Few movie stars became as famous and influential as Arnold Schwarzenegger and his on-screen persona, ‘The Terminator’. The Austrian born movie star is renowned for his action films, often portraying a futuristic robot or cyborg, and is considered one of the “greatest living movie stars”. In 1982, he was the first movie star to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as part of an annual tradition which continues to this day. Since then, Arnold Schwarzenegger has become an iconic figure in American popular culture, appearing in several iconic sports films and endorsing numerous products. In 2019, Forbes ranked him as the 66th most powerful celebrity in the world.
Arnold’s Body Evolution
Arnold Schwarzenegger first gained international recognition as the T-800 in the sci-fi classic ‘The Terminator’, which was released in 1979. Since then, the Austrian actor has become arguably the greatest action movie star of all time. In addition to his work in films, Arnold has published several books and penned a column for The New York Times. In 1981, he began hosting a successful talk show, ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Bodybuilding & Dieting TV Show’, which aired in over 150 countries and was translated into 20 languages. In 2014, Arnold celebrated his 50th year in show business, which was celebrated by the people who loved and supported him through the years – attendees at various Arnold Classic bodybuilding competitions.
Pattinson’s Body Evolution
After spending a majority of his 20s in the bodybuilding world, James Pattinson, the actor best known for portraying hunchback Erik in the ‘Twilight’ films, successfully transitioned into the mainstream Hollywood scene. In 2019, Pattinson was ranked as the 4th most powerful celebrity by Forbes, due in part to his participation in the popular Netflix series, ‘The Highwaymen’. The actor has also appeared in several big-budget Hollywood productions, including ‘Black Widow’ (2019) and ‘Death on the Nile’ (2020), and was recently seen playing Jack the Ripper in the Netflix series, ‘The Hunt’, directed by Gavin O’Connor. Aside from acting, James has a background in fashion, working as a brand ambassador for a number of high-profile fashion companies, including Marc Jacobs, Emporio Armani, and Stella McCartney.
The Terminator franchise proved to be such a success that a second movie, ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991), was swiftly followed by a third movie, ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’ (2003) and a fourth, ‘Terminator Salvation’ (2009). These days, Arnold rarely gives interviews, spending most of his time managing his vast personal brand, but he continues to be an active presence on social media, using his nearly 14 million followers to promote his various products and venture capital investments. He also continues to be a prominent voice in the international fitness arena, hosting numerous bodybuilding competitions worldwide, most notably, the Arnold Sports Festival, which is held annually in his hometown, and the Arnold Classic, an annual bodybuilding tournament, which features some of the world’s top professional bodybuilders.
Bodybuilding Rivals
While Arnold has spent most of his time promoting health and fitness, his bodybuilding competitions have become increasingly competitive. In 2019, Arnold announced the creation of his own brand, ‘Arnold Worldwide’, which will see him invest in and sponsor numerous bodybuilding competitions around the world. These days, Arnold’s most loyal fans follow him on his social media platforms, where he regularly posts about bodybuilding and dieting, as well as his various investments. In July 2020, Arnold made his first acquisition through the new brand, purchasing the rights to stage bodybuilding competitions in Turkey.
80s Vs. 90s
It’s no secret that Arnold’s ‘classic’ action movies – the kind that make him a household name – were a big hit in the 1980s. The actor was considered “unfilmable” before ‘The Terminator’ and is credited with changing the landscape of movie drama, paving the way for big-budget summer blockbusters. With a string of sequels and prequels in the works, there’s plenty more Schwarzenegger to come in the future. In the meantime, we can marvel at how far he’s come, from his original breakout role in ‘The Terminator’, to his present day position as one of the most highly regarded action movie stars of all time.