Bodybuilder Standing with a developed physique, Lupus began his career by earning the titles of Mr. Indianapolis, Mr. Indiana, Mr. Hercules and Mr. International Health Physique. During the early 1970s, Lupus promoted European Health Spa, traveling the country to make appearances and sign autographs at several of the gyms' grand openings.
Actor Lupus was one of many bodybuilders who followed
Steve Reeves into the Italian "
sword and sandal" films of the 1960s, occasionally credited as Rock Stevens for such films as
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964),
Challenge of the Gladiator (1965) and
Muscle Beach Party (1964) where he starred as "Mr. Galaxy" Flex Martian. Armitage was the
Impossible Missions Force's muscle man, and featured in nearly all episodes of the series. The character of Willy Armitage was the strong, silent type, usually with very little dialogue. Late in the show's run, during season five, the producers decided that his character was superfluous and he was dropped to recurring status, appearing in a little over half of that season's episodes. Outcry from fans and lack of success in finding a replacement for his character — originally replaced by
Sam Elliott — resulted in his return to regular status the following season and to his getting a greater role in the stories, often assuming disguises as a convict or a thug. Only
Bob Johnson and
Greg Morris sustained regular roles through the show's entire run. Lupus's other television work included a guest spot as
Tarzan on
Jack Benny's television show, a boxer with a glass jaw on
The Joey Bishop Show, a caveman on an episode of
Fantasy Island, and the recurring role of Detective Norberg on the short-lived
sitcom Police Squad! Playgirl pinup Lupus was one of the first well-known male actors to pose with full frontal nudity for
Playgirl magazine, in April 1974. Photographs of Lupus appeared in a number of issues. Before this, he was hired by the
United States Air Force to appear in a series of commercials playing the role of
Superman (with the permission of what is now
DC Comics). He appeared for many months until the
Playgirl pictorial was published. == Personal life ==