When you first meet Peter Vincent, you can see that he looks like a former New York City bodybuilding champion, and you may get the feeling that you’ve seen him somewhere before.
It is entirely possible, because the 46-year-old Queens native, in addition to founding Hardcore Fitness, Inc. and being a fitness expert who works with individuals and small groups, also has an entertainment career.
Vincent lists credits in Chaz Palminteri’s semi-autobiographical film “A Bronx Tale,” (“I’m right in the beginning, the very first scene with dialog,” he says) and in Brian De Palma’s crime-world classic, “Carlito’s Way,” starring Al Pacino.
For the last four years, he has also appeared in the part of “Vito,” an under-boss to a mob chieftain in the long-running interactive dinner-theater experience, “Murdered by the Mob,” which has been running on Broadway at the Arno Ristorante on 38th Street.
Vincent (he adopted his middle name as his stage-name) said that he drew on his childhood experiences in the Italian enclave of Corona Heights, to flesh out the characters he has portrayed. “You saw a lot just hanging around ‘Spaghetti Park’ so let’s just say I have familiarity with the subject,” he said.
But Vincent’s passion is fitness, and if you are the type to visit the gym regularly, that is where you may see him, personally attending to a corporate client or small group.
His family moved from Corona to Bayside in time for him to attend Cardozo High School and later Queens College, where he studied physical education for two years.
Later, he earned a certificate as a specialist in performance nutrition from the International Sports Science Association, and started in the field in 1985, working under the direction of Edward Perez at Pumping Iron Fitness in Manhattan and later at Nubest in Roslyn. In 2000, Vincent started out on his own, with Hardcore Fitness.
More recently, he combined his fitness training with his experience in entertainment, to work on a Howard Stern pay-per-view guide to the exercise routines of celebrities.
His years of experience help Vincent to match and surpass each client’s personal needs and goals. He confidently declared that his “personal attention to customized workout routines is unmatched in today’s fitness world.”
For those who are happier in a small group setting, Vincent conducts what he calls “One-Hour Boot Camp,” for groups of up to six people. These hard-core training sessions are often conducted outdoors - Vincent’s favorite spots are at Little Bay, close to Fort Totten, and by Roslyn High School.
“I designed this variety of high-intensity drills to work on all the major muscle groups,” he said. “But my major concern is the overall well being of my clients.”
Vincent admitted that, especially with his one-on-one clients, he has to care for the spirit as well as the flesh. “Caring about their personal lives as well as their physical needs and complete inner peace is what I strive for,” he declared.
Contact Peter Vincent at 917-371-4629, or email pvfitness@yahoo.com
