Arnold Schwarzenegger is the quintessential action hero of 80s Hollywood. The actor has given the industry numerous high-octane movies, that not only catapulted him to stardom but also brought him immense wealth. So much so that he became the highest-paid entertainer in the history of Hollywood in the late 90s. However, apart from action movies, the actor has given a shot at other genres, including fantasy, thriller, romance, and comedy. 

However, not many people know that Schwarzenegger had no plans to do comedies when he stepped into the industry. Recently, he revealed how he went from not thinking he had comedic chops to becoming completely obsessed with the genre. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger did not think he would fit in the comedy genre

The reason why Schwarzenegger became the best action icon was his impressive physical strength and ripped appearance. Even though he did not have much to do other than play a silent murder machine, he drew a lot of attention for his action bits. In a recent interview with Tim Ferriss, the former bodybuilder revealed that after doing one action movie after another, the actor thought to himself if he could ever do comedy on the big screen. 

Schwarzenegger reached out to many studio executives to ask whether they could consider him for a comic role. Following a string of turn-downs, the actor finally got together with Danny DeVito, and Ivan Reitman and reached a deal with the studio where he took 37.5 percent of ownership of a movie, Twins. So if the movie became a hit, everyone would benefit, and if not, no one would make any money. Surprisingly, the became a massive hit, ever surpassing the business of Schwarzenegger’s action movies. 

In the interview, the Austrian Oak also shared his and his father’s inspiration, which made them see life in a different light.

Arnold and Gustav Schwarzenegger’s inspiration 

The governor of California had a very difficult childhood in the war-stricken Austria. His father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, was a Nazi soldier and was very tough with his son. However, he also had a hand in instilling a great deal of wisdom in his son. While talking about the origin of the name of his new book, Be Useful, the Commando actor revealed that it drew inspiration from a popular European boxer, who also inspired his dad. 

The reason Schwarzenegger’s father was against bodybuilding was because he thought it would not be helpful to others. The police chief believed that one should always use their strength and talent for the benefit of others. That is when the late chief gave an example of the popular Hungarian boxer László Papp, who helped others by chopping wood in the forest. 

What do you think about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revelation about comedy movies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!