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| Arnold Schwarzenegger | |
 Arnold Schwarzenegger | |
| | |
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office November 17 2003 | |
| Lieutenant | Cruz Bustamante (2003 – 2007) John Garamendi (2007 – Present) |
| Preceded by | Gray Davis |
| Chairman of the President\'s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports | |
| In office 1990 – 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Born | July 30 1947 Thal bei Graz, Steiermark, Austria |
| Nationality | Austrian-American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Maria Shriver |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin-Superior |
| Profession | Bodybuilder, Actor, Politician, Businessman (Investments) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | gov.ca.gov schwarzenegger.com |
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German IPA: [ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛgɐ]; born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-born American bodybuilder, Golden Globe-winning actor, businessman and politician currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. As a young man, Schwarzenegger gained widespread attention as a highly successful bodybuilder. He later gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film icon.
Schwarzenegger was nicknamed "The Austrian Oak" and "The Styrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, "Arnold Strong" and "Arnie" during his acting career, and more recently "The Governator" (a portmanteau of Governor and Terminator, referring to his internationally-popular film role).Biography for Arnold Schwarzenegger. IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver. He is a Republican who was first elected on October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace then-Governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger was sworn in on November 17, 2003, to serve the remainder of Davis\' term. Schwarzenegger was then reelected on November 7, 2006, in California\'s 2006 gubernatorial election, to serve a full term as governor, defeating Democrat Phil Angelides, who was California State Treasurer at the time. Schwarzenegger was sworn in for a second term on January 5, 2007.Kurtzman, Laura. Schwarzenegger Sworn in for Second Term. ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. In May 2004 and 2007, he was named as one of the Time 100 people who help shape the world.Sullivan, Andrew. Time Magazine: Time 100: Heroes & Icons: Arnold Schwarzenegger. TIME. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.Kennedy, Jr., Robert F. Leaders & Revolutionaries: Arnold Schwarzenegger. TIME. Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
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Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, a small village bordering the Styrian capital Graz, and was christened Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger."Time of His Life", Schwarzenegger.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. His parents were the local police chief Gustav Schwarzenegger (1907 – 1972), and his wife, the former Aurelia Jadrny (1922 – 1998). They were married on October 20 1945 — Gustav was 38, and Aurelia was a 23-year-old widow with a son named Meinhard. According to Schwarzenegger, both of his parents were "very strict." "Back then in Austria it was a very different world — " he says, "if we did something bad or we disobeyed our parents, the rod was not spared." He grew up in a Roman Catholic family who attended Church every Sunday.Andrews, Nigel (2003). True Myths of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bloomsbury. ISBN 1582344655. Gustav joined the Nazi party and the SA after the 1938 Anschluss.Brooks, Xan. "The Governator", The Guardian, 2003-08-08. Retrieved on 2007-04-19. After the war, in 1947, Gustav was allowed to work as a police officer, as he had not committed war crimes."Records: Arnold\'s father was member of Nazi storm troops", USA Today, 2003-08-24. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. He had a preference for Meinhard, the elder of the two sons. Gustav’s favouritism was "strong and blatant," which stemmed from unfounded suspicion "that Arnold wasn’t his child."Leigh, Wendy (1990). Arnold: An Unauthorized Biography. ISBN 0720719976. Schwarzenegger has said his father had "no patience for listening or understanding your problems…there was a wall; a real wall." Schwarzenegger had a good relationship with his mother, and kept in touch with her until her death.Arnold Schwarzenegger: Mr. Olympia — 1970 – 1975, 1980. BodyBuild.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. Schwarzenegger has reportedly disavowed Nazi views.Susman, Gary (2003-10-03). Pumping Irony. EW.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. In later life, Schwarzenegger commissioned the Simon Wiesenthal Centre to research his father\'s wartime record, which came up with no evidence of atrocities. At school, Schwarzenegger was apparently "in the middle," but stood out for his "cheerful, good-humored and exuberant" character. Money was a problem in the household; Schwarzenegger has recalled that one of the highlights of his youth was when the family bought a refrigerator.
As a boy, Schwarzenegger played many sports — heavily influenced by his father. He picked up his first barbell in 1960, when his football coach took his team to a local gym. At the age of 14, Schwarzenegger chose body-building over football as a career.Katz, Ephraim (2006). Film Encyclopedia. HarperCollins. ISBN 0060742143. "Profile: Arnold Schwarzenegger", BBC, 2004-08-31. Retrieved on 2007-04-21. Schwarzenegger has responded to a question asking if he was age 13 when he started weight-lifting: "I actually started weight training when I was fifteen, but I\'d been participating in sports, like soccer, for years, so I felt that although I was slim, I was well-developed, at least enough so that I could start going to the gym and start Olympic lifting." However, his official website biography claims: "At 14, he started an intensive training program with Kurt Marnul, studied psychology at 15 (to learn more about the power of mind over body) and at 17, officially started his competitive career.""Mr Everything", Schwarzenegger.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-29. During a speech in 2001, he said, "My own plan formed when I was 14 years old. My father had wanted me to be a police officer like he was. My mother wanted me to go to trade school."Schwarzenegger, Arnold. "ARNOLD\'S "PERSPECTIVES"", Schwarzenegger.com, 2001-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-05-29. Schwarzenegger took to visiting a gym in Graz, where he also frequented the local cinemas to see bodybuilding idols such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves, and Johnny Weissmuller on the big screen. "I was inspired by individuals like Reg Park and Steve Reeves." When Reeves passed away in 2000, Schwarzenegger fondly remembered him: "As a teenager, I grew up with Steve Reeves. His remarkable accomplishments allowed me a sense of what was possible, when others around me didn\'t always understand my dreams ... Steve Reeves has been part of everything I\'ve ever been fortunate enough to achieve."Schwarzenegger, Arnold. "In his own words", Schwarzenegger.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-29. In 1961, Schwarzenegger met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who invited him to train at the gym in Graz. He was so dedicated as a youngster that he was known to break into the local gym on weekends, when it was usually closed, so that he could train. "It would make me sick to miss a workout … I knew I couldn\'t look at myself in the mirror the next morning if I didn\'t do it." When Schwarzenegger was asked about his first movie experience as a boy, he replied, "I was very young, but I remember my father taking me to the Austrian theaters and seeing some newsreels. The first real movie I saw, that I distinctly remember, was a John Wayne movie.""Ask Arnold", Schwarzenegger.com, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
In 1971, his brother Meinhard died in a car accident. Meinhard had been drinking, and was killed instantly, and Schwarzenegger did not attend his funeral. He was due to marry Erika Knapp, and the couple shared a three-year-old son Patrick; Schwarzenegger would pay for Patrick\'s education and a life in America. Gustav died the following year from a stroke. In Pumping Iron, Schwarzenegger claimed that he did not attend his father\'s funeral because he was training for a bodybuilding contest. Later, he and the film\'s producer both stated that this story was taken from another bodybuilder for the purpose of showing the extremes that some would go to for their sport, and to make Schwarzenegger\'s image more cold and machine-like to fan controversy for the film.Interview in Pumping Iron — 25th Anniversary Edition DVD extras Barbara Baker, his first serious girlfriend, has said he informed her of his father\'s death without emotion, and never spoke of his brother."The girl who can\'t escape Arnie", The Daily Telegraph, 2003-10-06. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Over time, he has given at least three versions of why he did not attend his father\'s funeral.
In an interview with Fortune Magazine in 2004, Schwarzenegger told how he suffered what "would now be called child abuse" at the hands of his father. "My hair was pulled. I was hit with belts. So was the kid next door. It was just the way it was. Many of the children I\'ve seen were broken by their parents, which was the German-Austrian mentality. They didn\'t want to create an individual. It was all about conforming. I was one who did not conform, and whose will could not be broken. Therefore, I became a rebel. Every time I got hit, and every time someone said, \'you can\'t do this,\' I said, \'this is not going to be for much longer, because I\'m going to move out of here. I want to be rich. I want to be somebody.\' ""Arnie: I was abused as a child", The Daily Mail, 2004-08-04. Retrieved on 2007-05-30. "Arnie: \'I was abused as child\'", The Scotsman, 2004-08-04. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian army in 1965, to fulfill the one year of service required at the time of all 18-year-old Austrian males. He won the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. Schwarzenegger went AWOL during basic training so that he could compete in the competition, and spent a week in an army jail: "Participating in the competition meant so much to me that I didn\'t carefully think through the consequences. When I got to Stuttgart, I was all confused. I forgot my posing routine, I had to borrow posing trunks, but still I won!" Contrary to popular belief, it was not Schwarzenegger\'s bodybuilding debut, which had occurred two years earlier at a minor contest in Graz, at Steirer Hof Hotel (where he had placed second). He was voted best toned body in the world, which made him famous.
"The Mr. Universe title was my ticket to America — the land of opportunity, where I could become a star and get rich." Schwarzenegger made his first plane trip in 1966, attending the NABBA Mr. Universe competition in London. He would come in second in the Mr. Universe competition, not having the muscle "definition" of American winner Chester Yorton. He would win the title for the first time in 1967 (he invented new exercises to separate and define his muscle groups), becoming the youngest-ever Mr. Universe at the age of 20. He would go on to win the title an additional four times. Schwarzenegger then flew to Munich, training for four to six hours daily, attending business school and working in a health club, returning in 1968 to London to win his next Mr. Universe trophy.
Schwarzenegger with United States President Ronald Reagan, 1984
Schwarzenegger moved to the United States in September 1968 at the age of 21, speaking little English. "Naturally, when I came to this country, my English was very bad, and my accent was also very strong, which was an obstacle as I began to pursue acting." There he trained at Gold\'s Gym in Santa Monica, California, under the patronage of Joe Weider. From 1970 to 1974, one of Schwarzenegger\'s weight training partners was Ric Drasin, the bodybuilder and professional wrestler who designed the original Gold\'s Gym logo in 1973.The Arnold Fans Website. Jennings, Randy. (2003, October 21). Ric Drasin: Arnold\'s lifting partner! (Retrieved on March 29, 2007). Schwarzenegger also became good friends with professional wrestler "Superstar" Billy Graham. In 1970, at age 23, he captured his first Mr. Olympia title in New York, and would go on to win the title a total of seven times.
In 1969, Schwarzenegger met Barbara Outland Baker, an English teacher he lived with until 1974."Arnie\'s ex-girlfriend pens memoir", BBC, 2003-09-09. Retrieved on 2007-04-19. Schwarzenegger talked about Barbara in his memoir in 1977: "Basically it came down to this: she was a well-balanced woman who wanted an ordinary, solid life, and I was not a well-balanced man, and hated the very idea of ordinary life." Baker has described Schwarzenegger as "a joyful personality, totally charismatic, adventurous, and athletic" but claims towards the end of the relationship he became "insufferable — classically conceited — the world revolved around him""Actor\'s old flame says he\'s a great guy", The San Francisco Chronicle, 2003-09-15. Retrieved on 2007-04-19. Baker published her memoir in 2006, entitled "Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of the Austrian Oak"Elsworth, Catherine. "Arnie puts his weight behind ex-lover\'s tell-all memoir", The Daily Telegraph, 2006-09-14. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Although Baker, at times, paints an unflattering portrait of her former lover — Schwarzenegger actually contributed to the "tell-all" book with a "foreword," and also met with Baker for three hours. Baker claims, for example, that she only learned of his being unfaithful after they split, and talks of a turbulent and passionate love life. Schwarzenegger has made it clear that their respective recollection of events can differ. The couple first met six to eight months after his arrival in the U.S. — their first date was watching the first Apollo Moon landing on television. They shared an apartment in Santa Monica for three-and-a-half years, and having little money, would visit the beach all day, or have barbecues in the back yard. Although Baker claims that when she first met him, he had "little understanding of polite society" and she found him a "turn-off," she says, "He\'s as much a self-made man as it\'s possible to be — he never got encouragement from his parents, his family, his brother. He just had this huge determination to prove himself, and that was very attractive ... I\'ll go to my grave knowing Arnold loved me."
Schwarzenegger met his next love, Sue Moray, a Beverly Hills hairdresser assistant, on Venice Beach in July 1977. According to Moray, the couple led an "open relationship": "We were faithful when we were both in LA...but when he was out of town, we were free to do whatever we wanted." Schwarzenegger met Maria Shriver at the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in August 1977, and went on to have a relationship with both women until August 1978, when Moray (who knew of his relationship with Shriver) issued an ultimatum.
Schwarzenegger has said his "big dream" from the age of 10 was to move to the U.S. Bradley, Bill. "Mr California", LA Weekly, 2002-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-04-20. He questioned what he was doing "on the farm" in Austria, and believed bodybuilding was his "ticket to America": "I’m sure I can go to America if I win Mr. Universe." LA Weekly said in 2002 that Schwarzenegger is the most famous immigrant in America, who "overcame a thick Austrian accent and transcended the unlikely background of bodybuilding to become the biggest movie star in the world in the 1990s."
Schwarzenegger may have been an illegal immigrant at some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s, due to violating the terms of his visa.Bland, Siskind. "Schwarzenegger May Have Violated Terms Of Non-Immigrant Visa", VISALAW.COM, 2007-09-04. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | |
| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Austrian Oak |
| Birth | July 30 1947, Thal bei Graz, Steiermark, Austria |
| Height | 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m)Arnold Schwarzenegger Height, Schwarzenegger\'s. celebheights.com. |
| Weight | 235 pounds (107 kg) |
| Professional Career | |
| Pro-debut | NABBA Mr. Universe, 1968 |
| Best win | IFBB Mr. Olympia, 1970-1975, 1980, Seven Times |
| Predecessor | Sergio Oliva (\'69), Frank Zane (\'79) |
| Successor | Franco Columbu (\'76"), Franco Columbu (\'81) |
| Active | Retired 1980 |
Schwarzenegger is considered among the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding, and his legacy is commemorated in the Arnold Classic annual bodybuilding competition. Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent face in the bodybuilding sport long after his retirement, in part due to his ownership of gyms and fitness magazines. He has presided over numerous contests and awards shows. For many years, he wrote a monthly column for the bodybuilding magazines Muscle & Fitness and Flex. Shortly after being elected Governor, he was appointed executive editor of both magazines, in a largely symbolic capacity. The magazines agreed to donate $250,000 a year to the Governor\'s various physical fitness initiatives. The magazine MuscleMag International has a monthly two-page article on him, and refers to him as "The King."
One of the first competitions he won was the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. He won Mr. Europe the following year, at age 19. He would go on to compete in and win many bodybuilding contests, as well as some powerlifting contests, including five Mr. Universe (4 — NABBA [England], 1 — IFBB [USA]) wins, and seven Mr. Olympia wins, a record which would stand until Lee Haney won his eighth consecutive Mr. Olympia title in 1991.
In 1967, Schwarzenegger competed in the Munich stone-lifting contest, in which a stone weighing 508 German pounds (254 kg/560 lbs.) is lifted between the legs while standing on two foot rests. He won. Schwarzenegger has said the following on his size: "During the peak of my career, my calves were 20 inches, thighs 28.5 inches, waist 34 inches, chest 57 inches, and 22-inch arms."
Schwarzenegger\'s goal was to become the greatest bodybuilder in the world, which meant becoming Mr. Olympia. His first attempt was in 1969, when he lost to three-time champion Sergio Oliva. However, Schwarzenegger came back in 1970 and won the competition making him the youngest-ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record he still holds to this day.
He continued his winning streak in the 1971 – 1974 competitions. In 1975, Schwarzenegger was once again in top form, and won the title for the sixth consecutive time, beating Franco Columbu. After the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, Schwarzenegger announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.
Months before the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore persuaded Schwarzenegger to compete, in order to film his training in the bodybuilding documentary called Pumping Iron. Schwarzenegger had only three months to prepare for the competition, after losing significant weight to appear in the film Stay Hungry with Jeff Bridges. Lou Ferrigno proved not to be a threat, and a lighter-than-usual Schwarzenegger convincingly won the 1975 Mr. Olympia. After being declared Mr. Olympia for a sixth consecutive time, Schwarzenegger retired from competition.
Schwarzenegger came out of retirement to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Schwarzenegger was training for his role in Conan, and he got into such good shape because of the running, horseback riding, and sword training, that he decided he wanted to win the Mr. Olympia contest one last time. He kept this plan a secret, in the event that a training accident would prevent his entry and cause him to lose face. Schwarzenegger had been hired to provide color commentary for network television, when he announced at the eleventh hour that while he was there: "Why not compete?" Schwarzenegger ended up winning the event with only seven weeks of preparation.
He has admitted to using performance-enhancing anabolic steroids while they were legal, writing in 1977 that "steroids were helpful to me in maintaining muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting up." Schwarzenegger has called the drugs "tissue building."Theunissen, Steve. Arnold & Steroids: Truth Revealed. get2net. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. It has been alleged that Schwarzenegger won his first of seven Mr. Olympia titles in 1970 using just 3 Dianabol(Methandrostenolone) per day.
In 1999, Schwarzenegger sued Dr. Willi Heepe, a German doctor who publicly predicted an early death for the bodybuilder, based on a link between steroid use and later heart problems. Because the doctor had never examined him personally, Schwarzenegger collected a DM 20,000 ($12,000 USD) libel judgment against him in a German court. In 1999, Schwarzenegger also sued and settled with The Globe, a U.S. tabloid which had made similar predictions about the bodybuilder\'s future health. As late as 1996, a year before open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve with a human homograft valve, Schwarzenegger.com (March 8, 2001) Schwarzenegger publicly defended his use of anabolic steroids during his bodybuilding career.Farrey, Tom. Conan the Politician. ESPN. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
Schwarzenegger was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, an aortic valve with only two leaflets (a normal aorta has three leaflets), both his father and his brother had the same condition.
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Arnold Strong Arnie | ||||||||||
| Occupation | actor, director, producer | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1970 - 2005 (acting) | ||||||||||
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In 1970, Arnold Schwarzenegger was known as the World\'s Strongest Man. He had long wanted to move from bodybuilding into acting, as many of his idols had done, such as Reg Park. Initially, he had trouble breaking into films due to his long surname, "overly" large muscles, and foreign accent, but he was nevertheless chosen to play the role of Hercules (as both Reg Park and Steve Reeves had done) in Hercules in New York (1970).
Credited under the name "Arnold Strong," his accent in the film was so thick that producers feared he would not be easily understood by audiences, so they had his lines dubbed after production.Profile: Arnold Schwarzenegger. BBC News (2004-08-31). Retrieved on 2007-05-11. His second film appearance was as a deaf and mute hit-man for the mob in director Robert Altman\'s The Long Goodbye (1973), which was followed by a much more significant part in the film Stay Hungry (1976), for which he was awarded a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star. Schwarzenegger has discussed his early struggles in developing his acting career. "It was very difficult for me in the beginning — I was told by agents and casting people that my body was \'too weird,\' that I had a funny accent, and that my name was too long. You name it, and they told me I had to change it. Basically, everywhere I turned, I was told that I had no chance."
Schwarzenegger drew wide attention and boosted his profile in the body-building film Pumping Iron (1977), elements of which were dramatized. In 1991, Schwarzenegger purchased the rights to the film, its outtakes, and associated still photography.The Smoking Gun: Archive. TheSmokingGun. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
Arnold also appeared with Kirk Douglas and Ann-Margret in the 1979 comedy The Villain. Schwarzenegger\'s breakthrough film was the "mythical epic" Conan the Barbarian in 1982, which was a box-office hit. This was followed by a sequel, Conan the Destroyer in 1984, which performed disappointingly.Collis, Clark. "EMPIRE ESSAY: The Terminator", Empire magazine. Retrieved on 2007-04-22. Later, he appeared on the cover of High Times magazine dressed as "Conan The Barbarian."ARNOLD AT THE RNC. High Times. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
In 1983, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video "Carnival in Rio".devilducky.com Arnold Schwarzenegger: Carnival in Rio. Devil Ducky. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
As an actor, he is best known as the title character of director James Cameron\'s influential science-fiction film The Terminator (1984) and its sequels.Leamer, Laurence (2005). Fantastic: The life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. St Martin’s Press. Following The Terminator, Schwarzenegger made Red Sonja in 1985, which "sank without a trace."
He also made a mark for injecting his films with a droll, often self-deprecating sense of humor (including sometimes famously bad puns), setting him apart from more serious action heroes such as Sylvester Stallone. Schwarzenegger\'s alternative-universe comedy/thriller Last Action Hero featured a poster of the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day which, in that alternate universe, had Sylvester Stallone as its star. A similar in-joke in Twins suggested that the two actors might one day co-star, something which has yet to come to pass. During the 1980s, audiences had a large appetite for action films, with both Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone becoming international stars.
Following his arrival as a Hollywood superstar, he made a number of successful films: Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), and Red Heat (1988). In Predator (1987), another successful film, Schwarzenegger led a cast which included future Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and future Kentucky Gubernatorial candidate Sonny Landham. (Ventura also appeared in The Running Man, Predator and Batman & Robin with Schwarzenegger.)
Twins (1988), a comedy with Danny DeVito, was a change of pace, and also proved to be successful. Total Recall (1990), at that time the most expensive film ever, netted Schwarzenegger $10 million and 15% of the gross, and was a widely-praised, thought-provoking science-fiction script (based on the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale"). Kindergarten Cop (1990) was another comedy which reunited him with director Ivan Reitman, who also directed him in Twins.
Schwarzenegger had a brief foray into directing, first with a 1990 episode of the TV series Tales from the Crypt, entitled "The Switch," and then with the 1992 telemovie Christmas in Connecticut. He has not directed since.
Schwarzenegger\'s critical and commercial high-water mark was the 1991 sequel to his 1984 hit The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and surpassed the original film\'s success. In 1993, the National Association of Theatre Owners named him the "International Star of the Decade." His next film project, the 1993 self-aware action comedy Last Action Hero had the misfortune to be released opposite Jurassic Park, and suffered accordingly. Schwarzenegger\'s career never again achieved quite the same prominence, his aura of box-office invincibility suffering, although the action comedy True Lies in 1994 was a highly popular send-up of spy films, and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with director James Cameron, whose own career had taken off with The Terminator.
Shortly thereafter came another comedy: Junior (1994), which reunited him once again with Ivan Reitman, as well as Danny DeVito. This film also brought Schwarzenegger his second Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actor — Musical or Comedy. It was followed by the popular, albeit by-the-numbers action thriller Eraser (1996), and the comic book-based Batman & Robin in 1997, where he played the villain Mr. Freeze. This was his final film before taking time to recuperate from a back injury. Following the failure of Batman & Robin, Schwarzenegger\'s film career and box office prominence went into decline.
Several film projects were announced with Schwarzenegger attached to star, including the remake of Planet of the Apes, a new film version of I Am Legend, and a World War II film scripted by Quentin Tarantino that would have seen Schwarzenegger finally play an Austrian.
Instead, he returned after a hiatus with the supernatural thriller End of Days (1999). Schwarzenegger later starred in the action films The 6th Day (2000) and Collateral Damage (2002). In 2003, he reprised his most famous role in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which was the long-awaited sequel to the 1991 film, and he went on to earn over $150 million domestically. He was also rumored to be a front runner to play Hank McCoy (alias Beast) in the 2003 film X2: X-Men United. The character was ultimately written out of the script in favor of adding Nightcrawler. Beast was later featured in the third X-Men movie portrayed by Kelsey Grammer.
Footprints and handprints of Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Grauman\'s Chinese Theatre.
In tribute to Schwarzenegger in 2002, Forum Stadtpark, a local cultural association, proposed plans to build a 25-meter (82-foot) tall Terminator statue in a park in central Graz. Schwarzenegger reportedly said he was flattered, but thought the money would be better spent on social projects and the Special Olympics.Arnold wants \'Terminator\' statue killed. Killoggs (2002-09-27). Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
His latest film appearances included a 3-second cameo appearance in The Rundown (AKA, Welcome to the Jungle) with The Rock, and the 2004 remake of Around the World in 80 Days, notable for featuring him on-screen with action star Jackie Chan for the first time.
Schwarzenegger has stated in many interviews that he never regrets doing a role, and he feels really bad when he turns down a role. There are conflicting reports that Schwarzenegger will or won\'t be starring in the next Terminator installment — Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.Stroia, Mihaela. Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs for Terminator 4 and True Lies 2. Softpedia. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.Terminator 4 (2009). IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. However, it is currently widely reported that Schwarzenegger will only have a brief role in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.
Schwarzenegger voiced Baron von Steuben in Episode 24 ("Valley Forge") of Liberty\'s Kids.
Actor and comedian Robin Williams famously said, "Arnold Schwarzenegger\'s acted in plenty of movies, but spoken less dialogue than any actor, except maybe Lassie."
Official portrait of Gov. Schwarzenegger
Vice President Dick Cheney meets with Schwarzenegger for the first time at the White House.
Schwarzenegger has been a registered Republican for many years. As an actor, his political views were always well-known as they contrasted with those of many other prominent Hollywood stars, who are generally considered to be a liberal and Democratic-leaning community. At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Schwarzenegger gave a speech and explained why he was a Republican:Schwarzenegger: No country more welcoming than the USA. CNN.com (August 31, 2004). Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
| “ | I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination, full of desire. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon-Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left.
But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, I said, "What party is he?" My friend said, "He\'s a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican." And I have been a Republican ever since. | ” |
In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in Stop the Madness, an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration. He first came to wide public notice as a Republican during the 1988 Presidential election, accompanying then-Vice President George H.W. Bush at a campaign rally. Attacking Bush\'s Democratic opponents, he said to the crowd, "They all look like a bunch of girlie men, right?""Schwarzenegger deems opponents \'girlie-men\'", The San Francisco Chronicle, 2004-07-18. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
Schwarzenegger\'s first political appointment was as chairman of the President\'s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, on which he served from 1990 to 1993. He was nominated by George H. W. Bush, who dubbed him "Conan the Republican". He later served as Chairman for the California Governor\'s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governor Pete Wilson. Yet, political analysts have identified Schwarzenegger as a liberal, as he has become more left-leaning since his election.Deborah White (2006-01-14). Arnold Schwarzenegger, California\'s Newest Democrat. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
Between 1993 and 1994, Schwarzenegger was a Red Cross "ambassador" (a mostly ceremonial role fulfilled by celebrities), recording several television/radio PSAs to give blood. A small amount of interest was garnered by his wearing of a white t-shirt with the Red Cross on it, while posing with a flexed arm; the image made it into several celebrity magazines.
In an interview with Talk magazine in late 1999, Schwarzenegger was asked if he thought of running for office. He replied, "I think about it many times. The possibility is there, because I feel it inside.""Arnold cast as Governor?", Schwarzenegger.com, 1999-10-04. Retrieved on 2007-04-20. The Hollywood Reporter claimed shortly after that Schwarzenegger sought to end speculation that he might run for governor of California. Following his initial comments, Schwarzenegger said, "I\'m in show business — I am in the middle of my career. Why would I go away from that and jump into something else?"
President George W. Bush meets with Schwarzenegger after his successful election to the California Governorship.
Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the 2003 California recall election for Governor of California on the August 6, 2003 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. As a candidate in the recall election, Schwarzenegger had the most name recognition in a crowded field of candidates, but he had never held public office and his political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy was immediate national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the "Governator" (referring to The Terminator movies, see above) and "The Running Man" (the name of another of his movies), and calling the recall election "Total Recall" (yet another Schwarzenegger starrer) and "Terminator 4: Rise of the Candidate" (referring to his movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). Schwarzenegger declined to participate in several debates with other recall replacement candidates, and appeared in only one debate on September 24, 2003.First debate in California recall election: Snapshot of a political system in crisis
On October 7, 2003, the recall election resulted in Governor Gray Davis being removed from office with 55.4% of the Yes vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with 48.6% of the vote to choose a successor to Davis. Schwarzenegger defeated Democrat Cruz Bustamante, fellow Republican Tom McClintock, and others. His nearest rival, Bustamante, received less than 30% of the vote. In total, Schwarzenegger won the election by about 1.3 million votes. Under the regulations of the California Constitution, no runoff election was required. Schwarzenegger was the first foreign-born governor in California history since Ireland-born Governor John G. Downey in 1862.
As soon as Schwarzenegger was elected governor, Willie Brown said he would start a drive to recall the governor. Schwarzenegger was equally entrenched in what he considered to be his mandate in cleaning up gridlock. Asked whether he would seek bipartisan cooperation from the Democrats in the State Senate, Schwarzenegger quipped that he saw no reason to "talk with losers." Building on a catch-phrase from a sketch partly parodying his bodybuilding career, Schwarzenegger called the Democratic State politicians "girlie men," (a reference from a Saturday Night Live sketch called "Hans and Franz") Nicholas, Peter. "Schwarzenegger deems opponents \'girlie-men\'. The Democratic legislators who he was directing the jab at later mocked the joke by showing up to a session of the State Senate dressed in aprons and dresses.…" (HTML), San Francisco Chronicle, 2004-07-18. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
Schwarzenegger enjoyed a large degree of success and victories in his early governorship, including repealing an unpopular increase in the vehicle registration fee as well as preventing driver\'s licenses being given out to illegal immigrants, but later began to feel the backlash when powerful state unions began to oppose his various initiatives.[attribution needed] Key among his reckoning with political realities was a special election he called in November 2005, in which four ballot measures he sponsored were defeated. Schwarzenegger accepted personal responsibility for the defeats and vowed to continue to seek consensus for the people of California. He would later comment that "no one could win if the opposition raised 160 million dollars to defeat you."
Schwarzenegger then bucked the advice of fellow Republican strategists and appointed a Democrat, Susan Kennedy, as his Chief of Staff. Schwarzenegger scrambled toward the political middle, determined to build a winning legacy with only a short time to go until the next gubernatorial election.
He has appeared alongside his fellow actor from Around the World in 80 Days, Jackie Chan, in a government advertisement to combat copyright piracy.Jackie Chan and Arnold vs Piracy. Google Video. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
Schwarzenegger ran for re-election against Democrat Phil Angelides, the California State Treasurer, in the 2006 elections, held on November 7 2006. Despite a poor year nationally for the Republican party, Schwarzenegger won re-election with 56.0% of the vote compared with 38.9% for Angelides, a margin of well over one million votes.General Election — Governor. California Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. The election further enhanced his political credentials.
It is rumored that Schwarzenegger might run for the United States Senate in 2010 (he will be term-limited then), if incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer retires.
Wendy Leigh, who wrote an unofficial biography on Schwarzenegger, claims he plotted his political rise from an early age using the movie business and body-building as building blocks to escape a depressing home. Leigh portrays Schwarzenegger as obsessed with power and quotes him as saying, "I wanted to be part of the small percentage of people who were leaders, not the large mass of followers. I think it is because I saw leaders use 100% of their potential — I was always fascinated by people in control of other people." Schwarzenegger has said that it was never his intention to enter politics, but he says, "I married into a political family. You get together with them and you hear about policy, about reaching out to help people. I was exposed to the idea of being a public servant and Eunice and Sargent Shriver became my heroes." Eunice Kennedy Shriver was sister of John F. Kennedy, and mother-in-law to Schwarzenegger, Sargent Shriver was husband to Eunice and father-in-law to Schwarzenegger. According to the 2005 Year-in-Review issue of Time magazine, citizens are hoping to amend the Constitution so he can run for President of the United States.
Schwarzenegger is a dual Austria/United States citizen."BBC News: Schwarzenegger \'damages Austria\'", BBC News, 2005-01-22. Retrieved on 2008-01-24. "He said Mr Schwarzenegger, who has dual nationality..." He holds Austrian citizenship through having been born there and holds U.S. citizenship since becoming naturalized in 1983. Being Austrian and thus European he was able to win the 2007 European Voice campaigner of the year award for taking action against climate change with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme with other US states and possibly with the EU.Schwarzenegger wins European Voice campaigner of the year award. European Voice (2007-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-12-09.
Schwarzenegger does not accept his governor\'s salary of $175,000 per year.News: Schwarzenegger releases tax returns - OCRegister.com Instead, he donates it to charities.
Schwarzenegger\'s endorsement in the Republican Primary of 2008 U.S. Presidential Election was highly sought, but Schwarzenegger remained neutral throughout 2007 and 2008 despite being good friends with candidates Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain. On January 30, 2008, Guiliani dropped out of the Presidential race because of a poor showing in Florida and endorsed McCain. Later that night, Schwarzenegger was in the audience at a Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA. On January 31, 2008, Schwarzenegger endorsed Sen. McCain saying, "It\'s Rudy\'s fault!" citing his friendships with both candidates and that he could not make up his mind. Gov. Schwarzenegger\'s endorsement is thought to be a big boost for Senator McCain\'s campaign. Both cited their environmental concerns and their concerns for the economy.
Schwarzenegger with his wife Maria Shriver at the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, People\'s Republic of China
In 1977, Schwarzenegger\'s autobiography/weight-training guide Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder was published and became a huge success. He earned a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he graduated Business and International Economics in 1979.
Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen in 1983, although he also retains his Austrian citizenship.Leamer, Lawrence, Fantastic — The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger (New York: St. Martin\'s Press, 2005), p155
On April 26, 1986, Schwarzenegger married television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of the past President of the United States John F. Kennedy in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The Rev. John Baptist Riordan performed the ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church.Maria Owings Shriver Wed To Arnold Schwarzenegger
The couple have four children:
(His first name, Patrick, is named after his great-grandfather Joseph Patrick Kennedy.)
Schwarzenegger and his family currently live in their 11,000-square-foot home in Brentwood.Schiffman, Betsy (2003-06-27). Next Stop – Governor\'s Mansion?. Forbes. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.Lacayo, Richard (2003-08-10). The Mind Behind the Muscles. TIME. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. They used to own a home in the Pacific Palisades.Schwarzenegger, Shriver selling home in Palisades The family owns vacation homes in Sun Valley, Idaho and Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.Catching Up With Maria Shriver - Sacramento Magazine - May 2004 - Sacramento, California Schwarzenegger does not have a home in Sacramento. However, whenever he is in the state capitol, he lives in the Hyatt Regency hotel suite. The suite costs about $65,000 a year.Nonprofit subsidizes Schwarzenegger travel frills
On Sundays, the family attends Mass at St. Monica\'s Catholic Church.Maria Shriver Ends Her Silence On Husband\'s Campaign. NBC (2003-09-08). Retrieved on 2007-05-11.
Schwarzenegger has said he believes the secret of a good marriage is love and respect. "If you have the ultimate love for your wife and she has it for you, I think you have a great head start … That\'s not to say it won\'t be difficult sometimes. You go through your ups and downs but you work through it." Schwarzenegger has talked about parenthood in 2000: "One of t
