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The 2000s in America

Schwarzenegger, Arnold

by Cait Caffrey

Identification: Austrian-born American actor and politician

Born: July 30, 1947; Thal, Austria

Arnold Schwarzenegger made his mark as an actor as the star of a string of popular action films. The former bodybuilder is arguably one of the most famous people in the world. In 2003, he was elected governor of California and subsequently reelected in 2006.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first two films of the 2000s did not fare well at the box office. The 6th Day (2000), a science-fiction thriller about a man who is unwill ingly cloned, was not well received. Audiences were similarly reserved about Collateral Damage (2002), about a man seeking revenge after losing his wife and child to a terrorist attack. Although the film finished production before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, its release was delayed in order to avoid offending audiences with images of explosions and violence. Nevertheless, the film was neither commercially nor critically successful.

In 2003, Schwarzenegger reprised his role as cyborg John Connor in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Connor is on the run from a female cyborg assassin in the film, set several years after the previous Terminator film. While the movie received positive reviews, it did poorly at American box offices.

In 2003, during a guest appearance on The Jay Leno Show, Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the California gubernatorial recall election. Although his announcement surprised many, Schwarzenegger successfully leveraged his movie star status and several prominent endorsements to win the recall election. In homage to his previous career as an action film star, Governor Schwarzenegger began being referred to in the media as the Governator.

During his tenure as governor, Schwarzenegger helped to pass important legislation aimed at balancing California’s budget. He was also a passionate supporter of stem cell research and the fight against global warming. He went against his fellow Republicans in 2006, when he allocated $150 million in funding to stem cell research. Schwarzenegger was reelected that same year.

Despite Schwarzenegger’s efforts as governor, California’s budget deficit continued to grow. He attempted to increase taxes to cover the gap, but most of his proposals were denied. Schwarzenegger’s popularity as governor began to wane as his second term came to an end. Following the end of his tenure as governor, Schwarzenegger returned to acting.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

AUGHTS_SchwarzeneggerArnold.jpg

(Courtesy Lon R. Fong)

Impact

With one of the most recognizable faces in the world, Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most successful actors in the entertainment industry. In addition to his foray into state politics, he is a successful businessman. Schwarzenegger is a founder of the international restaurant chain, Planet Hollywood.

Further Reading

1 

“Arnold Schwarzenegger.” New York Times. New York Times, 18 May 2011. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.

2 

“Arnold Schwarzenegger: Biography.” Schwarzenegger.com. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2012. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Caffrey, Cait. "Schwarzenegger, Arnold." The 2000s in America, edited by Craig Belanger, Salem Press, 2013. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=2000_0333.
APA 7th
Caffrey, C. (2013). Schwarzenegger, Arnold. In C. Belanger (Ed.), The 2000s in America. Salem Press.
CMOS 17th
Caffrey, Cait. "Schwarzenegger, Arnold." Edited by Craig Belanger. The 2000s in America. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2013. Accessed September 18, 2025. online.salempress.com.