We all have questions about how world-renowned actors pull off such epic physique transformations, and now we have answers. In a recent collaboration with Dr. Mike Israetel, trainer Don Saladino pulled the curtain back on coaching Hollywood celebrities. In addition, he discussed their use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Boasting years of experience as a personal trainer in New York, Don Saladino has earned the respect of his peers courtesy of his wide-ranging body of work. He has helped numerous actors achieve superhero physiques on the big screen, whether it’s Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, or Scalet Johannsen in Black Widow, to David Harbour for Hellboy.
Meeting with exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel, Saladino broke down his approach to training Hollywood superstars. Additionally, he addressed how he navigates steroid use in an industry saturated with good looks and ripped bodies.
Celebrity Trainer Unveils the Truth About Steroid Use in Hollywood
Having trained top-tier celebrities to those lower on the totem pole, coach Saladino consults with his team and devises a program, which could include doctors, nutrition, exercises, and physical therapy.
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“Maybe for some lower-tier celebrity coming on a major role. So, like if you have a new actor or a newish actor that’s going into the Deadpool movies, okay, maybe you’ll get like I have gotten calls from Marvel in the past but no offense to Marvel you’re not speaking to an upper-end executive, you’re speaking to someone lower tier, they say this is our budget x, y, and z,” says the celebrity trainer.
“Depending on who I am working with, I have anyone from your functional medicine doctor which might be Dr. Gabrielle or Dr. Dwayne Jackson, the prescripts guy, they are fantastic. I have everything down to your meal delivery service, your chefs, your physical therapists.”
“That means I have to facilitate it if they need it,” adds Don Saladino.
As for steroid use, Saladino says it’s always best to refer to an expert, underlining that no one should ‘play fake doctor.’
“I’m not a doctor. I don’t care how smart you are, don’t play fake doctor. If it’s something that someone needs a performance-enhancing substance or you’re an expert in that area, someone who has a right to talk about this, then yeah, 100 percent [we’ll listen]. Do certain people need it?
When I’m 80 years old do I think I’m going to need it? Do I decide to jump off that natty train? Do I think I’m any better than the next person because I have been natural? No.”
Saladino believes Alan Ritchson, who admitted to using testosterone replacement therapy, could have exhausted all of his other options before going down that road. He believes actors shouldn’t make excuses about steroids, stressing, ‘fucking own it.’
“He’s commenting about why he’s taking something. I got friends of mine that will turn around and they are massive and twice as strong as I am.”
“Fucking own it. He jumped on an interview and he’s like you know I just trained so hard for the last nine months that I just literally drained myself of all my testosterone. I literally beat it out of me and he’s sitting there and I’m like that’s what frustrates me.”
“First off, have you done everything in your power to do it naturally? The answer is no.”
Sometimes, Saladino admits he only has two weeks to help an actor prepare their body for a potential movie role:
“I don’t work with Thor by the way,” said Saladino. “I can’t mention this actor. He’s very well known an A-lister in Hollywood, very good physique on him too. I said how much time do you have, he said this movie he was getting ready for he had tattoos on his body, he said two weeks.”
“I said listen, I don’t know let me take a look at him. I already knew he had a good physique and he came into my office. No [he wasn’t out of shape] not at all. A couple things, how are you with the booze, he says a couple drinks a week. I told him that’s gone.”
While he hasn’t worked with Chris Hemsworth, Saladino has dealt with actors who were envious of his lean physique.
“He came to me [another actor] he was a little down one day. I said what’s up, he said I saw a picture of Hemsworth. I was like okay. I’m like alright, what’s up, he’s like, ‘I feel like my progress is not there.’ Let me ask you a question, how long have you been training, and he goes, a year. I go, so one year, how long do you think Chris has been training?
He’s probably close to my age so he’s probably a few years less than me. This guy has really dedicated his life to fitness whether you think his training is good or not good, there are things in there that are decent and things in there that aren’t.”
Although no fitness routine is perfect, Saladino pointed to the effectiveness of Ronnie Coleman‘s regimen, as it resulted in a tied record of eight Mr. Olympia titles.
“Ronnie Coleman, the greatest bodybuilder we have ever seen,” said Saladino. “When you look at Ronnie’s training it’s like the guy did a lot that was right and he did a lot maybe things that you’ll say are wrong. I think that’s a really fair thing to say. Arguably one of the most jacked ripped physiques ever in the Open class,” said celebrity trainer Dan Saladino.
Even though Don Saladino trains Hugh Jackman, that didn’t stop Dr. Mike Israetel from critiquing the workout routine he used to transform his body for Deadpool 3. He agreed with many of Jackman’s techniques but took issue with stability training, which Israetel deemed a waste of time when it comes to transforming a physique for a movie role.
It’s always interesting to hear from Hollywood trainers like Don Saladino, who continue to help actors reach their physical peaks. He believes celebrities who dabble in performance-enhancing drugs should just embrace it rather than hide or distract from it.
RELATED: Actor Michael Jai White Shares ‘Explosive’ Back Workout He Uses to Transform Body for Movie Roles
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