Schwarzenegger finally found his place in 1984’s “The Terminator,” where he stepped comfortably into the role of action star. The movie did so well that it received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a lot of good feedback from critics. Arnie played the role of a cybernetic assassin who was sent back in time from the year 2029 to 1984 to assassinate and destroy.
He grew his action-film prowess alongside other big stars like Sylvester Stallone during the 1980s, although Schwarzenegger’s roles were generally more comedic. Ironically, his European background did not deter filmmakers from repeatedly casting him as the all-American action hero, a position the public received very well!
An Unfaithful Past
Being in the public eye with such a famous physique may have attracted women to the super-strong Schwarzenegger, but unfortunately, it seemed that he was weak in his relationships and therefore had issues with commitment.
His ex-girlfriend, Barbara Outland Baker, discovered that Arnold was unfaithful during their relationship and later published a book sharing the scandal and illicit substance use, which was seen in "Pumping Iron." Schwarzenegger subtly fired back, saying that “sometimes Barbara’s recollection of events differs from my own.” Despite his backlashing self-defense, infidelity would later scar his life. Baker was not the only person who felt cheated by him either.
Taking Off
Like most aspiring award-winning actors, several years passed between Schwarzenegger’s first film and his Golden Globe Award in 1976. His acting career began to sizzle in 1982 when he was cast as the lead role in Conan in "Conan the Barbarian." The $20 million dollar movie grossed $68 million – not bad for the 80s.
Schwarzenegger did well enough in the film to be chosen for the 1984 sequel, "Conan the Destroyer," which unfortunately wasn’t as well-received as the first film. But the disappointing reception was soon to be forgotten as he was about to step into his most iconic role.
A Terminator Once Again
James Cameron was unsatisfied with just one blockbuster film and decided to expand the Terminator franchise. And, of course, given the success of the first film, Schwarzenegger reprised his role in the prequels. No one thought that the franchise would go on to produce a total of five “Terminator” movies but here we are.
He went on to star in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" in 1991, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" in 2003, "Terminator Genisys" in 2015, and "Terminator: Dark Fate" in 2019. You could certainly say that Cameron enjoyed working with him, and Schwarzenegger did not grow tired of the role!
Secret To Success
When asked about his success as an actor, Schwarzenegger had an uncomplicated approach; he said he chooses “movies people like to see. It’s that simple. You try to make sure the movies are memorable. Not just another movie." He continued, "You’ve got to have a feeling for hipness.
You milk certain lines. ‘Hasta la vista, baby,’ or, ‘I lied.’ You go a little over the top. People love it. Kids love it. And you do some athletic stuff, some fitness, and people think you’re cool.” His methods have certainly paid off well if you think about the success of his list of accolades!