On July 30, 1947, a wee child, not yet laden with well-oiled muscles, was born in the tiny town of Thal, Austria. The son of the local police chief, he took a burgeoning interest in fitness, spending time competing small competitions. Little did he know that one day he'd be a movie star, a body buidling sensation, the governor of California, and a member of the Kennedy family by marriage. So how did the Governator rise to such chiseled affluency?
Well, he started by migrating to the U.S. at 21 without a penny to his name. His career launched with the popularity of body building, and he quickly became a national sensation. The entirety of the 70s was spent winning worldwide titles, inspiring gym memberships, and making "Ahh-nold" a household name.
Eventually he was cast in a low-budget movie called Hercules in New York, which caught the eye of other big-time directors. After starring alongside Jeff Bridges and Sally Field in Stay Hungry (and winning a Golden Globe for his role), it was official: He'd made it.
Most of Schwarzenegger's initial roles were relatively similar: A chiseled tough guy who was capable of fixing or saving anything did just that, all while not wearing a shirt. Hollywood soon realized he was a great actor, too, and he started landing roles in comedies like Twins and Jingle All the Way.
The Terminator films remain some of the highest grossing of all time, but Arnold didn't want to stop his career at acting.
He ran for governor of California, of course! The governator had a successful stint in politics, but sadly ended his 28-year marriage after it was discovered that he'd cheated on his wife and fathered a child with another woman.
One thing we can all learn from Arnold's career, though? You never know what will happen next.
Especially when you look like this.
