Have you ever wondered what happened to a famous person from your past? Perhaps it was someone you saw on television many years ago or someone you grew up reading or watching.
We all have somebody we want to learn more about, no matter how huge or tiny they are. And, regardless of how you heard about them, odds are you haven’t seen or heard anything about them in a while.
Deron McBee is one of those celebrities, and many people want to know what he’s up to. He participated in 1993’s show “American Gladiators” as one of the actors.
Deron, called on the show by his stage name “Malibu,” was a giant at 6’5″ and 240 pounds. If you’ve ever watched the episodes, you’re undoubtedly thinking about what went wrong with him. After all, it’s rare for someone to be in the limelight like he was and then disappear!
What Happened To Malibu From American Gladiators?
Malibu was a character played by Deron McBee on the American Gladiators show, and he was badly injured in one of his contests. He was injured in the Human Cannonball incident in 1989. As a result of the tragedy, he suffered broken vertebrae, herniated discs, and two blown-out knees. Deron McBee then suffered a great loss while his wife, Drzan McBee, died of a heart attack in 2003.
One of Malibu’s most memorable moments was competing against Brian Hutson in the Human Cannonball event. Unfortunately, Hutson’s collision with Malibu was violent, causing him to crash to the arena floor and need stitching in the hospital. Due to Malibu’s accident, Gladiator Bronco filled in for the final round of the Human Cannonball contest.
Deron apparently played it calm on ‘American Gladiators’ while saying his thanks and goodbye, claiming he was merely stepping away for his injuries on doctor’s orders, but the reality was far worse. He sustained two fractured ribs, a fractured thumb, a brain injury from his knee hitting his head during the accident, and a full muscle rupture in his bicep.
What Is American Gladiator?
American Gladiator was a television show that broadcasted on NBC in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was a show/contestant competition that matched athletic people against each other in physical ability.
The show had a wide social effect and was an iconic aspect of popular culture in the United States at the time. For example, the show was parodied on Saturday Night Live in 1993 by David Spade and Adam Sandler.
The Gladiators were underpaid at the very start of the show. They started with a $800 per show wage and the promise that a part of the earnings from every show would also be included in their total pay.
As the television series grew in popularity, the promised prize and show expense did not seem to correspond to the level of success the actors perceived they were having. They went on strike and were eventually able to increase their pay to $1000 per night after putting off production with their protest.
Malibu’s Time On American Gladiator
McBee entered as a competitor and Gladiator throughout the very first three seasons of the television series (1989-1991/1992). His size and strength qualified him for the part of Malibu, one of the most powerful male Gladiators.
Malibu got the name “Malibu” from Gladiator’s producers, who believed Malibu’s muscular body structure looked more like a surfer on his surfboard riding a wave.
Deron then revealed that he had never surfed in his life. In addition to his height and strength, he is recognized as one of the greatest and most popular Gladiators during the show’s run.
This is due to the fact that he effortlessly showed a laid-back “surfer dude” attitude throughout his time on the television series and was loved by both producers and audience members.
McBee was also skilled in karate and swordplay. In his spare time, he practiced with an experienced hand-to-hand fighting instructor.
McBee was critically hurt in the Human Cannonball competition in 1989. He was hit straight in the chest by another player, resulting in major injuries such as two fractured ribs, a fractured thumb, a head injury, and an injured bicep.
Deron admits that he had to ask physicians to allow him to return to the program because they were afraid that another concussion would kill him. As a result, another participant named Bronco stepped in as an injury substitute or stand-in for him. Deron did ultimately come back to American Gladiators, but his time on the show was brief.
Also Read: What Happened to American Gladiators? Reason Behind Its Cancellation
