Arnold Schwarzenegger Biography Quotes 53 Report mistakes
| 53 Quotes | |
| Born as | Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger |
| Occup. | Actor |
| From | Austria |
| Born | July 30, 1947 Thal, Styria, Austria |
| Age | 78 years |
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in the village of Thal, near Graz, in the Austrian state of Styria. He grew up in a modest household with his father, Gustav, a local police officer, his mother, Aurelia, and his elder brother, Meinhard. Postwar Austria was marked by austerity, and the discipline of his upbringing left a lasting imprint on his character. As a boy he played soccer and took to physical culture with enthusiasm, discovering weight training in his early teens. Inspired by images of bodybuilders in magazines and by the heroic figure of British champion and film star Reg Park, he set his sights on a future far beyond the borders of his village.
Bodybuilding Rise and Move to America
Schwarzenegger entered bodybuilding competitions in his late teens, pushing himself relentlessly to add muscle mass and improve his posing. He completed compulsory service in the Austrian army and soon began collecting titles in Europe, which brought him to the attention of publisher and promoter Joe Weider. In 1968 he moved to the United States with Weider's support, settling in Los Angeles and training at the now-legendary Gold's Gym in Venice. There he forged friendships with fellow lifters such as Franco Columbu and Dave Draper and honed an approach to training that blended meticulous planning with fierce competitive drive.
His ascent was swift. He won multiple Mr. Universe titles and became a seven-time Mr. Olympia, bodybuilding's most prestigious crown. The documentary film Pumping Iron (1977), which also featured Lou Ferrigno, presented him to a wider audience, capturing both his charisma and his strategic mind. The persona of the Austrian Oak took shape: confident, humorous, and determined, combining showmanship with a relentless work ethic.
Education and Entrepreneurship
While building his athletic career, Schwarzenegger pursued education and business. He studied English and business after arriving in California and in 1979 earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. From early on he treated bodybuilding as a platform for broader ambitions. He launched a mail-order fitness and supplement business, compiled training guides, and, with Franco Columbu, even ran a bricklaying venture in Southern California. He invested early in real estate, a strategy that gave him financial independence before his Hollywood breakthrough.
Beyond personal business, he helped grow the sport that launched him. In partnership with Jim Lorimer, he developed the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, which expanded from a bodybuilding contest into one of the world's largest multi-sport events. His work with the fitness community also led to a national role as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under President George H. W. Bush.
Film Career and Cultural Impact
Schwarzenegger's first starring role was a modest outing in Hercules in New York (1970), but he garnered critical notice with Stay Hungry (1976), winning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. Pumping Iron raised his public profile, yet it was the sword-and-sorcery epic Conan the Barbarian (1982), directed by John Milius, that established him as a bankable action lead. Conan the Destroyer (1984) followed, but the turning point came with The Terminator (1984), directed by James Cameron and co-starring Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn. Its blend of science fiction and relentless pacing, coupled with Schwarzenegger's iconic line, "I'll be back", made him a global star.
A string of box-office hits cemented his status: Commando (1985), Predator (1987) with John McTiernan directing and co-stars Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura, and The Running Man (1987). He also embraced comedy, pairing with Danny DeVito in Ivan Reitman's Twins (1988) and later Kindergarten Cop (1990), showcasing timing and self-awareness that surprised critics. Total Recall (1990) with director Paul Verhoeven expanded his sci-fi repertoire, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) redefined action filmmaking with pioneering visual effects and a more nuanced heroic turn.
He continued through the 1990s with Last Action Hero (1993), True Lies (1994) alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, and Eraser (1996). Not every film landed with audiences, such as Batman & Robin (1997), but his star power endured. In the early 2000s he appeared in Collateral Damage (2002) and returned to his signature franchise with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). After his time in public office, he reunited on screen with fellow action legends Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis in The Expendables series, took lead roles in The Last Stand (2013) and Escape Plan (2013), and revisited his most famous character in later Terminator installments, including collaborations again with James Cameron as producer.
Political Career and Governance
In 2003, amid a historic recall election in California, Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for governor on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Running as a Republican with a centrist, reform-minded message, he prevailed and succeeded Governor Gray Davis. He served two terms, from 2003 to 2011. His tenure featured both ambitious policy pushes and the practical challenges of governing a large, diverse state during periods of budget shortfalls and natural disasters.
Determined to work across party lines, he emphasized bipartisan appointments and at one point selected Democrat Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff. He championed after-school programs, building on earlier advocacy tied to a statewide initiative he had promoted before office. He pursued infrastructure investments through statewide bond measures and pushed political reforms such as independent redistricting to reduce partisan gerrymandering.
Perhaps most notably, he made environmental policy a hallmark of his administration. In 2006 he signed a landmark climate measure that set statewide limits on greenhouse gas emissions and promoted clean technology, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. These efforts, coordinated with legislators from both parties, positioned California as a global leader on climate action. He also worked closely with public safety officials during devastating wildfire seasons, coordinating with local leaders and emergency responders to support communities under threat.
Personal Life
Schwarzenegger married journalist and author Maria Shriver in 1986, linking him to the Kennedy family through her parents, Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Together they raised four children: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. He became a United States citizen in 1983 while retaining his ties to Austria, often speaking about the gratitude he felt toward both countries. In 2011, after his governorship, the family publicly faced personal upheaval when it emerged that he was the father of a child outside the marriage; he and Maria Shriver separated that year and later divorced. Over time he emphasized responsibility and family, maintaining close involvement in his children's lives while acknowledging the harm caused.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Service and philanthropy have been recurring themes. He has long supported the Special Olympics, an organization founded by his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and has advocated for inclusion and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Through the Arnold Sports Festival and related initiatives, he has promoted fitness for youth and adults worldwide. After leaving office he established and backed organizations focused on climate and governance, including efforts to mobilize subnational leaders through coalitions of regions and to bridge partisan divides through policy research and public discourse. At the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, he and collaborators such as academic partners and former colleagues from Sacramento have promoted evidence-based solutions on issues ranging from clean energy to political reform.
Later Work and Ongoing Influence
Returning to film after 2011, Schwarzenegger balanced action roles with projects that subvert and reflect upon his screen persona, often in collaboration with old rivals turned friends, notably Sylvester Stallone. He remained an active public voice on civics, encouraging voter participation and redistricting reform, and continued to press for climate action with local leaders, entrepreneurs, and scientists. His social media presence brought his messages on training, resilience, and civic responsibility to new audiences, often featuring stories about mentors like Joe Weider and friends like Franco Columbu to illustrate lessons about perseverance and loyalty.
Legacy
Arnold Schwarzenegger's life traces an arc seldom seen: from a small Austrian village to dominance in global bodybuilding; from a thick-accented newcomer in Hollywood to one of its most recognizable stars; and from celebrity to the highest office in the most populous U.S. state. Along the way he worked with and learned from prominent figures in each arena: Joe Weider and Reg Park in sport; James Cameron, Linda Hamilton, John Milius, Ivan Reitman, Paul Verhoeven, and Jamie Lee Curtis in film; and political counterparts across the aisle in Sacramento and Washington. His catchphrases and characters became cultural touchstones, but so too did his advocacy for fitness, education, and environmental stewardship.
What endures is not only the list of accomplishments but the throughline of ambition matched with purposeful reinvention. Whether on a bodybuilding stage against Lou Ferrigno, on a film set with a director like Cameron shaping a new kind of action movie, or in the governor's office negotiating complex legislation, he has repeatedly sought arenas where effort and vision could yield outsized impact. That drive, tempered by the perspective of an immigrant who built a life in a new country, makes his story a singular chapter in modern public and popular culture.
Our collection contains 53 quotes who is written by Arnold, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Motivational - Wisdom - Justice - Never Give Up.
Other people realated to Arnold: Gina Gershon (Actress), Loni Anderson (Actress), Jason Statham (Actor), Danny DeVito (Actor), Bruce Willis (Actor), Sargent Shriver (Politician), Peter Camejo (Businessman), Jerry Brown (Politician), Arianna Huffington (Journalist), Bo Derek (Actress)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Arnold Schwarzenegger governor years: Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Awards: He has won bodybuilding titles like Mr. Olympia and a Golden Globe for acting.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger bodybuilding: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legendary bodybuilder, winning Mr. Olympia seven times.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger young: Arnold Schwarzenegger started bodybuilding at a young age and won Mr. Universe at 20.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger son: Arnold Schwarzenegger's son is Patrick Schwarzenegger, among others.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger age: Arnold Schwarzenegger is 76 years old as of 2023.
- How old is Arnold Schwarzenegger? He is 78 years old
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