Bodybuilder and NPC/IFBB judge Jerry Ward has died at the age of 46.
He passed away Friday night, according to a recent post by Gary Udit, a bodybuilding promoter. The cause of death has not yet been determined. Ward is survived by his wife Erin Merritt.
Ward most recently worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a commentator for Udit’s 2022 NPC Teen, Collegiate, and Masters National. Ward even posted a video on his YouTube page just hours before he passed away.
In an Instagram post on July 23, Udit wrote: “Sadly we lost a terrific friend today with the passing of Jerry Ward. Jerry died suddenly last night. He was here in Pittsburgh commentating on the Live Stream of the NPC Teen, Collegiate and Masters Nationals. In the NPC and IFBB PRO LEAGUE over the years Jerry was an excellent competitor, judge, expediter, head judge and PPV commentator. His knowledge of the sport of Bodybuilding was unparalleled. Jerry was liked and loved by everyone he came in contact with. We are devastated at his passing.”
Ward was complaining to a friend that he thought he had pulled his left rib, according to Dave Palumbo of Rx Muscle. Palumbo said the suspected injury was caused after transporting luggage to the location he was residing for the week. He added that Ward used a massage chair but thought the rib problem felt worse after. His friend Rich advised him to visit a physician, though Ward decided to sleep it off instead.
Udit, the event organizer, notified Rich that Ward had passed away after Rich texted Ward to remind him to report for the Saturday live stream obligations.
Along with having a great bodybuilding career, Ward also became well-known online due to his 155,000-subscriber YouTube channel. He was one of the sport’s more opinionated commentators, and he often offered in-depth analysis and specific insights. Ward, who was admired for his drive and work ethic, ran the profitable supplement company Bios3 Training and its personal training business. Ward received a lot of attention for his internet bodybuilding commentary after his professional career.