American politician, formerly a professional wrestler. After service as a SEAL and a stint as a bodyguard for the Rolling Stones, the 6′ 4″, 250 lb. shaved-head Ventura became Minnesota’s new governor on 11/11/1998. In a political arena that has never been too conventional, he was the ultimate symbol of revolt by voters who were weary of the usual hype. There is nonetheless some trepidation, as Minnesota is the 20th largest state with a $23 billion budget and there is some wonder about electing a media figure.
Raised in blue-collar Minneapolis, Ventura joined the Navy after high school and was trained as a SEAL, serving in Vietnam. A barroom brawler who didn’t like to shower or shave, he began pumping up with weights. Honorably discharged in 1973, he rode with a motorcycle club in California, spent a semester at community college and rented out his tree-size arms for security. In the mid-’70s, he took his magnificent body into wrestling – which is partly show biz, largely faked and choreographed. He learned quickly and soon was playing to sold-out arenas like Madison Square Garden. Known as “the Body,” he played the villain, facing off against more heroic types, and proved a master showman. He was outlandish, outspoken and off-the-wall.
Away from the spotlight, Ventura is a family man, married to Terry in 1975 with a son and a daughter and later, a 32-acre horse farm. Political by nature, he tried to form a wrestler’s union but got nowhere. Later he sued the World Wrestling Federation for video royalties and was awarded $800,000. His career came to an abrupt halt in 1984 on the eve of a title match with Hulk Hogan when Ventura developed a pulmonary embolism.
Not undone, Ventura transformed himself into an actor, playing with Schwarzenegger in “Predator.” His credits also include TV’s “The X-Files,” where he wore a black coat and a sinister glare.
In 1990, Ventura began his political career in earnest as Mayor of Brooklyn Park for a four-year stint. He entered talk radio, picking at the themes of taxes, legalized marijuana and the JFK conspiracy rap. When he arrived at the capitol on an icy January day in 1998 to announce that he was running for governor, no one paid much attention. His platform was mostly libertarian, lower taxes, less government, and he raised cash by selling 6,000 T-shirts at $22 a pop. College types voted for him because he was “cool.” His election count was staggering. He carried every age group under 60 and every income level under $100,000. He struck a chord in coming across as an honest man in a climate where the average American is tired of hype and slick packaging. His inauguration was held on 1/04/1999.
Burning the candle at both ends after the inauguration, Ventura’s wife, Terry, was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr syndrome and sent to bed by her doctor’s for a minimal time period of one month. Besides the physical and mental exhaustion of the political arena, Terry runs a horse-training business and is mom to son Tyrell, 19 and an aspiring filmmaker, and daughter Jade, 15 and in high school.
Where most politicians tremble at having some of their youthful indiscretions revealed, Ventura beat the media to the punch with the publication of “I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed,” 1999. In his memoir he admits – perhaps too candidly – to losing his virginity at 16 on a bet, consorting with prostitutes before his marriage, and using steroids and marijuana. His life was further examined in an Unauthorized Biography on TV on 5/23/1999.
The new governor has concentrated on tax reform, public education and luring business to his state, winning largely favorable reviews for his conduct in office.
His wife, Terry Larson Ventura, was born 8/25/1955.
With a characteristic blast at the media, Ventura announced on 6/18/2002 that he would not seek a second term.
Beginning in February 2004 he is teaching a semester at Harvard University as a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. His Saturday night talk show has been placed on indefinite hold
Link to Wikipedia biography