Jim Starr is living proof that there are no limits to what a person can do, no matter the obstacles, when you hold yourself accountable for achieving your dreams. And he has proven that fact several times over, accomplishing one triumph after another, first becoming an All-American college football player, next a professional football player and competing in the Mr. Montana body building show. Then, when he suffered a career-ending injury, Jim kept pursuing his dreams. While most people would be basking in remembering their former glory days in the NFL, Jim was just beginning more careers.
Next, he became famous as Laser on the American Gladiator, the only person to compete in all seven seasons of the TV show. He didn't stop there either. The end of his persona as Laser was just another beginning of more careers, more dreams to pursue and obstacles to overcome. Since American Gladiator ended in 1997, Jim re-defined himself again. At the age of 38, he entered the corporate world for the first time, and in the ensuing years, he made himself into a highly successful product specialist in the sports nutrition, health and fitness industry, in addition to becoming a health and fitness education expert.
Today Jim is also a motivational coach who brings all his experience and expertise, all his proven success, to the benefit of his clients, offering one-on-one wisdom to each and every person needing to find purpose and success, to accomplish whatever they may dream. The story of Jim Starr is filled with so many dreams pursued and fulfilled that it can't all be covered in a short bio. Being Mr. Montana, an NFL player and the most successful American Gladiator only scratches the surface. Born and raised in Montana, he accomplished his first major goal – to play college football – when he became an All-American line-backer at Montana State University.
Next, he pursued his dream to play professional football. Following the wisdom of his high school coach who taught him to do everything in pursuit of excellence, Jim set about training intensely, and in 1983, he was drafted by the USFL, but waived this opportunity waiting on the NFL draft. He went on to the Kansas City Chiefs, but was injured and released. Next, he played with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian League for one season, and then played for the 1987 Los Angeles Rams. In the meantime, he also competed in the bodybuilding title of Mr. Montana in 1986. Now in Los Angeles, Jim suffered a career ending injury playing for the Rams. He immediately set himself to work on new plans and purposes.
He signed with the Screen Actors Guild in 1988 and upon the urging of his agent, he became one of the first additions to the newly remodeled American Gladiator TV show during the second half of Season One. As "Laser," he appeared in all 7 seasons of the show and was arguably the most popular and successful of all the competitors.
After his Gladiator career, Jim set about to conquer the corporate world. He went on to establish Laser Productions, for four years developing and implementing health and fitness programs for individual clients, based on nutrition, wellness and preventative medical techniques. He later became Director of Product Development for Apex Fitness Group for five years, followed by five years as Vice President Product Development for dotFIT, creating and developing an advanced dietary supplement line within the sports nutrition/fitness market. He subsequently founded Sport Nutrition Consulting Group, and since 2015, he has served as Director of Nutritional Products Development for Life Time Fitness. Jim has established with his wife Tonya an online Story Platform called 365 ACHIEVE IT. With the goal of helping people who have the desire to make a major change in their life or to complete their lifelong dream(s), this project embodies Jim and Tonya's slogan: DREAM IT. TELL IT. LIVE IT. 365 ACHIEVE IT! People submit a video about their dreams and desires, and winners are awarded with covering their rent/lease/utilities up to $50,000 for one year that would allow them to focus on those goals.
