Schwarzenegger, Arnold

born July 30, 1947, Graz, Austria

Austrian-born U.S. film actor and politician.

A bodybuilder in Austria, he moved to the U.S. in 1968 and won the title of Mr. Universe five times and Mr. Olympia seven times before retiring undefeated in 1980. After appearing in the documentary Pumping Iron (1977), he starred in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and its sequel Conan the Destroyer (1984). Noted for his extraordinary physique and heavy accent, he became an international star with The Terminator (1984) and its sequels (1991, 2003). His other films include Kindergarten Cop (1990), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994), and The 6th Day (2000). In 2003 Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a recall election.

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▪ 2004

      Austrian-born former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who became a Hollywood star in the film The Terminator (1984), saw the release of Terminator 3 in 2003, but the debut of his latest action movie was overshadowed by his 11-week campaign to become the governor of California if the recall effort against Gov. Gray Davis was successful. Schwarzenegger triumphed over 134 other candidates and won the election with 49% of the vote. On November 17 he was sworn in as California's new governor, and he later unveiled his California Recovery Plan, which he said would address the state's staggering budget deficit of more than $15 billion.

      Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal bei Graz, Austria. When he began competing in bodybuilding contests, he dwarfed his competition and earned the nickname the “Styrian Oak,” or “Austrian Oak.” He won his first Mr. Universe (amateur) title in 1967 but moved to the U.S. the following year to compete in bigger and more lucrative events there. He captured four more Mr. Universe titles and then the professional Mr. Olympia title six years in a row (1970–75) before retiring. To the surprise of many, he returned one more time to competition to claim the 1980 Mr. Universe title.

      Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger had begun to pursue his childhood dream of acting in movies. In his first film, Hercules in New York (1970), he played the lead, but another actor was used to dub his dialogue. Schwarzenegger's native charm and wit finally came through in the acclaimed documentary Pumping Iron (1977), which led to his starring role in Conan the Barbarian (1982). It was The Terminator and its sequels (1991 and 2003), however, that made him an international star. Some of his other films included Predator (1987), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994), and The 6th Day (2000).

      Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen in 1984 and in 1986 married TV reporter Maria Shriver, whose connection to the Democratic Kennedy political dynasty later proved helpful in his campaign. During the 1990s he became increasingly active in the Republican Party at both the state and the national level. Reports that Schwarzenegger had previously fondled and sexually harassed at least 15 women did not appreciably affect his gubernatorial campaign. In his first six weeks in office, the “governator” and his direct, bipartisan, tough-guy style impressed observers and confounded the Democratic-controlled legislature as he sought to overhaul California's finances.

William L. Hosch

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▪ American politician, actor, and athlete

in full  Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger 

born July 30, 1947, Thal bei Graz, Austria

 

 Austrian-born American bodybuilder, film actor, and politician.

      Schwarzenegger was known as the Styrian Oak, or Austrian Oak, in the bodybuilding world, where he dwarfed his competition. He won his first amateur Mr. Universe title in 1967. After moving to California in 1968 to train and compete in bigger events in the United States, he won four more Mr. Universe titles and then the professional Mr. Olympia title six years in a row (1970–75) before retiring. He surprised the bodybuilding world by returning to competition one more time to claim the Mr. Universe title in 1980. Bodybuilding was the subject of several of his books, including the autobiographical Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder (1977; cowritten with Douglas Kent Hall) and The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (1998; cowritten with Bill Dobbins).

      Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger pursued his childhood dream of acting in movies. In his first film, Hercules in New York (1970), Schwarzenegger played the lead, but another actor was used to dub his dialog. Schwarzenegger's native charm and wit finally came through in the acclaimed documentary Pumping Iron (1977), which led to his starring role in Conan the Barbarian (1982). He became an international star with The Terminator (1984) and its sequels (1991, 2003). His other films include Predator (1987), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994), and The 6th Day (2000).

      Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen in 1983 and married reporter Maria Shriver in 1986. During the 1990s he became increasingly active in the Republican Party at both state and national levels. In 2003 he was elected governor of California in a recall election.

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