American Gladiators was a TV show that ran between 1989 and 1997. It was a physical game show, in which the contestants (two male and two female) matched themselves against the program's stable of athletes in a variety of feats of strength and agility. The champions at the end of each season won a prize package, which varied from items that included a new car, a trip, and money (usually over $100,000 total). The contests were often quite extravagant and elaborate, with challenges featuring things such as highwires, steel cages, swinging ropes, and other obstacle course fare. Memorable among these were the human-size hamster ball and the elevated platforms with which opponents would attempt to joust each other off of.

List of Gladiators
Jim Starr (Laser) was the Gladiator with the longest run on the program. He appeared from 1990 to 1996, only missing the first half of season one (1989). The following Gladiators were with the show for the indicated years:
• Erika Andersch .... Diamond (1990–1993)
• Cheryl Barldinger .... Sunny (1989)
• Salina Bartunek .... Elektra (1992–1993)
• Shelley Beattie .... Siren (1992–1996, was unique because she was deaf.)
• Chuck Berlinger .... Viper (1992–1993)
• Jonathan Byrne .... Steel (1996)
• Danny Lee Clark .... Nitro (1989–1992, 1994-1995; became a co-host of the show in 1995, under the name of Dan Clark)
• Sebastian Galloway .... SEB (1991–1993)
• Shirley Eson .... Sky (1992–1996)
• Lori Fetrick .... Ice (1990–1992, 1993–1996)
• Victoria Gay .... Jazz (1993–1996)
• Shannon Hall .... Dallas (1994, 1995)
• Steve Henneberry .... Tower (1991–1994)
• Raye Hollitt .... Zap (1989–1990, 1991–1995) (posed in Playboy)
• Michael Horton .... Gemini (1989–1992) (years before that, he was a contestant on the game show Press Your Luck).
• Tonya Knight .... Gold (1989–1992)
• Natalie Lennox .... Lace #2 (1992–1993)
• Deron McBee .... Malibu (1989)
• Bobby Moore .... Rage (posed in Playboy)
• David Nelson .... Titan (1989–1990)
• Marisa Pare .... Lace (1989–1992) (posed in Playboy)
• Sha-Ri Pendleton .... Blaze (1989–1992)
• Ed Radcliffe .... Tank (1995)
• Lee Reherman .... Hawk (1993–1996. He went on to be the host of the currently-on-hiatus G4TV game show, Arena.)
• Cathy Sassin .... Panther (1992–????) (alternate gladiator)
• Billy Smith .... Thunder (1990–1992)
• Galen Tomlinson .... Turbo (1990–1996)
• Mark Tucker .... Rebel (1993)
• Barry Turner .... Cyclone (1992–1993)
• Lynn 'Red' Williams .... Sabre (1992–1996. Appeared as Jax in the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. He was once also a contestant on the comedy game show Street Smarts.)