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Born in Thal bei Graz, Steiermark, Austria
July 30, 1947
Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, a small village bordering the Styrian capital Graz, and was christened Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger. As a boy, Schwarzenegger played many sports — heavily influenced by his father. He picked up his first barbell in 1960, when his football coach took his team to a local gym. At the age of 14, Schwarzenegger chose bodybuilding over football as a career.
Joins Austrian Army
August 1, 1965
Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian army in 1965, to fulfill the one year of service required at the time of all 18-year-old Austrian males. He also won the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965.
Youngest Ever "Mr Universe"
July 1, 1967
He would win the title for the first time in 1967 (he invented new exercises to separate and define his muscle groups), becoming the youngest ever Mr. Universe at the age of 20. He would go on to win the title a further four times.
An Illegal Immigrant
July 1, 1968
Schwarzenegger may have been an illegal immigrant at some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s, by violating the terms of his visa.
Moved to the United States
September 5, 1968
Schwarzenegger moved to the United States in September 1968 at the age of 21, speaking little English. "Naturally, when I came to this country, my English was very bad, and my accent was also very strong, which was an obstacle as I began to pursue acting."
Barbara Outland Baker
January 1, 1969 - January 1, 1974
In 1969, Schwarzenegger met Barbara Outland Baker, an English teacher he lived with until 1974. Schwarzenegger talked about Barbara in his memoir in 1977. The couple first met six to eight months after his arrival in the U.S. — their first date was watching the first Apollo Moon landing on television.
Hercules in New York
Feburary 25, 1970
In 1970, Arnold Schwarzenegger was known as the World's Strongest Man.
He was nevertheless chosen to play the role of Hercules (as both Reg Park and Steve Reeves had done) in Hercules in New York
Mr. Olympia
June 1, 1970 - May 2, 1975
Schwarzenegger's goal was to become the greatest bodybuilder in the world, which meant becoming Mr. Olympia. His first attempt was in 1969, when he lost to three-time champion Sergio Oliva. However, Schwarzenegger came back in 1970 and won the competition making him the youngest ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record he still holds to this day. After being declared Mr. Olympia for a sixth consecutive time, Schwarzenegger retired from competition.
The Long Goodbye
March 7, 1973
His second film appearance was as a deaf and mute hit-man for the mob in director Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye.
Schwarzenegger Admits Using Steroids
April 2, 1974
Schwarzenegger has admitted to using performance-enhancing anabolic steroids while they were legal, writing in 1967 that "steroids were helpful to me in maintaining muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting up." He has called the drugs "tissue building."
Weed Smoking Incident
November 9, 1975
After being crowned Mr. Olympia for the 6th consecutive time, Arnold announces his retirement from competition. He is shown celebrating his victory by smoking marijuana, eating fried chicken and birthday cake; potentially the most taboo combination in Bodybuilding.
Pumping Iron
January 18, 1977
Months before the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore persuaded Schwarzenegger to compete, in order to film his training in the bodybuilding documentary called Pumping Iron.
Awarded a Golden Globe
January 29, 1977
He was awarded a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star as a significant part in the film Stay Hungry.
Sue Moray
July 1, 1977
Schwarzenegger met his next love, Sue Moray, a Beverly Hills hairdresser's assistant, on Venice Beach in July 1977. Schwarzenegger met Maria Shriver at the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in August 1977, and went on to have a relationship with both women until August 1978, when Moray (who knew of his relationship with Shriver) issued an ultimatum.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
June 1, 1979
He earned a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he graduated Business and International Economics in 1979.
The Villain
July 27, 1979
Arnold also appeared with Kirk Douglas and Ann-Margret in the 1979 comedy The Villain.
Out of Retirement To Compete
June 1, 1980
Schwarzenegger came out of retirement, however, to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia.[5] Schwarzenegger was training for his role in Conan, and he got into such good shape because of the running, horseback riding, and sword training, that he decided he wanted to win the Mr. Olympia contest one last time.
Conan the Barbarian
May 14, 1982
Schwarzenegger's breakthrough film was the "mythical epic" Conan the Barbarian in 1982, which was a box-office hit.
"Carnival in Rio"
April 5, 1983
In 1983, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video "Carnival in Rio".
Conan the Destroyer
June 29, 1984
Conan the Barbarian was followed by a sequel, Conan the Destroyer in 1984, which performed disappointingly.[30] Later, he appeared on the cover of High Times magazine dressed as "Conan The Barbarian."
The Terminator
October 26, 1984
As an actor, he may be best known as the title character of director James Cameron's influential science-fiction film The Terminator (1984) and its sequels.
Red Sonja
July 3, 1985
Following The Terminator, Schwarzenegger made Red Sonja in 1985, which "sank without a trace."
Commando
October 4, 1985
A retired elite commando has only a few hours to find and rescue his daughter from an exiled dictator. One of Schwarzenegger's successful films.
Stop the Madness
December 11, 1985
n 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in Stop the Madness, an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration.
Marries Maria Shriver
April 26, 1986 - Now
On April 26, 1986, Schwarzenegger married television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of the past President of the United States John F. Kennedy in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The Rev. John Baptist Riordan performed the ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. The couple have four children.
Raw Deal
June 6, 1986
Mark Kaminsky is kicked out of the FBI for his rough treatment of a suspect. He winds up as the sheriff of a small town in North Carolina...
Predator
June 12, 1987
In Predator (1987), another successful film, Schwarzenegger led a cast which included future Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura (Ventura also appeared in The Running Man and Batman & Robin with Schwarzenegger) and future Kentucky Gubernatorial candidate Sonny Landham.
Red Heat
June 17, 1988
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a Russian policeman sent after a Russian drug dealer who has escaped to the United States and is awaiting extradition in Chicago. Jim Belushi plays his temporary partner on the Chicago police. When the drug dealer escapes, the two police must overcome their differences in order to recapture him.
Twins
December 9, 1988
A comedy with Danny DeVito. A physically perfect, but innocent, man goes in search of his twin brother, who is a short small-time crook.
Tales from the Crypt
April 21, 1990
Schwarzenegger had a brief foray into directing, first with a 1990 episode of the TV series Tales from the Crypt, entitled "The Switch".
Total Recall
June 1, 1990
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 (based on the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale").
First Political Appointment
November 1, 1990 - November 1, 1993
Schwarzenegger's first political appointment was as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, on which he served from 1990 to 1993.
Kindergarten Cop
December 21, 1990
A tough cop is given his most difficult assignment: masquerade as a a kindergarten teacher in order to find a drug dealer. Kindergarten Cop (1990) was another comedy which reunited him with director Ivan Reitman, who also directed him in Twins.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
July 3, 1991
Schwarzenegger's critical and commercial high-water mark was the 1991 sequel to his 1984 hit The Terminator: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and surpassed the original film's success.
Bought the First Hummer
March 1, 1992
He bought the first Hummer manufactured for civilian use in 1992, a model so large, 6,300 lb (2900 kg) and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide, that it is classified as a large truck and U.S. fuel economy regulations do not apply to it.
Christmas in Connecticut
April 13, 1992
Also directed the 1992 telemovie Christmas in Connecticut.
He has not directed since.
"International Star of the Decade"
Feburary 1, 1993
In 1993, the National Association of Theatre Owners named him the "International Star of the Decade."
Last Action Hero
June 18, 1993
He also made a mark for injecting his films with a droll, often self-deprecating sense of humor (including sometimes famously bad puns), setting him apart from more serious action heroes such as Sylvester Stallone. Schwarzenegger's alternative-universe comedy/thriller Last Action Hero featured a poster of the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day which, in that alternate universe, had Sylvester Stallone as its star.
True Lies
July 15, 1994
Schwarzenegger's career never again achieved quite the same prominence, his aura of box-office invincibility suffering, although his next film, the action comedy True Lies (1994) was a highly popular send-up of spy films, and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with director James Cameron, whose own career had taken off with The Terminator.
Junior
November 23, 1994
Shortly thereafter came another comedy: Junior (1994), which reunited him with Twins director Ivan Reitman once again as well as co-star Danny DeVito. This film also brought Schwarzenegger his second Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy.
Eraser
June 21, 1996
A Witness Protection specialist becomes suspicious of his co-workers when dealing with a case involving high-tech weapons.
Batman and Robin
June 20, 1997
He played the villain Mr. Freeze. This was his final film before taking time to recuperate from a back injury. Following the failure of Batman & Robin, Schwarzenegger's film career and box office prominence went into decline.
Schwarzenegger Sues Dr.
Feburary 2, 1999
In 1999, Schwarzenegger sued Dr. Willi Heepe, a German doctor who publicly predicted an early death for the bodybuilder, based on a link between steroid use and later heart problems. Schwarzenegger also sued and settled with The Globe, a U.S. tabloid which had made similar predictions about the bodybuilder's future health.
End of Days
November 24, 1999
He returned after a hiatus with the supernatural thriller End of Days.
The 6th Day
November 17, 2000
Futuristic action about a man who meets a clone of himself and stumbles into a grand conspiracy about clones taking over the world. Schwarzenegger starred in the film, The 6th Day.
Broke Six Ribs
December 9, 2001
Previously, on December 9, 2001, he broke six ribs and was hospitalized for four days after a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles.
Collateral Damage
Feburary 8, 2002
After his family is killed by a terrorist act, a firefighter goes in search of the one responsible. Schwarzenegger starred in this film, Collateral Damage.
Schwarzenegger Announces his Candidacy
August 6, 2003
Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the 2003 California recall election for Governor of California on the August 6, 2003 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Schwarzenegger Becomes Governor of California
October 7, 2003
On October 7, 2003, the recall election resulted in Governor Gray Davis being removed from office with 55.4% of the Yes vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot.
He was the first foreign-born governor in California history since Ireland-born Governor John G. Downey in 1862.
Saved a Life
April 9, 2004
He saved a drowning man's life in 2004 while on vacation in Hawaii by swimming out and bringing him back to shore.
2004 Republican National Convention
August 30, 2004
At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Schwarzenegger gave a speech and explained why he was a Republican.
Motorcycle Accident
January 8, 2006
On January 8, 2006, while riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, with his son Patrick in the sidecar, another driver backed into the street he was riding on, causing him and his son to collide with the car at a low speed. While his son and the other driver were unharmed, the governor sustained a minor injury to his lip, forcing him to get 15 stitches.
Skiing Accident
December 23, 2006
Schwarzenegger broke his right femur while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho with his family on December 23, 2006.[67] He tripped over his ski pole on Lower Warm Springs run on Bald Mountain, an 'easy' or green level run. He is an expert level skier.
Schwarzenegger's 60th birthday
July 30, 2007
People in Thal bei Graz celebrated Schwarzenegger's 60th birthday by throwing a party. Officials proclaimed "A Day for Arnold" on July 30, 2007. Thal 145, the number of the house where Schwarzenegger was born, belonged to Schwarzenegger and nobody will ever be assigned to that number.
United States Senate
November 1, 2010
It is rumored that Schwarzenegger might run for the United States Senate in 2010 (he will be term-limited then), if incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer retires.
