July 2nd 2024.
Mark Smith is a name that may not immediately ring a bell for some, but for many fans of the original Gladiators, he is better known as Rhino. Even after a quarter of a century, this iconic athlete has barely aged a day since he first appeared on the BBC series back in the 90s. At 54 years old, Mark is still a fitness inspiration to many, regularly sharing clips of his intense workout routines on social media.
Although he pursued acting after his time on Gladiators, Mark has never lost his dedication to maintaining a strong and healthy physique. His 410K followers on Instagram often comment on how he looks exactly the same as he did during his days as Rhino. On a video of him doing a grueling boxing workout, one user commented on his legendary strength and determination, while another was impressed by his "ninja turtle abs."
It's clear that Mark's commitment to fitness has not wavered since his Gladiators days. He was a mainstay on the show from 1995 until its cancellation a few years later. Even after its end, Mark continued to push himself and try new things. He left the UK to pursue acting and producing in LA, and has since been involved in various projects such as the US teen sitcom Renford Rejects, the sci-fi film Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and big Hollywood hits like Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Despite his diverse career, Mark is still most recognized for his time as Rhino on Gladiators. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, he shared a funny story of being approached by a fan while on safari in Zimbabwe. The person asked him if they would be able to see a rhino, not realizing that the one they were speaking to was the legendary Rhino himself.
Recently, the BBC has rebooted Gladiators after over a decade off our screens. The show, which originally aired from 1992 to 2000 on ITV before being revived by Sky from 2008 to 2009, has been a ratings success for the broadcaster. With over four million viewers tuning in to the final episode over Easter weekend, it's no surprise that a second season has been confirmed.
For those who may have missed the original series, Gladiators is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. And for Mark, it's clear that his time as Rhino has left a lasting impact on both himself and his fans, as he continues to inspire and entertain us with his ongoing dedication to fitness and his impressive acting career.
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