Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding career started at a very young age. The bodybuilder, who’s also known as one of the biggest Hollywood stars, effectively proved himself by winning the unprecedented 14 world titles, including seven Mr. Olympias.
But the Austrian Oak revealed that the journey wasn’t easy for him even though he became the youngest Mr. Universe at the age of 20 in 1967.
The Terminator revealed that there was a time when his parents were concerned about his sexuality when he was a teenager. It’s because the actor hung posters of male bodybuilders in his bedroom.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mother Asked Doctor to Help Him Because She Thought His Son is Gay
In a Netflix documentary Arnold, Schwarzenegger shared his mother’s concern. He said that she “got totally freaked out” by watching all those male posters that he hung in his bedroom that made her think he wasn’t interested in women. The bodybuilder said:
“I don’t know if mum thought I was gay, or if she just thought there was something off, and ‘let’s catch it early.”
He continued:
“She asked the doctor, ‘Can you help me? I don’t know if there’s something wrong with my son because his wall is full of naked men. All of Arnold’s friends have pictures of girls above their bed, and Arnold has no girls.'”
Despite this, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s love for fellow bodybuilders grew purely professional after moving to California. Even though the actor had a dull relationship with his father and brother, he was on good terms with his mother. Arnie’s mother, Aurelia Jadrny Schwarzenegger, passed away in 1998 from a heart attack.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Hung Photos of Reg Park Because He Was Amazed by His Physique
Although the speculation of Schwarzenegger’s mother was wrong, the fact can’t be denied that he hung photos of famed fitness stars, including Reg Park, in his bedroom to keep motivating himself.
The Hollywood star admitted that he was “amazed” by his body, and that’s the reason he decided to put his posters on his wall:
“I was so amazed by this [Park’s] body, I just could not get it out of my mind.”
Arnie gave a tribute to Regg and appreciated their friendship that lasted more than 40 years on Reg Park’s Website:
“I had finally met and worked out with my boyhood hero, and then he invites me to come stay with him and his family. This was as big a thrill to me as making my Terminator movies. Hanging out with Reg, my boyhood idol’it was surreal. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
Park also appeared in a series of Hercules films in the 1960s, where Schwarzenegger discovered him. From that time, the three-time Mr. Universe winner became his “idol” and the “blueprint” for Arnie of where he wanted to go in life.
Source: Arnold, Reg Park’s Website
