Johnnie Morant dead – Champion bodybuilder ‘The Executioner’ dies as pals pay tribute to star ‘as humble as he was big’
TRIBUTES have flooded in for former champion bodybuilder Johnnie Morant following the announcement of his sudden death.
Also known as “The Executioner”, the New Jersey bodybuilding icon was “as humble as he was big”, according to friends and fans.
And despite a short-lived professional career that spanned just six years, Morant earned plaudits and admirers throughout the bodybuilding community.
His most notorious victory was at the 1989 NPC North American Championships, where his overall winning performance earned him professional status at the age of 26.
A short stint with the World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) – which earned him the moniker of “The Executioner” – then followed, before Morant experienced further success in the IFBB Pro League until 1995.
The news of his death was broke by RxMuscle on Instagram on Thursday.
The post read: “Sad news to report as Johnnie Morant, 1989 NPC North American Championships Overall Winner and icon of New Jersey bodybuilding, has passed away.
“We pass our warmest thoughts and condolences to his family, friends, and followers.”
Morant’s cause of death remains unknown, but tributes showed what an indelible mark he left on the sport.
Fellow bodybuilder Dean Caputo said: “What a punch in the gut…This is a shock….Johnny and I would battle it out show after show back in the day….Johnny will be missed…Great Person…”
IFBB Pro Guy Ducasse wrote: “Extremely Sad day for me !!! This hurts big time because Johnnie is my Big Lil brother, and every year in March, we plan to get together in Tampa around our birthdays.”
One fan said: “Diamond Gym legend. Humble as he was big.”
Although Morant showcased his impressive physique, he fell short of winning international titles.
One year after turning pro, Morant’s prowess earned him a 10th-place finish at the German Grand Prix, a 9th-place finish at the Italy Grand Prix and a remarkable 4th at the Night of Champions in 1990.
His next four competitions earned finishes of 9th, 12th, 12th and 11th, before he climbed back up the rankings with a 6th-placed finish at the 1994 IFBB Night of Champions.
Morant finished his career with respectable 6th and 7th-place finishes at the Canada Pro Cup and Night of Champions, respectively, in 1995.
According to his WWE profile, Morant was dubbed “The Executioner” after posing near a guillotine while wearing a silly mask that made him look like a medieval cartoon character.
“Perhaps he should have been dubbed “Superman” after an episode of “WBF Bodystars” caught him crushing the gym while wearing Clark Kent glasses,” his page reads.
“Busting out of a phone booth as part of his posing routine would have been much better than a guillotine and pointy mask.”
Both on and off the stage, the former bodybuilder made a name for himself as a strong competitor and friend to those who knew him.
However, he isn’t the only bodybuilder to pass away of late.
Last month, heartbreaking tributes also poured in for beloved bodybuilding legend Dave Kalick.
Kalick was described as a coach, brother, best friend, mentor, and much more in the heartfelt messages posted online following his unexpected death.
Just 24 hours before, it was announced that a bodybuilder and influencer who was born with one kidney had died two months after joining a waiting list for a transplant.
Cristhian Annes, 34, waited a year to get treatment after finding out his health was seriously deteriorating after a routine blood test with his girlfriend.