Sure, he was a Republican, and he cheated on his wife, but there's a lot of shit he has gotten right. He is a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump's more concerning policies, comparing the 2021 Capitol storming to 'Kristallnacht', during which Nazi sympathisers sacked Jewish-owned stores in pre-war Germany. He's campaigned on everything from public health to global warming and overall appears to be a bloke whose head is screwed on. But you would not want to tangle with him.
With his background as a past Mr Universe, Arnie is arguably the most impressive physical specimen ever seen on Hollywood screens. One only needs to view him in Conan the Barbarian to feel utterly and totally inadequate in all aspects. Even in 2025, as he celebrates his 78th birthday, he still looks like he could kick the snot out of most people half his age. Then there's his most terrifying role of all - the Terminator.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was initially considered for the role of Kyle Reese in James Cameron's seminal sci-fi thriller, while OJ Simpson's name was put forward to play the titular android. Yes, really. Mercifully, this idea was chucked out, and the big Austrian was cast as the T-800. It's hard to imagine anyone else embodying the cold, mechanical terror of the character quite like Arnie. His unflinching dedication to killing Sarah Connor put a lot of kids to bed with nightmares for the next few years and properly propelled him to global superstardom. His villainous leanings were later tempered for subsequent instalments of the franchise, but in the first, he is frightening.
One individual who discovered firsthand just how frightening Schwarzenegger was was producer John Daly. The Englishman - whose other credits include Grease, Platoon, and the 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing event - was the one who initially saw potential in the movie's script. As Cameron told the British Film Institute, he wanted to be hands-on with the project until he had a run-in with its star.
"The first time John Daly visited the set - it was the night we were shooting the Tech Noir club scene - he was standing next to Arnold proudly smiling and rocking on his heels," he recalled. "Arnold looked over at him, in full Terminator wardrobe, and in his Austrian accent said, 'John, every time I see you, you're always smiling.' Then he pulled out his massive .45 automatic, jammed it under John's jaw, and said, 'Personally, I hate that.' John went pale and left shortly thereafter. He never came on set again when Arnold was filming."
It's entirely possible that Schwarzenegger was getting revenge on Daly. The producer has pressured Cameron into casting his friends in a key scene, which rendered it basically unusable. This could be the reason why the director's attack dog felt it was his duty to remind him of his place.
In spite of his interference, John Daly was instrumental in the success of The Terminator. Arnold Schwarzenegger literally owes him his career in a way. Does he have any regrets about having pointed a gun at him? Doubt it.