By: Zachary Perez
Otis Perkins, a powerlifter famed throughout social media, has died due to a fatal car crash. He was 39. Otis became famous primarily on Instagram, working out with the likes of Larry “Wheels” Williams and Bradley Martyn.
Otis became famous because of his comedic personality while picking up impressive weight during his workouts. His Instagram name, “Black Tom Cruise,” became well-known throughout the lifting community while being Larry “Wheels” Williams’ training partner.
After gaining fame, Otis traveled from place to place, working out with others to prepare for his powerlifting events.
Powerlifting has quickly risen to popularity since the mid-2010s. People such as Louis Simmons, Chuck Vogelpohl, Laura Phelps, Dan Green, Richard Hawthorne, Amy Weisberger, and Ed Coan brought the sport of powerlifting to popularity with their past accomplishments, experiences, and passion. The sport consists of three lifts: squat, bench, and deadlift. The heaviest lift from each category is then added up to create a total. The lifter with the highest total within their weight-class/division is pronounced the winner.
Otis’ first powerlifting event was on March 21st, 2015. According to Open Powerlifting.org, he totaled 1625 in this event, known as the Dominion, placing 1st in his weight-class/division. He would proceed to place 1st in seven of his next eight events. His personal records in raw powerlifting will be remembered, in pounds, with a 620 squat, 430 bench, and a 785 deadlift. He achieved a 635 squat in an equipped event.
Equipped is the method of using lifting suits, each lift has it’s own type of suit. Wraps can be added on the elbows and knees to provide as much tension as possible. The more a lifter wraps around the joint, the tighter it becomes, increasing the tension in the process. Raw lifters only use knee sleeves and wrist wraps, keeping the wrists straight while preforming the lift. Everyone is able to use a powerlifting belt, deadlift shoes, and squat shoes.
Otis competed in powerlifting for six years, from 2015-2020. The “Black Tom Cruise” was known by Larry Williams as the ‘Funniest man I ever met. He possessed all the traits of a GREAT friend.’ He was known by training partners as the best hype man to have.