ACTOR · BORN 1947
Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Born
- 30 July 1947, Thal, Styria, Austria
- Known for
- The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Predator (1987), Terminator Genisys (2015)
99 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Parents and Children: 17 Family Facts
- #007
While filming Total Recall (1990), Schwarzenegger noticed that Michael Ironside was constantly on the phone. When he asked about it, he learned that Ironside's sister had cancer. Arnold immediately took Michael to his trailer and held a three-way phone call with his sister, explaining which exercises she should do and which foods she should eat. Ironside never forgot Schwarzenegger's kindness, an act that showed he was not only an action star but also an empathetic person.
- #014
In his youth, his family feared he might be gay because he admired bodybuilders. His mother, Aurelia, called a doctor, thinking that her son had "gone down the wrong path" because of the glossy photos of men on his bedroom walls. The episode shows how bodybuilding was perceived in society at the time and his family's worries, and Schwarzenegger's later achievements proved his family's misjudgment wrong.
- #018
Schwarzenegger underwent a procedure called genioplasty to have his chin set back. The procedure made his facial features more balanced and changed his appearance, and the surgery helped him adapt to a wider range of roles in his film career. The detail is an example of the cosmetic interventions celebrities undergo to change their appearance.
- #021
Arnold Schwarzenegger and his 11-year-old son Patrick were injured in a traffic accident when a car struck Arnold's motorcycle; Patrick was in a basket at the time. Arnold received 15 stitches. The accident is recorded as one of the dangerous moments in his life, though fortunately neither of them suffered serious harm.
- #023
Arnold Schwarzenegger was a close friend of WWE Hall of Famer André René Roussimoff. André was a wrestler known for his giant stature and shared similar physical traits with Schwarzenegger. Their friendship grew out of shared experiences and mutual respect, and it shows that Schwarzenegger built connections not only in cinema but also in the world of sports.
- #032
Arnold Schwarzenegger underwent heart surgery to correct a congenital heart valve condition. The operation shows his struggle with health problems; it was successful and he recovered his health. The episode shows that he drew attention not only for his physical strength but also for his determination in dealing with health issues.
- #038
Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, is a niece of the late President John F. Kennedy and of Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. The connection strengthened Schwarzenegger's relationship with the Kennedy family and was also influential in his political career, raising his status in society.
- #040
Arnold Schwarzenegger's father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, nicknamed him "Cinderella" as a child, and his older brother Meinhard constantly harassed him while they were growing up. Both men died while driving under the influence of alcohol. These tragic events show the difficulties in his family life and shaped his character and outlook on life.
- #049
In his childhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger saw John Wayne as his idol and role model. As Governor of California, he issued a proclamation declaring May 26, 2007, "John Wayne Day" in the state. The move showed his admiration for John Wayne and his respect for Wayne's legacy, and revealed how his personal values carried over into his political decisions.
- #050
The Austrian Green Party decided that Arnold Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship should be revoked because of his support for the death penalty. This shows how controversial his views on capital punishment were, and the decision affected his relationship with his home country. His stance on the issue is seen as part of his political position.
- #058
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the second governor in California history to have been born in a foreign country. California's 7th governor, John Downey, was born in Ireland and served from 1860 to 1862. This shows Schwarzenegger's significance as a politician of immigrant origin and puts his achievement in historical context as highly unusual.
- #059
In 2011, it emerged that Arnold Schwarzenegger had fathered a son out of wedlock with Mildred Patricia Baena, the housekeeper of the Schwarzenegger/Shriver family. Schwarzenegger did not know he was the father of Baena's child until the boy began to walk and increasingly resembled him. Joseph Baena was born just five days after Maria Shriver gave birth to Christopher, Schwarzenegger's fourth child, so the children grew up together in the same house. Schwarzenegger explained the out-of-wedlock child to his wife, and the affair led to the end of his marriage.
- #068
Arnold Schwarzenegger's children with Maria Shriver are Katherine Schwarzenegger (b. 13 December 1989), Christina Schwarzenegger (C. Maria Aurelia S.) (b. 23 July 1991), Patrick Schwarzenegger (b. 18 September 1993) and Christopher Sargent Shriver Schwarzenegger (b. 27 September 1997). He is also the father of Joseph Baena (b. 2 October 1997) with Mildred Patricia Baena, who was the family's housekeeper until 2011. This family structure shows the complexity of his private life.
- #070
Arnold Schwarzenegger's life bears a strange resemblance to that of Conan in Conan the Barbarian (1982). Conan was born in a small village and became a physically powerful man through years of slavery; after winning great fame as a gladiator he became devoted to wine and women, but later rejected that hedonistic lifestyle and, through great heroic deeds, finally became king. Arnold was born in a small Austrian town and began lifting weights as he grew up; after achieving success as a bodybuilder he struggled against drug and alcohol use and eventually became Governor of California. The parallel shows how closely his life matches that of a fictional character.
- #073
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the father-in-law of the famous actor Chris Pratt. Pratt joined the family by marrying Schwarzenegger's daughter Katherine. The bond brought two major Hollywood names closer together and has led the pair to be seen together from time to time; the family ties marked a new period in both actors' careers.
- #076
Arnold Schwarzenegger received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he graduated, for his charity work. The honor shows that he is appreciated not only as an actor and politician but also as an individual who contributes to society. The university honored his achievements and philanthropy in this way.
- #082
In 2017, after the violent clashes between white supremacists and anti-racism groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, Schwarzenegger donated $100,000 to an anti-hate charity. The donation demonstrated his sensitivity to social issues and his stance against hate speech. With this move, Schwarzenegger stood out not only as a celebrity but also as an activist.
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