Written by Ron Harris
29 February 2016

16arnoldfiles-1

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Files

Milestones in The Life of an Icon

 

1947: Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is born in Thal, Austria to Gustav Schwarzenegger, the local police chief and his wife, Aurelia.

1960: Arnold has his first experience with weight training when his soccer coach takes him to a local gym.

1962: Former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul takes Arnold under his wing and teaches him how to train like a bodybuilder.

1965: While serving his mandatory year in the Austrian army, 18-year-old Arnold goes AWOL to compete in and win the Junior Mr. Europe. He is sentenced to one week in military prison as a result.

1967: At age 20, Arnold becomes the youngest man to win the amateur NABBA Mr. Universe contest in London. He would go on to win it in the pro division three more times.

1968: In September, Arnold moves to Los Angeles under the sponsorship of Joe Weider. He is taken to Vince’s Gym in Studio City, where the 21-year-old is called a “fat fuck” by the irascible Vince Gironda. From there he settles into Gold’s Gym in Venice, where he befriends owner Joe Gold. They would remain close friends until Joe’s death in 2004.

1969: Arnold enters his first Mr. Olympia contest, and takes second to reigning champion Sergio Oliva. It would be the last time Schwarzenegger would ever be beaten.

1970: Arnold wins his first of six consecutive and seven total Mr. O titles, and also has his first starring role in the film “Hercules in New York.” He is billed as Arnold Strong, and his heavily accented voice is dubbed over by an American actor.

This was also the year Arnold met Jim Lorimer, who was promoting the AAU Mr. World contest in Columbus, Ohio. So impressed was he with Lorimer’s organizational abilities that Schwarzenegger vowed to join him in promoting events once he retired from competition. Their first co-promotion would be the 1976 Mr. Olympia in Columbus.

1975: After winning his sixth Mr. Olympia title, Arnold announces his retirement onstage in South Africa. Shooting has wrapped on “Pumping Iron,” which won’t be released for two more years, but he has also completed filming for his first serious dramatic role in “Stay Hungry” with Jeff Bridges and Sally Field, released in 1976. Arnold would win a Golden Globe for “Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture" for his portrayal of bodybuilder Joe Santo.

1980: While shooting for “Conan the Barbarian” is being delayed, Arnold secretly decides to enter the Mr. Olympia competition one more time. His competitors believe he is in Sydney to provide TV commentary, and are not pleased when he joins them onstage. It would be Arnold’s seventh and final Mr. Olympia win, and by far his most controversial. Many who were there had Arnold as low as fourth or fifth place, and the outcome is still debated over 35 years later.

1983: Schwarzenegger becomes a U.S. citizen, yet also retains his Austrian citizenship, though dual citizenships were previously unheard of in Austria.

1984:“The Terminator” is released and is a box-office smash. Arnold would go on to become the highest-grossing action star of the decade.

1986: On April 26, Arnold marries Maria Shriver, niece of the late John F. Kennedy, thus becoming part of one of the most powerful families in U.S. history. They would go on to have four children: Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher. Arnold and Maria separated in 2011 and finalized their divorce in late 2014.

1989: Together with Jim Lorimer, Arnold promotes the first Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Columbus. Rich Gaspari becomes the first champion. Over time, the event would evolve into the Arnold Sports Festival, featuring dozens of sports, tens of thousands of athletes and a mammoth expo.

1990: President George H.W. Bush appoints Arnold to be Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which he would serve as for three years.

1991: Arnold and Maria open their restaurant, Schatzi on Main in Santa Monica, California, featuring traditional German food. For years, Arnold hosted a monthly cigar night for his fellow celebrity friends.

2003: After a recall election to remove California Governor Gray Davis, Arnold becomes the 38th governor of California and the first foreign-born man to hold that office since 1862. He was re-elected in 2006 and would remain in office until January 2011. In reference to his most famous movie role, the Republican was often referred to as “The Governator.”

2011: The Arnold Classic goes international, with the debut of the Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid, Spain. In 2013, the Arnold Classic Brasil was added, and 2015 marks the first year it expanded to Australia as well.

 

DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE ON THE MD FORUM

Related Articles