Arnold Schwarzenegger

Born on – 30 July 1947

Born in – Thal, Austria

Nationality – Austrian-American

Career – Governor of the state of California (US) , also a former actor and bodybuilder

 

Austrian-American Arnold Schwarzenegger is presently serving as the 38thGovernor of the US state of California, apart from also being a businessman. But his actual global fame accrues from his former careers in bodybuilding and acting in Hollywood movies. Arnold Schwarzenegger happens to be a Republican. He was first elected on 7 October 2003 in a special recall election to take the place of the then Governor, Gray Davis. On 17 November 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as Governor for the rest of Davis’ term.

 

On 7 November 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected in California's gubernatorial election for a complete term as governor. For this he had to defeat Democrat, Phil Angelides who was the then California State Treasurer. Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in for the second term on 5 January 2007. In May 2004 and 2007, his name was chosen as one of the Time 100 people who help shape the world. Presently, Arnold Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver and has four children.  

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on 30 July 1947 at Thal, a small village on the outskirts of the Styrian capital, Graz (in Austria). His full name is Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger. Arnold’s father was a local police chief, Gustav Schwarzenegger (1907-1972), whereas his mother was Aurelia Jadrny (1922-1998). As per Arnold Schwarzenegger’s own confession, his both parents were stern. His was a Roman Catholic family that religiously went to church each Sunday. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s relationship with his mother was good, a contrast to the cold relationship he shared with his dad.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was an average student during his school life, but was liked for his happy, good-humored and energetic nature. Finance was definitely as problem in his family during Arnold’s growing up years. Things were so grave that his family purchasing a fridge, Arnold Schwarzenegger recalls, was a big highlight. During his youth, Schwarzenegger was into various kinds of sports. In this, he was greatly inspired by his sporty father. It was when Arnold Schwarzenegger was 14 that he chose body-building as his career.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger began working out at a gymnasium at Graz. He would also go to watch the local cinemas to see body-building idols like Reg Park, Steve Reeves and Johnny Weissmuller. These people inspired Arnold in his youth days. Arnold Schwarzenegger got to meet former Mr Austria Kurt Marnul in 1961, who invited him to exercise at the Graz gymnasium. So dedicated was Arnold Schwarzenegger to bodybuilding right from the start that he even used to break into the local gym when it was closed on weekends. Meanwhile, Arnold also met Barbara Baker who proved to be his first serious girlfriend.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger went on to serve in the Austrian army in 1965. As per the then Austrian law, it was mandatory for all 18 year olds to undergo one year of service in the army. After this, Arnold went on to win the Junior Mr Europe contest in 1965. He took his first plane ride in 1966 for participating in the NABBA Mr. Universe competition at London. Arnold Schwarzenegger came second for not having as defined muscles as that of American winner, Chester Yorton. He invented new exercises to tone up his body muscles better and went on to win the Mr Universe title in 1967. At 20, he became the youngest to win this title.

 

He won the same title an additional four times. Arnold Schwarzenegger then flew to Munich, where he was simultaneously training daily, attending business school as well as working in a health club. In 1968, Arnold returned to London to win his next Mr Universe trophy, which he saw as his gateway to fame, success and wealth. After the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding. Till date, Schwarzenegger is deemed amongst the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding.

 

Just like his body-building idols, Arnold Schwarzenegger too since his youth wanted to break into movies subsequently.  As such, he shifted to the US in the latter half of 1968. Arnold was just 21 then and spoke English falteringly. His bad English combined with a strong accent proved to be a big hindrance for him during his initial Hollywood days. Movie makers even suggested Arnold to change his long surname ‘Schwarzenegger’. All the while, Arnold Schwarzenegger trained at Gold's Gym in Santa Monica, California under Joe Weider.

 

The love life of Arnold Schwarzenegger too was blooming during this time. In 1969, he met an English teacher, Barbara Outland Baker with whom he lived till 1974. The next love interest in the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger was Sue Moray, a Beverly Hills hairdresser assistant. Theirs’ is said to have been an ‘open relationship’. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Maria Shriver (his wife currently) in August 1977 while he was still seeing Moray. When Moray gave Arnold an ultimatum, it was his interest in Maria Shriver that prevailed.  

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was finally selected to play the role of Hercules (as both Reg Park and Steve Reeves had done) in Hercules in New York (1970). But his accent in this movie was so heavy that the movie-makers had to finally get his lines dubbed after production. Arnold’s second film appearance was as a deaf and mute hit-man in The Long Goodbye (1973). The scenario improved after film ‘Stay Hungry’ (1976) hit the screens, for which Arnold Schwarzenegger was awarded a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star. His next movie Pumping Iron (1977) garnered Arnold more attention and acclaim.

 

In 1983, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video ‘Carnival in Rio’. However, Arnold’s best work is his portrayal of the key character of (director) James Cameron's blockbuster science-fiction film, The Terminator (1984) and its sequels. After The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger made Red Sonja in 1985 that faired disappointingly. Arnold gradually made a mark in Hollywood for introducing in his films a comic, often self-offensive sense of humor. This trait set him aside from other more serious action heroes of his time like Sylvester Stallone.

 

The Hollywood horizon brightened for Arnold Schwarzenegger thereafter and he came out with one blockbuster movie after another. Some well-known Arnold Schwarzenegger films worth mentioning are Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), Predator (1987) and Red Heat (1988). A comedy with Danny DeVito, Twins (1988) was a change of pace and also turned out to be quite successful.

 

Arnold Schwarzeneger film, Total Recall (1990) during those days was the most expensive film ever made. Apart from doing well, this movie also garnered good reviews. To honor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forum Stadtpark which is a local cultural association proposed that it planned to set up a 25-meter (82-foot) tall Terminator statue in a park at central Graz in 2002. It is presently being extensively reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger will have just a brief role in the forthcoming movie Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.

 

1947 - Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on 30 July 1947 at Thal in Austria.

1965 - Arnold Schwarzenegger went on to serve in the Austrian army.

1965 - Arnold went on to win the Junior Mr Europe contest.

1966 - He took his first plane ride for participating in the NABBA Mr. Universe competition at London.

1967 – He won the Mr Universe bodybuilding title at the age of 20 becoming the youngest to win this title. 

1968 - Arnold won his next Mr Universe trophy.

1970 - Arnold Schwarzenegger was selected for the role of Hercules in ‘Hercules in New York’.  

1973 - Arnold appeared as a deaf and mute hit-man in The Long Goodbye.

1975 - After the Mr Olympia contest, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.

1976 - The scenario improved after film ‘Stay Hungry’. For it, Arnold Schwarzenegger was given a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star.

1977 - Arnold Schwarzenegger met his wife Maria Shriver in August.

1977 - Movie ‘Pumping Iron’ garnered Arnold more attention and acclaim.

1983 - Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video ‘Carnival in Rio’.

1985 – Arnold’s movie Red Sonja came that faired disappointingly.

1990 - Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Total Recall (1990) was the most expensive film ever made during those days.

2002 - Forum Stadtpark, a local cultural association proposed to set up a 25-meter (82-foot) tall Terminator statue in a park at central Graz.

2003 – Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected on 7 October in a special recall election to take the place of the then Governor, Gray Davis.

2003 - On 17 November, he was sworn in as Governor for the rest of Davis’ term.

2006 - On 7 November, Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected in California's gubernatorial election for a complete term as governor.

2007 - Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in for the second term on 5 January. 
2007 – He was among the Time’s ‘100 people who help shape the world’.