grillo, 60, has appeared in movies like End of Watch, Warrior, and The Purge series, but is best known for his roles in the Marvel and DC film universes. He played Brock Rumlow/Crossbones in both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, and now appears across the DCU as Rick Flag Sr. He can currently be seen in Peacemaker season 2. An avid boxer, Grillo himself shares that he started taking testosterone six years ago after his doctor told him his T levels were low, which he says has helped him recover faster, sleep better, and improve his mood.
“There’s nothing wrong with using those drugs,” Grillo says. “But let’s be honest about it. That’s all. People will say—because I take testosterone—‘you’re a cheater.’ I’m like, wait a minute. I’m 60, and I train every day. I’m an actor. I’m not the linebacker for the New York Giants. I’m not a competitive Olympic wrestler. I’m not playing for the New York Knicks. I’m not cheating at anything except aging. There’s nothing wrong with…you get the role in the superhero movie, and you want to look like a superhero, and you take some Anavar…god bless you.”
Not everyone agrees that steroid use doesn’t have its issues, though. “When celebrities and influencers openly discuss steroid use, it can normalize these substances for kids and teens who are already under pressure to look muscular,” explains Jason Nagata, MD, a pediatrician specializing in eating disorders at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. “The mix of social media and Hollywood steroid culture can push boys from normal gym goals into unhealthy obsession…for some, it can push them toward risky behaviors, unhealthy eating, or an obsession with getting bigger.”
Andrew Heffernan, C.S.C.S., a veteran trainer, sees mostly eye-to-eye with Grillo, but thinks the lack of transparency from actors regarding how they’re bulking up and getting jacked can prove troublesome.
“When celebrities claim to be natural when they’re not, they contribute to a false sense of what’s possible without PEDs,” he says. “There may be very few exceptions to this, but in my experience the only people who can gain 35 pounds of muscle in a few months without drugs are very athletic teenagers. Otherwise, it just doesn’t happen.”
You can watch the full Strong Talk episode with Grillo here.
Evan is the culture editor for Men’s Health, with bylines in The New York Times, MTV News, Brooklyn Magazine, and VICE. He loves weird movies, watches too much TV, and listens to music more often than he doesn’t.
