The poster child of the American dream: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s story is now told in a fascinating documentary on Netflix titled Arnold. It goes deeper than any biographical project on The Terminator star has gone before. In it, the former Governor of the State of California narrates his chaotic childhood. He had a very strict and borderline abusive father who made life very hard for him.
Schwarzenegger reveals that his father had a harsh way of disciplining his sons. He used to make them compete and train hard for things. He made him and his brother very tough, and the actor credits his policeman father for making him hardworking and ambitious.
However, this hard discipline and harsh parenting may have ultimately resulted in his brother’s early demise. The former Mr. Olympia goes into emotional details; which provides an intriguing insight into his early life.
How Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Father Made Him What He Is!
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legendary veteran star in Hollywood whose journey has had its fair share of ups and downs. However, he broke all the walls, overcame his traumatic childhood fears, and became a superstar.
Schwarzenegger is leaving no stone unturned as he has shared the un-polished truth of his career and his disturbing childhood accounts in his recently released three-part Netflix docuseries Arnold.
In the first episode of his documentary, the actor recalls his father’s stern advice, claiming he made him and his brother learn some harsh lessons of life.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals His Father’s Harsh Advice in His Netflix Documentary
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s late father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, was a Nazi soldier during World War II. The Terminator star revealed that growing up, he had a disturbed childhood, and his father used to abuse him and his brother. He added that his fathers’ advice helped him do better in life. Recollecting his childhood traumas and the competitive environment his father created at home, he said,
“Growing up, I’ll tell you what I learned; Work your ass off. My father was the chief of the country police. He was a tyrant and a very tough; police officer. There was no screwing around. My dad thought they should create some discipline in the house. He said you have to earn breakfast.”
Schwarzenegger continued,
“I had a very good; relationship with my brother, but it was a competitive relationship; I mean, he was a year older, more muscular, smarter. He was very good at school. My father almost made us compete against each other. Who runs faster? Who picks more beautiful flowers on Mother’s Day? My father gave me that drive, gave me; that fire in the belly, and then with the message, “Whatever you do, Arnold, be useful.”
The Terminator 2: Judgment Day movie star further talks about the sudden demise of his brother Meinhard Schwarzenegger. He recalls the painful time claiming he returned from work one day and was informed,
“Your brother died in a car accident. He was drunk driving, and he was hitting a telephone pole. I don’t think my brother was ever happy. I think he started drinking because our upbringing was very tough. The brutality that was at home, the beatings that we got from our parents sometimes, all of this he could not sustain. He was much more delicate of a person by nature.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the many iconic stars who left behind his well-established bodybuilding legacy to follow his American dreams in Hollywood. In his multi-decade reign as one of the most in-demand action stars, Schwarzenegger has delivered numerous blockbuster hit films and worked with enough A-list actors and directors.
Arnold is now streaming on Netflix.
Source: Netflix- Arnold– episode one
