BIOGRAPHIE

Arnold Schwarzenegger's keen determination and pursuit of excellence have brought him a broad range of career successes in athletic competition, film acting and direction and business ventures.
He has produced body building competitions in Columbus, Ohio for two decades and began the Annual Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic there in 1989. Continuous growth and popularity of the Schwarzenegger Classic led to the addition of a Fitness EXPO in 1993, the Ms. Fitness (R) World competition in 1994 and the Arnold Martial Arts Festival in 1996.

During President George Bush's administration he served as Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and is the author of numerous books on health and fitness. Schwarzenegger now chairs the Governor's Council of Physical Fitness in the state of California. Since 1979, he has served as the International Weight Training Coach for the Special Olympics. Beginning in 1991 he became involved in the Executive Commission of the Los Angeles Inner-City Games, a mini Olympics designed to help kids say "no" to drugs and violence and "yes" to fitness as a way of life. He sees athletics as a positive alternative to drugs for urban youth, a way to build self esteem, a way to learn goal setting and build camaraderie in a clean lifestyle. Schwarzenegger is now chairman of the Inner-City Games Foundation, a program that has expanded to 10 cities and is continuing to grow. In 1991 he received the Simon Wiesenthal Center's National Leadership Award for his support of the organization's Holocaust studies.

His blockbuster films include "The Terminator," "Terminator 2:Judgment Day," "Twins," "Total Recall" and "True Lies." Earlier films "Conan the Barbarian," and its sequel "Conan the Destroyer" earned him a devoted following. He is noted for his action adventure films as well as solid performances as a comic actor. In 1993 the National Association of Theater Owners named him "International Star of the Decade." His latest film, "Eraser," will be released in June.

During his early childhood in Graz, Austria, Schwarzenegger was encouraged by his father to become involved in athletics. At age 15 he discovered weight-lifting which led to the title of Mr. Universe at age 20, followed by an unprecedented 13 world body building titles. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1983.

A patron of the arts, he is a respected art collector. Schwarzenegger resides in Los Angeles with his wife, broadcast journalist Maria Shriver, and their three children, Katherine, Christina and Patrick.
 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the second of two sons born to Gustav, an Austrian police chief and his wife Aurelia. Arnold and his brother Meinhard were raised in a home void of luxuries such as running water and central heating, and from a young age he and his brother were reared with a sense of discipline by their strict father.
      It was while visiting a gym with the soccer team that Arnold first took an interest in the endeavors of weightlifting. That, along with a fondness for "Hercules" films, prompted him to become a regular at the gym. Aspiring to build up his frame, he spent several hours each week pushing both mind and body to the limit and beyond in his virtual zen-like quest to enhance his physique.
      Mandatory service in the Austrian army did not diminish his enthusiasm for bodybuilding, and even though his father hoped he would end his devotion to a sport which was viewed with skepticism and distain by many, Arnold was determined to stick it out. At one time he even went AWOL in order to compete in a contest. Eventually, the sport brought him to where he was able to realize his dream of movie stardom...America.
      He continued to train under the tutleage of fitness czar Joe Weider who was instrumental in getting Arnold his first role in a motion picture. Weider told producers that Schwarzenegger was a Shakespearean trained actor in Austria. Arnold got the part playing the son of Zeus in the low-budget camp effort entitled, "Hercules Goes Bananas". He was billed as Arnold Strong, because his name was something the filmmakers found difficulty in pronouncing, and his accented voice was dubbed. Basically, he had the physique but little else for the role. From there, Arnold racked up several victories in bodybuilding, and invested his contest winnings, along with earnings from a mail-order business he had set up, into real estate holdings. All this in the event that his dream of stardom was never realized, for Hollywood did not think that his long name, strange accent, and physique would be something which would draw filmgoers.
      Arnold did gain a bit more respect when he played--of all things--a gym regular who plays the fiddle (!) in Bob Rafelson's 1976 effort "Stay Hungry", appearing onscreen with the likes of Jeff Bridges and Sally Field. Schwarzenegger took home a Golden Globe for Best Male Actor in a film debut. He was also the subject of the documentary "Pumping Iron".
      For the next few years, Arnold kept himself busy with his mail-order business, business school, and becoming a big celebrity. As a celebrity, he was among the invited at the Robert Kennedy Memorial Tennis Tournament in 1977, where he and his court partner, football star Rosey Grier, met defeat at the hands of two young girls. It was there that he first met aspiring tele-journalist Maria Shriver, who has been quoted as saying, "I fell in love with him almost as soon as we met."
      In 1982, following a brief return to bodybuilding, Arnold played the title role in the highly anticipated adaptation of Robert Howard's "Conan the Barbarian." For preparation, Arnold and his co-stars learned the Japanese martial art of "kendo" and watched Akira Kurosowa films. Despite its R-rating, "Conan the Barbarian" was a big hit, and Arnold followed up its success with "Conan the Destroyer." He drew greater acclaim and breakout status as a cybernetic assassin in James Cameron's "The Terminator." Interestingly, it was originally intended that Arnold play hero Kyle Reese, but after reading the script Arnold thought the robotic nemesis was a much more interesting character. He wound up playing the Terminator, and his dead-pan delivery and ironically his accent, made the role unforgettable. Although a small hit at the box office, the film found a larger audience, and fanbase, once it hit video.
      It was during a trip to Austria with Maria, who by this time had found a niche as a reporter for CBS, that he proposed to her in a rowboat. Following their much publicized wedding in Hyannis, Mass., in 1986, Schwarzenegger went on to play a former G-man turned small town sherriff in "Raw Deal". Though many critics liked it, not many people saw it. His next forays were again in science-fiction and action, first as a soldier fighting a malevolent extraterrestrial in "John McTernan's "Predator", then as a convict participating in a Survivor-like game show in "The Running Man".
      Arnold's knack for humor was evident when he engaged in onscreen mayhem in the comedy "Twins" opposite Danny Devito. The film showed some serious box office muscle and it was Arnold's first film to make $100,000,000 at the box office. Arnold exercised his shrewd business savvy by signing on for a percentage of the gross as opposed to a huge up-front fee.
      Arnold was the embodiment of the American (a naturalized citizen since 1983) dream when he was appointed by President Bush to chair the President's Council on Physical Fitness, traveling to schools throughout the country to check on their physical education programs and at times finding none existed. He also became instrumental in implementing athletic programs for inner city children, and for years has helped with the Special Olympics, which mother-in- law, Eunice, founded. He also became partners with fellow action stars Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis in the business venture of the Planet Hollywood restaurants.
      Shortly after the release of "Jingle All the Way," Arnold underwent elective heart-valve replacement surgery. But he recovered in time to make the rounds promoting his efforts as the villain Mr. Freeze in Joel Schumaccher's "Batman and Robin".
      Despite the lackluster domestic box office performances of his recent efforts, "End of Days" and "The Sixth Day," Arnold is still a sizable draw at the box office and his films often are popular releases on video and DVD.
      His devotion to notable causes have earned him accolades from the Simon Wiesenthal Center among other organizations. Arnold is highly regarded as a true professional in the world of cinema and no doubt is a true professional personally as he has enjoyed a rather lengthy marriage, by Hollywood standards, and has four children.

Vital Stats Full Name: Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger Birthday: July 30, 1947 Height: 6' 2" Eyes: Green Occupations: Bodybuilder, Actor, Business Owner, Director, Father, Husband, Humanitarian, Coolest Guy on the Planet! Hobbies: Skiing, smoking stogies, biking, swimming, drawing, pottery, scuba diving, travelling, horseback riding, skeet shooting, collecting art.
Schwarzenegger. The name itself seems to be the definition of manliness, coolness, and action, and there¹s hardly a person in the entire world who doesn¹t know it. For most, all you need to do is say "Ah-nuld" in your best Austiran accent, and the next thing you¹ll hear is an utterance of his signature phrase: "I¹ll be back!"
I made this web site devoted to the Austrian Oak so that his fans can stock up on info about him that they might not have known before, which will hopefully cause them to truly appreciate and admire his life and achievements even more. Arnold Schwarzenegger is not only a movie action hero, but he is a true model of the American Dream, a role model for anyone who wants to achieve their dreams. He is also a fitness expert, an artist, a brilliant businessman, a loving family man, and in the future, maybe even a politician. Of course, he always knew this would happen.
	Ever since he was a little boy growing up in Graz, Austria, he knew that he was destined for big things. After tiring of soccer and other team sports, he discovered the world of bodybuilding, and fell in love with it. Here was a sport where he was the only one on a team, it¹s just his own will to train that made his muscles grow, and he would have sole credit for his hard work. He would get together with other bodybuilders and learn how to lift weights, exercise, and eat for maximum muscle, and he couldn¹t get enough. When his parents told him he couldn¹t go to the gym every day, he set up his own gym in the house. He had already set his goal‹he wanted to be the best bodybuilder in the world. Then he figured he would move to America and become a film star, like his early role model, Reg Park. There was not any question about it, he would just do whatever it took to make his dream happen. And he was only 16 at the time.
Soon he was on his way. He won his first competition, Mr. Europe Junior, when he was 18. He had gone AWOL from his post in the Austrian Army in order to do it. That got people¹s attention, and before he knew it, he was on his way to the Mr. Universe conetest in London. He received 2nd place that time, but never again. He knew he would have to train longer and harder to beat those guys, and the next year, he came back and did just that. After winning Mr. Universe 3 years in a row, he knew what he had to do next‹he had to win the Mr. Olympia title, and then he would be the best bodybuilder in the world. In 1970, he went to America, won the Mr. World title in Columbus, Ohio, and finally won the Mr. Olympia title, beating out his opponent Sergio Olivia in both competitions.
His success in bodybuilding paved the way for him to reach his next goal, becoming a movie star. His first role was in a low budget film called Hercules in New York, in which he played Hercules, just as his idol Reg Park had. He was billed as Arnold Strong and had his voice dubbed over because the producers felt his accent made his lines incomprehensible. The film was a forgettable B movie, but it made him realize that in order to achieve this goal, he would have to develop his speaking and acting skills with the same intensity that he used to develop his muscles. So he got help from voice trainers and acting teachers, and when he landed the role of a bodybuilder in Stay Hungry with Jeff Bridges and Sally Field, his work paid off and he won a Golden Globe award for Best Newcomer in 1976. This was followed by an equally compelling performance as himself in the documentary Pumping Iron, which followed his road to winning Mr. Olympia for the 6th time in a row.
Pumping Iron was well received by critics, and Arnold¹s natural charisma gained the attention of many people in Hollywood. After getting some bit parts and roles that did not showcase his acting so well, he finally scored a hit as the title character in Conan the Barbarian. Director John Milius made it seem like Conan was modeled after Arnold himself, and created an epic tale that is still revered by Arnold fans today. It was followed by a hokier sequel that didn¹t do so well, but then came the role that gave Arnold his trademark: James Cameron¹s The Terminator. This movie made Schwarzenegger and "I¹ll be back" a household phrase. Who can argue with Arnold playing the ultimate cyborg killing machine? We all know that Arnold always keeps his word. He was back again and again in movies like Commando, Predator, and The Running Man that cemented his status as action hero. Then he decided to try comedy and succeeded at that with Twins in 1988, which became his highest grossing film to date. The 90¹s then saw more blockbusters like Total Recall, Kindergarten Cop, True Lies, and of course, the mother of all sequels, T2. He even tried his hand at directing with an episode of Tales From the Crypt and a TV remake of Christmas in Connecticuit.
	Not only did Arnold achieve his biggest goals, but he also managed to get married and start a family in the middle of it all. He married TV journalist Maria Shriver in 1986 and they now have four children: Christina, Patrick, Katherine, and Christopher. Unlike most celebrity marriages you hear about, this one remains as strong as Arnold¹s biceps, because he is a loving father and husband, and no matter how busy he gets with movies and business, he always makes time for them. Yet another reason to admire The Oak.
Something else not everyone knows is that Arnold went to college at the University of Wisconsin where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with an individualized major in international marketing of fitness and business administration in 1979. Later, in 1996, they bestowed him with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree to acknowledge his charitable work with children, including the creation of the Inner-City Games. This organization was made to help inner city children stay off the streets and feel good about themselves through staying in shape, and has grown to include many cities accross the country. Arnold was the head of President Bush¹s (Sr.) Fitness Council during his term in office. He was also an owner of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, which became the first themed restaurant to compete with Hard Rock, and opened locations all over the world. However, when business started to falter and PH filed for Chapter 11 in 1999 to reorganize, Arnold decided that he would no longer be involved with it financially. He also started his own restaurant in Santa Monica called Schatzi on Main, which features authentic Austrian food and atmosphere. His good friend Charly Temmel manages it, and Arnold frequently stops by for lunch or for the monthly cigar night that has become a premiere attraction.
Even though Arnold does not compete in bodybuilding any more, he stays involved in a big way with the Arnold Classic. It is a bodybuilding competition and fitness expo that takes place in Columbus, Ohio (my hometown!) every year in March, and it draws crowds of thousands, due in no small part to the fact that Arnold himself is present at every event during the weekend, and even makes a point to walk through the exhibit halls to personally greet his fans and guests. It is a phenomenal event that grows in size every year.
My version of Arnold¹s life is merely a short glimpse of the highlights that shows you where this incredible man came from and what he has achieved by sheer will and determination. Every time people have said his career is over, he comes back even bigger than before, or he finds something new to succeed at. And he inspires us all to do the same. Arnold will always be an idol for me, because he is a true hero in every way. If you¹re interested in more details about Arnold¹s life, you must read Arnold: Education of a Bodybuilder. It¹s the Oak¹s life in his own words!

The Complete List of Arnold's Bodybuilding Titles
		1963 Steirer Hof Competition (Graz, Austria) **runner up** 1965 Junior Mr. Europe (Germany) 1966 Best-Built Athlete of Europe (Germany) 1966 International Powerlifting Championship (Germany) 1966 Mr. Europe - amateur (Germany) 1966 NABBA Mr. Universe - amateur (London, England) 1967 NABBA Mr. Universe - amateur (London, England) 1968 German Powerlifting Championship (Germany) 1968 IFBB Mr. International (Tijuana, Mexican) 1968 NABBA Mr. Universe - professional (London, England) 1968 IFBB Mr. Universe (Miami, Florida) **tall class winner - lost to Frank Zane**
		1969 IFBB Mr. Universe (New York, New York) 1969 IFBB Mr. Olympia (New York, New York) **2nd place to Sergio Olivia** 1969 NABBA Mr. Universe - professional (London, England) 1969 IFBB Mr. Europe - professional (Germany) 1970 NABBA Mr. Universe - professional (London, England) 1970 AAU Pro Mr. World (Columbus, Ohio) 1970 IFBB Mr. Olympia (New York, New York) 1971 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Paris, France) 1972 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Essen, Germany) 1973 IFBB Mr. Olympia (New York, New York) 1974 IFBB Mr. Olympia (New York, New York) 1975 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Pretoria, South Africa) 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Sydney)
		Peak Form Measurements Arms : Chest: Waist: Thighs: Calves: Weight: Height:	22 inches 57 inches 34 inches 28.5 inches 20 inches 235 pounds 6 feet 2 inches