ARNIE THE GREAT

Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to move from bodybuilding into a career in acting, as had done many of his idols, such as Reg Park. Initially he had trouble moving to films due to his long surname, large muscles, and foreign accent, but was eventually chosen to play the role of Hercules in Hercules in New York (1970).

Credited under the name Arnold Strong, his accent in the film was so thick that his lines had to be dubbed after production. His second film appearance was as a deaf and mute hitman for the mob in director Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye (1973), which was followed by a much more significant part in the film Stay Hungry (1976), for which he was awarded a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star.

Schwarzenegger came to the attention of more people in the documentary Pumping Iron (1977).

In 1991, Schwarzenegger purchased the rights to this film, its outtakes, and associated still photography.

Arnold also appeared with Kirk Douglas and Ann Margaret in the comedy, The Villain (1979). Schwarzenegger's breakthrough film was Conan the Barbarian (1982), and this was cemented by a sequel, Conan the Destroyer (1984). As an actor, he is best-known as the title character of director James Cameron's android thriller The Terminator (1984). He also made a mark for injecting his films with a droll, often self-deprecating sense of humor, setting him apart from more serious action heroes.

He made a number of successful films Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), and Red Heat (1988). In Predator (1987), another successful film, Schwarzenegger led a cast which included future Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and future Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate Sonny Landham. Twins, (1988) a comedy with Danny DeVito, was a change of pace. Total Recall (1990), at that time the most expensive film ever, netted Schwarzenegger $10 million and 15% of the gross, and was a widely praised, thought-provoking science-fiction script behind his usual violent action. Kindergarten Cop (1990) was another comedy.

Schwarzenegger had a brief foray into directing, first with a 1990 episode of the TV series Tales from the Crypt, entitled The Switch, and then with the 1992 telemovie Christmas in Connecticut.

Schwarzenegger's critical and commercial high-water mark was Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991). His next film project, the self-aware action comedy Last Action Hero, (1993).True Lies (1994) was a highly popular sendup of spy films, and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with director James Cameron, whose own career had taken off with The Terminator.
Shortly thereafter came Junior, which brought Schwarzenegger his second Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy. Next came Eraser (1996), and Batman & Robin (1997), his final film before taking time to recuperate from a back injury.

Several film projects were announced with Schwarzenegger attached to star including the remake of Planet of the Apes, a new film version of I Am Legend and a World War II film scripted by Quentin Tarantino that would have seen Schwarzenegger finally play an Austrian.
He returned with End of Days (1999),The 6th Day (2000) and Collateral Damage (2002). In 2003 he starred in the popularly received Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines, which went on to earn over $150 million domestically. His latest film appearances included a cameo appearance in The Rundown with The Rock and the 2004 remake of Around the World in 80 Days. His latest appearance was a cameo as the Governator, a Hummer H1, in the 2006 Pixar film Cars.
There are however conflicting reports that Schwarzenegger will be starring in the next Terminator installment - Terminator 4.