Two weeks after the sudden death of legendary Israeli-born fitness coach Gilad Janklowicz, new details are deepening the mystery surrounding his final hours: His team says he was found lifeless at the foot of the 16-story residential building where he lived in Hawaii, while Honolulu police continue to investigate what happened.
Janklowicz, 71, one of the most recognizable figures of the televised workout era, died unexpectedly earlier this month. Until now, few details had been released about the circumstances of his death.
In a statement published Tuesday, his team said the exact circumstances remain unclear.
“Circumstances surrounding his death are not known at this time, and an investigation into this matter is still ongoing,” the statement said.
“With deep sadness, we are sharing additional details regarding the sudden death of our beloved brother, Gilad,” the team added. “Gilad was found lifeless at the foot of his 16-story residential building in Hawaii. We ask for patience and respect for the privacy of his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
(Photo: Chaya Halperin)
The new statement comes after Janklowicz’s longtime colleague and close friend Chaya Halperin, herself an iconic instructor from the show “Fitness Hour,” told ynet that there had been no obvious warning sign before his death.
“We were soulmates for 40 years,” Halperin said in an interview earlier this month.
She said the two had remained in close contact for decades, with frequent visits between Israel and Hawaii. Their final conversation, she recalled, came only days before his death.
“The last time I spoke with him was three days ago. We always greeted each other for Shabbat, but that Saturday, he didn’t answer. I called him, and he said, 'I just want to sleep, I’ll call you in a few minutes.' But those minutes never came. That was it.”
Halperin said Janklowicz had been in a productive and optimistic period, working on new projects and planning a return to filmed fitness programming.
“No, absolutely not,” she said when asked whether there had been any signs something was wrong. “He was planning new projects, filming new workout tapes, and developing exercise equipment. He was in a really good period. But perhaps there were things I wasn’t aware of, despite him sharing so much with me. This is a terrible loss and an immense shock. I still can’t process it — it will probably hit me eventually.”
Gilad Janklowicz and Chaya Halperin
(Photo: Chaya Halperin)
According to the statement from his team, Janklowicz will be brought to Israel for burial, in keeping with his family’s wishes, and will be laid to rest beside his parents.
“We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love, support and condolences we have received from his followers and supporters around the world,” the team said. “Your words give us strength as we cope with this enormous loss.”
“Gilad dedicated his life to inspiring and encouraging others,” the statement continued. “There is no doubt he would have wanted this special community to continue carrying his torch through physical activity, healthy living and mutual support. Let us honor his memory by continuing to preserve in our daily lives the passion he instilled in us.”
Janklowicz became a global symbol of home fitness culture through his long-running workout programs, most famously “Bodies in Motion,” which launched in 1983 and was filmed against the scenic backdrop of Hawaii.
Israeli viewers knew him from televised workouts on Sport 5, where he became part of the fitness culture of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside international figures such as Jane Fonda and the stars of the workout-tape boom.
His athletic career began in Israel, where he excelled in track and field in high school before becoming Israel’s decathlon champion and record holder. He later served as a fitness officer in the army.
Gilad Janklowicz
In 1976, Janklowicz moved to California to pursue his Olympic dream, but an Achilles tendon injury in 1978 ended that path and pushed him toward a new career. He studied film at UCLA while teaching fitness classes at leading studios in Los Angeles, eventually turning his athleticism, camera presence and visual style into a global fitness brand.
Halperin said their friendship began through the profession.
“It really started through the profession. I was on a training tour in Japan and returned via Hawaii, and I decided I wanted to meet this amazing person on screen. I met Gilad at a place called Honolulu Club. I took classes with him, and a very deep friendship developed between us.”
She recalled being struck by his precision and by the way he made workouts feel both aspirational and accessible.
“He had that athletic look and was so precise in everything he did, yet very careful with exercises suitable for everyone. He always advocated keeping things simple. I was impressed by everything — his look, his delivery, his approach, and of course the beauty in the aesthetics he chose, set against the backdrop of Hawaii's beaches.”
In recent months, Janklowicz had been in advanced talks with Israel’s Sport 5 for a filmed comeback, including new fitness programs intended for audiences in Israel and the United States. The planned series was expected to feature Israeli women exercising alongside him and to be filmed at major tourist sites, including Masada, as part of an effort to showcase Israel’s landscapes to American viewers.
The project had reached advanced stages and was expected to begin filming around October.
Over the years, Janklowicz received awards recognizing his contribution to the fitness industry and continued broadcasting workouts into the streaming era. He was previously described as someone who, through his level of performance, presentation and the beautiful scenery around him, brought people closer to fitness.
Now, as his followers mourn the loss of a figure who helped define an era of home exercise, the unanswered question remains the one his team has placed at the center of its update: what happened outside his Hawaii building in the final moments before his death.