Action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger is not merely an actor. He is a hunk of a man, a bodybuilder and a fitness freak who has become a huge deal among fitness enthusiasts everywhere. A former Mr. Universe and an 8-time Mr. Olympia winner, there are arguably no Hollywood superstars as intimidating as Schwarzenegger, when it comes to physical prowess.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator in the film series The Terminator | Carolco Pictures
However, when it comes to celebrities in general, there are some major figures from sports’ histories that can even make the Terminator actor feel like, well, Danny Devito.
That is exactly what happened when Schwarzenegger ended up meeting the likes of Andre the Giant and Wilt Chamberlain.
Arnold Schwarzenegger might be a Hollywood hunk, but he did not look like one here
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Expendables 3 (2014) | Lionsgate
A bunch of photos from Schwarzenegger’s meeting with Andre the Giant and Wilt Chamberlain exist on the internet. While one of them is a former basketball star, the other is a former WWE star who was literally known as the strongest man on the planet. Both of the stars are well taller than 2 meters.
While the Giant is a whopping 2.24 meters long, Chamberlain is 2.16 meters tall, and for all the hue and cry about Schwarzenegger’s intense physique, he might not hold a candle to either. After all, while he weighed 235 pounds at the time, he is merely 6 2’. The actor himself explained how he looked like a midget, compared to the other two: (via Iluvvideo, Instagram)
I weighed 235 pounds at that time. I still look like a midget, I look like Danny DeVito. It’s crazy. It’s absolutely crazy.
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As the image also reveals, Schwarzenegger did indeed look like a midget. Standing between the two giants, the ripped actor looks nothing like the humungous masterpiece of a man fans generally see him as.
Arnold Schwarzenegger had a legendary bodybuilding career
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984) | Hemdale Film Corporation
While the image sees the actor in not-so-good light, Schwarzenegger is a bodybuilding legend and perfectly deserves the kind of acclaim he has received for his muscles over the years. Now 76, the former governor of California has a humungous legacy as a fitness freak.
He has become an icon of sorts, and has used his platform consistently to promote physical fitness and health. As a matter of fact, Arnold Schwarzenegger started off not as an actor, but a bodybuilder. His career began when he won the Junior Mr. Europe title back in 1965, and then went on to win it again the following year, at just 19.
Schwarzenegger has five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles, the latter a world record until it was surpassed by Lee Haney back in 1991. Furthermore, he himself is an athlete of sorts, having previously competed professionally in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting competitions.
Hence, while the majority of us might see the Austrian-American as a movie star, he is simply much more.
