Arnold Schwarzenegger
Born 1947 · Age 78
Austrian-born American bodybuilder, actor, businessman, author and politician; seven-time Mr. Olympia winner and 38th Governor of California (2003–2011).
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Thal, Styria, Austria
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger born in Thal, near Graz, Austria to Gustav and Aurelia Schwarzenegger.
Began weight training (reported)
Reported start of intensive weight training (some sources cite 1960; other sources say age 15).
Met Kurt Marnul and invited to Graz gym
Met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who invited him to train at the gym in Graz and helped his early development.
Served in Austrian Army; won Junior Mr. Europe
Served mandatory one year in Austrian Armed Forces; won Junior Mr. Europe while in service; went AWOL to compete and spent a week in military prison.
First professional competition (1963–1965 era) and early wins
Competed in early professional competitions and won regional weightlifting/powerlifting contests in 1964–1966.
Moved to Munich to further bodybuilding
Left Thal for Munich (Aug 8, 1966 reported by some sources) to work and train in gyms and advance bodybuilding career.
1966 NABBA Mr. Universe (amateur) – 2nd place
Traveled to London and placed 2nd to Chester Yorton at the 1966 NABBA Mr. Universe; stayed with coach Charles 'Wag' Bennett and met Reg Park.
Won NABBA Mr. Universe (first Mr. Universe win)
Won the Mr. Universe title and became the youngest-ever winner at age 20.
Relocated to the United States (October 1968)
Moved to California to train at Gold's Gym in Venice under Joe Weider and pursue bodybuilding and acting opportunities.
Won NABBA/IFBB Mr. Universe (professional)
Captured further Mr. Universe titles in 1968 (professional division) as he rose in international bodybuilding.
Won first Mr. Olympia (1970)
Won the Mr. Olympia title in New York, becoming the youngest Mr. Olympia at age 23.
Mr. Olympia series of wins begins (1970–1975)
Began dominant streak of Mr. Olympia wins, winning every year from 1970 through 1975 (six consecutive titles).
Film debut: Hercules in New York (1970)
Made first feature film appearance; dialogue dubbed due to heavy accent; early step into acting career.
Brother Meinhard's death
Schwarzenegger's older brother Meinhard died in a car crash; Arnold did not attend the funeral.
Father Gustav Schwarzenegger's death
Gustav Schwarzenegger died of a stroke; Arnold was not present at the funeral (multiple explanations given later).
Announced retirement from professional bodybuilding
After winning the 1975 Mr. Olympia in Pretoria (documented in Pumping Iron), he announced his retirement (would later return in 1980).
Film: Stay Hungry (award recognition follows)
Starred in Stay Hungry (1976); performance later recognized with Golden Globe (New Star of the Year) in 1977.
Pumping Iron documentary released
Appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron (1977), which raised his profile and led to film opportunities.
Golden Globe Award – New Star of the Year
Recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his role in Stay Hungry.
Published 'Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder' (1977)
Autobiographical book and weight-training guide co-written with Douglas Kent Hall became a major success.
Enrolled at University of Wisconsin–Superior (distance education)
Began coursework by correspondence to complete a business degree while working and acting.
Came out of retirement and won 7th Mr. Olympia (1980)
Returned to competition and won the 1980 Mr. Olympia in Sydney; subsequently retired from competition permanently.
Graduated BBA, University of Wisconsin–Superior (May 1980)
Completed a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing via distance education and finals on campus.
Breakthrough film: Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Starred in sword-and-sorcery epic that achieved box-office success and raised his international profile as an action star.
U.S. naturalization (became U.S. citizen)
Obtained United States citizenship.
Starred in The Terminator (1984)
Famed collaboration with James Cameron that cemented his status as a major action star.
Married Maria Shriver
Married journalist Maria Owings Shriver (member of the Kennedy family).
Key action films: Predator and The Running Man (1987)
Starred in major action films further solidifying box-office draw.
Twins (1988) – broadening into comedy
Starred in Twins, a commercially successful comedy with Danny DeVito.
Birth of daughter Katherine
Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger born to Arnold and Maria Shriver.
Starred in Total Recall (1990) & appointed Chair of President's Council (Jan 22, 1990)
Major film release Total Recall; appointed Chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (service 1990–1993).
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Starred in the blockbuster sequel, a defining film of his career.
Starred in True Lies (1994)
Featured in major commercial action-comedy directed by James Cameron.
Underwent heart valve surgery (1997)
Had surgery to replace a congenitally defective heart valve.
Published 'The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding' (1998)
Co-authored comprehensive bodybuilding reference book (with Bill Dobbins).
Film: The 6th Day (2000)
Continued leading roles in mainstream action films into the 2000s.
Announced candidacy for Governor of California
Announced on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that he would run in the recall election to replace Gray Davis.
Elected Governor of California in recall election (2003)
Won recall special election; received 48.6% of vote, 17 points ahead of runner-up Cruz Bustamante.
Sworn in as 38th Governor of California
Sworn in to serve remainder of Gray Davis's term; served Nov 17, 2003 – Jan 3, 2011.
Accepted executive editor roles at Muscle & Fitness and Flex (Mar 2004)
Accepted largely symbolic executive editor roles; deal later criticized as a conflict of interest.
Relinquished executive editor roles after conflict concerns
Relinquished role following criticism; contract had included at least $1M/year and magazines agreed to donate $250,000/year to his fitness initiatives.
Global Warming Solutions Act (landmark environmental achievement)
Led and signed California's landmark greenhouse-gas reduction legislation (AB 32, 2006), a major environmental policy milestone.
Re-elected Governor of California (2006)
Won a full term with 55.9% of the vote; increased public mandate.
California budget deficit balloons to $26 billion (2009)
During his tenure, the state faced a major fiscal crisis with a $26B budget shortfall that shaped the later years of his governorship.
Cameo in The Expendables (2010) — return to film
Made a cameo appearance as part of an ensemble of aging action stars; returned to on-screen roles while still governor-near exit.
Museum opening in Thal, Austria (July 2011)
A museum dedicated to Schwarzenegger's life opened in his childhood home in Thal.
Left office — term ended (Jan 3, 2011)
Reached term limit and left the Governor's office; returned focus to acting, activism and business.
Announced separation from Maria Shriver (May 9, 2011)
Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced separation amid revelations of an extramarital child.
Confirmed he fathered a child outside marriage (May 16, 2011)
Publicly confirmed he fathered a son, Joseph Baena, with the family's housekeeper; child was born in 1997.
Published memoir 'Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story' (Oct 2012)
Released autobiography co-written with Peter Petre recounting life, career and scandals.
Launched USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy (Aug 2012)
Institute launched to promote bipartisan solutions in education, environment, fiscal policy and political reform.
Return to leading film roles: The Last Stand & Escape Plan era (2013)
Starred in The Last Stand (2013) and co-starred with Stallone in Escape Plan (2013), continuing post-gubernatorial film career.
Executive producer and correspondent: 'Years of Living Dangerously' (2014)
Served as executive producer and correspondent on Emmy-winning climate change documentary series.
Returned to Terminator franchise: Terminator Genisys (2015)
Reprised iconic role in the 2015 franchise installment.
Hosted 'The New Celebrity Apprentice' (Jan–Mar 2017)
Took over as host of NBC reboot; show underperformed and he publicly ended ties in March 2017.
Successful open-heart surgery (Mar 29, 2018)
Underwent emergency open-heart surgery to replace a failed pulmonic valve replacement from 1997; recovered successfully.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Reprised role in another Terminator sequel that reunited original cast members.
Aortic valve replacement surgery (Oct 23, 2020)
Revealed he underwent a surgery to replace his aortic valve.
Netflix series 'FUBAR' and new projects (2023)
Headlined the Netflix series FUBAR, which became the platform's No.1 show soon after release; remained active in film and TV.
Published 'Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life' (2023)
Published a new book offering life/advice tools; continued public advocacy and climate initiatives.
Received honorary degree from Stockton University (2023)
Awarded an honorary degree in recognition of public service and achievements.
Pacemaker fitted (March 25, 2024)
Revealed on his podcast that he had a pacemaker fitted.
Films grossed over $5.4 billion worldwide (as reported)
Aggregate global box-office for films in which Schwarzenegger appeared exceeds $5.4 billion (figure cited in sources).
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