Dennis Tinerino
Dennis Tinerino was an American bodybuilder, most prominent in the late 1960s and 1970s. He won the Mr. Universe title four times in 1968, 1975, 1980 and 1981 and Mr. World in 1971 in the tall man's category, Mr. America in 1978. After becoming involved in a life of crime, running one of the biggest escort services in California, he became an international evangelist; the 1983 edition of The Gold's Gym book of bodybuilding cited him as "one of the most successful bodybuilders of the past decade or two". He is an inductee of the National Fitness Hall of Fame, IFBB Hall of Fame and National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Tinerino was born into an Italian-American family in Brooklyn in 1945. At the age of 12 he resolved to become a champion bodybuilder and actor after looking in the mirror and feeling that he was "so skinny he could duck raindrops", his father, a boxer, started his training at the local YMCA. He grew up in a rough area, white in a black neighborhood, surviving numerous death threats, but remained focused.
Attending East New York Technical High School from aged 13–16, he "packed three inches onto his arms, netting 16 inches total at a bodyweight of 175 pounds." After graduating high school he worked for Olympic Radio and TV. There he met Joe Abbenda who became his mentor, along with Bill Pearl, advancing his training sessions to 5 days a week. Tinerino won the Teen Mr. America, Mr. Atlantic Coast, Mr East Coast, Mr. Brooklyn contests in 1964, finished second to Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Mr. Universe contest in 1967 at the age of 21, he won the NABBA Mr. Universe title in England in 1968, in 1975, 1980 and 1981 in the tall man's category, he won the Mr. World contest in the tall man's category in 1971, he finished 6th overall in the 1977 Mr. Olympia contest, 3rd in the over 200 lb category, 9th overall in the 1978 Mr. Olympia coast, 4th in the over 200 lb category. Tinerino won the title of Pro Mr. Natural America in 1978, his last contest was in the 1982 Mr. Olympia. In 1969 he portrayed Atlas in Schwarzenegger's debut film, Hercules in New York, released in February 1970.
In the 1970s he appeared on the cover of magazines such as Muscle & Fitness, Muscular Development, Iron Man, Strength & Health. The 1983 publication, The Gold's Gym book of bodybuilding, cited him as "one of the most successful bodybuilders of the past decade or two". In 1985, Robert Kennedy said of him, "this bodybuilding superstar has won every major competition except the Mr. Olympia title. To his credit, he is the only major champion to win a steroid-free contest. Enjoying a life of excess, he was drawn into organized crime; this involved him in one of the largest escort rings in California, as well as gambling, book making and other criminal pursuits. He was arrested and prosecuted, he boasted that he earned millions and loved life in the fast lane, including making $1000 a week from arm wrestling alone. His arrest in his Hollywood office was broadcast on live TV, shamed as a former Mr. Universe turned crook, his lawyer managed to reduce his sentence to just a year in prison for pandering.
In prison he met a preacher who told him that God had big plans for him and that it was his destiny to become an international evangelist. He confesses to having been "struck by a lightning bolt from heaven and have his life flash before his eyes" after praying to God to pardon his sins and becoming a Christian. On being released from prison, he established the Dennis Tinerino Ministries based in Beverly Hills in 1979, becoming an international evangelist. In 2006 he authored the book Super Size Your Faith. Tinerino married Anita Conti in 1970, he developed cancer in the 1990s and was told he had 2 weeks to live but the cancer went into remission. He survived numerous near encounters with death, surviving car crashes and hitmen, he died of cancer in 2010. He is recognized in the AAU Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, the Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Hall of Fame, the National Fitness Hall of Fame, entered the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2006. Official site List of titles Interview on YouTube Death announcement
Mickey Hargitay
Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was a Hungarian-American actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe. Born in Budapest, Hargitay moved to the United States in 1947, where he became a citizen, he was married to actress Jayne Mansfield, is the father of actress Mariska Hargitay. During their marriage and Mansfield made four movies together: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, The Loves of Hercules, Promises! Promises!, L'Amore Primitivo. Hargitay was born in Budapest, one of four children of an athletic father, he and his brothers were all brought up as athletes. During his youth, Hargitay was part of an acrobatic act with his brothers; the act was so popular that they performed throughout all Hungary, including the largest opera house in Budapest. After being introduced to the sport by his brother, Hargitay began competing in speed skating. In 1946, he won the Middle European championship at 500 and 1,500 meters, placed second in the 5,000 meter race, he was a proficient soccer player, was an underground fighter during World War II.
In 1947, Hargitay left Hungary to emigrate to the United States. He settled in Cleveland, where he married his first wife, fellow acrobat Mary Birge. Hargitay had one child with Birge, a daughter named Tina, born in 1949, he worked as a plumber and carpenter, performed in an acrobatic act with Birge. He was inspired to begin bodybuilding after seeing a magazine cover featuring Steve Reeves, famed for playing Hercules. Hargitay became National Amateur Body-Builders' Association Mr. Universe in 1955. After winning Mr. Universe and divorcing Birge, Hargitay joined Mae West's muscleman revue at New York's Latin Quarter, where he met Jayne Mansfield, whom he married in 1958, he is the first recipient of the Joe Weider Lifetime Achievement Award. Hargitay's first film role came when Jayne Mansfield demanded he be cast in her movie, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. The two had met the year before at The Mae West Show at the Latin Quarter; when Mansfield noticed Hargitay performing, she told the waiter, "I'll have a steak and that tall man on the left."
The two fell in love, were described as inseparable. 20th Century Fox didn't want Hargitay in Rock Hunter, because they disliked Mansfield's view of Hargitay being her "only" lover. In 1960, Hargitay and Mansfield played the lead roles in The Loves of Hercules; the film was shot in Italy, has never been released in movie theaters in the United States, though it is available on Netflix under the title Hercules vs. Hydra, under its original title as episode 1108 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, released in 2017. Over the next four years and Mansfield would appear together in Promises! Promises! and L'Amore Primitivo. In 1965, Hargitay played the lead role in Bloody Pit of Horror without Mansfield. Hargitay's acting career wasn't limited to the United States. In 2003, Hargitay made his final acting appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the series in which his daughter Mariska stars. In the episode, titled "Control", Hargitay played a man who witnessed the aftermath of a brutal assault on a subway station escalator.
He and his daughter are seen together on screen when Mariska's character, Olivia Benson, is interviewing his character. Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield met in 1956, when he was performing in The Mae West Show at the Latin Quarter; the couple married on January 13, 1958. They had three children: Miklós Jeffrey Palmer Hargitay, Zoltán Anthony Hargitay, Mariska Magdolina Hargitay. Hargitay remodeled much of his and Mansfield's Beverly Hills mansion, known as "The Pink Palace", building its famous heart-shaped swimming pool. In November 2002, the house was razed by developers. In May 1963, Hargitay and Mansfield filed for divorce in Ciudad Juárez; the divorce was ruled invalid, the two reconciled in October 1963. After Mariska's birth, Mansfield sued for the Juárez divorce to be declared legal, won; the divorce was recognized in the United States on August 26, 1964. After Mansfield's death in a car crash on June 29, 1967, Hargitay sued Mansfield's estate for over $5,000 to support the children. In their divorce decree, Mansfield had agreed to pay child support, as well as to give Hargitay $70,000 in cash and property.
Hargitay married again in September 1967 to Ellen Siano. Siano and Hargitay remained married until his death. On September 14, 2006, Hargitay died in Los Angeles, aged 80, from multiple myeloma; the Los Angeles Times noted in Hargitay's obituary: "Walter Winchell once said that what Eisenhower did for golf, Mickey Hargitay did for bodybuilding, because he brought it to the forefront," Gene Mozee, a bodybuilding historian and writer for Iron Man magazine, told The Times on Monday. "Back in those days, bodybuilding was thought of as a freakish, unusual activity that wasn't popular with the general public," Mozee said. "At that time, athletic coaches discouraged lifting weights. And along came Mickey Hargitay, a great all-around athlete. Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of Mickey Hargitay in the 1980 TV-movie The Jayne Mansfield Story. Mickey Hargitay on IMDb "Actor Mickey Hargitay dies at 80". BBC News. September 19, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2006. Silverman, Stephen M.. "Mariska's Dad Mickey Hargitay Dies at 80".
People. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2006. "Mickey H
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's musculature for aesthetic purposes. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders appear in lineups and perform specified poses for a panel of judges who rank the competitors based on criteria such as symmetry and conditioning. Bodybuilders prepare for competitions through the elimination of nonessential body fat, enhanced at the last stage by a combination of extracellular dehydration and carbohydrate loading, to achieve maximum muscular definition and vascularity, as well as tanning to accentuate the contrast of the skin under the spotlights. Bodybuilders may use other performance-enhancing drugs to build muscles; the winner of the annual IFBB Mr. Olympia contest is recognized as the world's top male professional bodybuilder; the winner of the Women's Physique portion of the competition is regarded as the world's top female professional bodybuilder.
The title is held by Juliana Malacarne, who has won every year since 2014. Since 1950, the NABBA Universe Championships have been considered the top amateur bodybuilding contests, with notable winners such as Reg Park, Lee Priest, Steve Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Winners go on to become professional athletes. Stone-lifting traditions were practiced in ancient Egypt and Tamilakam. Western weightlifting developed in Europe from 1880 to 1953, with strongmen displaying feats of strength for the public and challenging each other; the focus was not on their physique, they had large bellies and fatty limbs. Bodybuilding developed in the late 19th century, promoted in England by German Eugen Sandow, now considered as the "Father of Bodybuilding", he allowed audiences to enjoy viewing his physique in "muscle display performances". Although audiences were thrilled to see a well-developed physique, the men displayed their bodies as part of strength demonstrations or wrestling matches. Sandow had a stage show built around these displays through Florenz Ziegfeld.
The Oscar-winning 1936 musical film The Great Ziegfeld depicts the beginning of modern bodybuilding, when Sandow began to display his body for carnivals. Sandow was so successful at flexing and posing his physique that he created several businesses around his fame, was among the first to market products branded with his name, he was credited with inventing and selling the first exercise equipment for the masses: machined dumbbells, spring pulleys, tension bands. His image was sold by the thousands in "cabinet cards" and other prints. Sandow was a perfect "Gracilian", a standard of ideal body proportions close to those of ancient Greek and Roman statues. Men's physiques were judged by how they matched these proportions. Sandow organized the first bodybuilding contest on September 14, 1901, called the "Great Competition", it was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Judged by Sandow, Sir Charles Lawes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the contest was a great success and many bodybuilding enthusiasts were turned away due to the overwhelming amount of audience members.
The trophy presented to the winner was a gold statue of Sandow sculpted by Frederick Pomeroy. The winner was William L. Murray of Nottingham; the silver Sandow trophy was presented to second-place winner D. Cooper; the bronze Sandow trophy — now the most famous of all — was presented to third-place winner A. C. Smythe. In 1950, this same bronze trophy was presented to Steve Reeves for winning the inaugural NABBA Mr. Universe contest, it would not resurface again until 1977 when the winner of the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest, Frank Zane, was presented with a replica of the bronze trophy. Since Mr. Olympia winners have been awarded a replica of the bronze Sandow. On January 16, 1904, the first large-scale bodybuilding competition in America took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City; the competition was promoted by Bernarr Macfadden, the father of physical culture and publisher of original bodybuilding magazines such as Health & Strength. The winner was Al Treloar, declared "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World".
Treloar won a substantial sum at that time. Two weeks Thomas Edison made a film of Treloar's posing routine. Edison had made two films of Sandow a few years before; those were the first three motion pictures featuring a bodybuilder. In the early 20th century and Charles Atlas continued to promote bodybuilding across the world. Alois P. Swoboda was an early pioneer in America. Many other important bodybuilders in the early history of bodybuilding prior to 1930 include: Earle Liederman, Zishe Breitbart, Georg Hackenschmidt, Emy Nkemena, George F. Jowett, Finn Hateral, Frank Saldo, Monte Saldo, William Bankier, Launceston Elliot, Sig Klein, Sgt. Alfred Moss, Joe Nordquist, Lionel Strongfort, Gustav Frištenský, Ralph Parcaut, Alan P. Mead. Actor Francis X. Bushman, a disciple of Sandow, started his career as a bodybuilder and sculptor's model before beginning his famous silent movie career. Bodybuilding became more popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the emergence of strength and gymnastics champions, the simultaneous popularization of bodybuilding magazines, training principles, nutrition for bulking up and cutting down, the use of protein and other food supplements, the opportunity to enter physique contests.
The numb
Bill Pearl
William Arnold "Bill" Pearl is an American retired professional bodybuilder and athlete. During the 1950s and 60s, he won many titles and awards, including winning the Mr. Universe contest five times, was named "World's Best-Built Man of the Century." He became an expert trainer and author on bodybuilding. Pearl was born in Oregon, his first major victory was in the 1953 Amateur Mr Universe contest, in which he beat out a 23-year-old Sean Connery. He competed until his retirement in 1971, when he won the Mr. Universe title one last time, beating Frank Zane, Reg Park and Sergio Oliva. In all, he won the professional Mr Universe 4 times in an 18-year span, unprecedented at the time, he was the first professional bodybuilder to author bodybuilding training booklets. He is the first to pose to music, was noted in performing exhibitions doing an entire posing routine of Eugen Sandow; the showman, Pearl would wear a fake mustache, leotards, a fig leaf, a late-19th century backdrop, all for providing the exact effect of the Sandow era.
Pearl was as famous for performing his strongman routine, which included tearing of license plates, bending penny spike nails, blowing up a hot water bottle as well as his ability on the bench press exercise using up to 500 lbs. He is the author of the popular exercise book, Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women, which has sold over 350,000 copies in the United States and has been translated into four other languages, including Chinese, his book, Keys To The INNER Universe, is to this day considered. It contains 1,500 weight-training exercises, weighs five pounds, has sold over 60,000 copies. Pearl had his own monthly question-and-answer column called "Pearl of the Universe" in the bodybuilding magazine MuscleMag International as well as one in Muscle Builder magazine, titled "Wisdom of Pearl" in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003 with coauthor Kim Shott, Pearl published his autobiography, Beyond the Universe: The Bill Pearl Story. Pearl is the best-known vegetarian bodybuilder. Bill's diet is lacto-ovo vegetarian.
During the 1980s, Pearl served as a mentor and training partner to many of the top professionals that were still competing. One such individual was Chris Dickerson. In 2004, Pearl was awarded the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Lifetime Achievement Award for impacting the world of bodybuilding. In November 2004, Bill Pearl acted as Master of Ceremonies for Sri Chinmoy's Weightlifting celebration, in New York. In 2011 Pearl appeared in the documentary Challenging Impossibility describing when he hosted the 2004 strength exhibition by spiritual teacher and peace advocate Sri Chinmoy; the film was an Official Selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Pearl lives in Phoenix, Oregon. Source: 1952 Mr. San Diego, 3rd place 1952 Mr. Oceanside 1953 Mr. Southern California 1953 Mr. California 1953 A. A. U. Mr. America 1953 N. A. B. B. A. Mr. Universe Amateur 1956 Mr. U. S. A. Professional 1956 N. A. B. B. A. Mr. Universe, Tall Man's Class 1961 N. A. B. B. A. Mr. Universe, Professional 1967 N. A. B. B. A. Mr. Universe, Professional 1971 N.
A. B. B. A. Mr. Universe, Professional 1974 W. B. B. A. World's Best-Built Man of the Century 1978 Entered into W. B. B. A. Hall of Fame 1978 Elected the I. F. B. B. National Chairman of the Professional Physique Judges Committee 1988 Entered into Pioneers of Fitness Hall of Fame 1992 Entered into Gold's Gym Hall of Fame 1994 Guest of Honor of the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen 12th Annual Reunion 1994 Entered into The Joe Weider Hall of Fame 1995 A. A. U. Lifetime Achievement Award 1995 Oscar Heidenstam Foundation Hall of Fame 1996 American Powerlifters Federation Hall of Fame 1997 International Chiropractors Association Sports & Fitness Man of the Year 1999 I. F. B. B. Hall of Fame Inductee 2000 Spirit of Muscle Beach Award 2001 World Gym Lifetime Achievement Award 2001 Society of Weight-Training Injury Specialists Lifetime Achievement Award 2002 Canadian Fitness Award for 60+ Years of Inspiration to the Industry 2002 National Fitness Trade Journal Lifetime Achievement Award 2003 Iron Man magazine Peary & Mabel Radar Lifetime Achievement Award 2004 Arnold Schwarzenegger Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 PDI Night of Champions Lifetime Achievement Award<ref>Pearl and Shott, Kim.
Beyond the Universe-The Bill Pearl Story. Bill Pearl Enterprises. P. 8. ISBN 978-0884970484 Beyond the Universe – The Bill Pearl Story Getting in Shape: 32 Workout Programs for Lifelong Fitness Getting Back in Shape: 32 Workout Programs for Lifelong Fitness Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women Keys to the INNER Universe "Pearls of Wisdom – Bill Pearl a Bodybuilding Legend" "Bill Pearl & Dave Draper Seminar" List of male professional bodybuilders List of female professional bodybuilders Official website Pearls of Wisdom video clip
Bruce Randall
For the musician, see Bruce Hornsby. Bruce E. Randall was an American professional bodybuilder. Randall won the 1959 Mr. Universe, after famously slimming down from 425 pounds to 223 pounds after extensive training and dieting
Reg Park
Roy "Reg" Park was an English bodybuilder and actor. His first title was Mr Britain in 1946, he won the Mr Universe in 1951, 1958 and 1965. He starred in five films, four featured as Hercules and in one, Hercules in the Haunted World, he co-starred with Christopher Lee. Besides his own career and titles, he is best known as an idol and mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Roy Park was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire on 7 June 1928 Showing athletic interests early in life, Park dedicated his teenage years to excelling in football where he played in the reserves for Leeds United, he had no specific interest in bodybuilding until age 16. Upon learning that Cohen lifted weights at his friend's house, Park joined in out of curiosity. Park's legendary physique would begin to grow from dumbbells and a simple chinning bar. During his national service he was a Physical Training Instructor in Singapore. Upon discharge from the British Army in 1948, he witnessed his first physique contest, it was this contest. After one year of hard training, Park earned the title of Mr. Britain in 1949.
He subsequently spent six months in the United States. There, he met up with publisher Joe Weider, who began to feature the Englishman prominently in his muscle magazines; the next year, Park was runner-up to Steve Reeves in the 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe in London. After a second full year of training, Park broke what had been an American monopoly on bodybuilding titles by winning the 1951 National Amateur Bodybuilders Association Amateur Mr. Universe, he cemented his status by winning the 1958 and 1965 NABBA Pro Mr. Universe titles. Standing 6'1" and with a top weight of 250 pounds, Park was known for his muscular mass and was a forerunner to modern bodybuilding. Park was renowned for his strength, which he demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions, he is on record. As an actor, Park made five films -- sandal. Up to the time of his illness in 2007, despite being in his seventies, Park continued to train clients at the Morningside Virgin Active Gym in Sandton, South Africa, he has been featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines, has appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness.
He was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilders IFBB Hall of Fame's first ballot in 1999. With his wife Mareon of 55 years at home and children Jeunesse and Jon Jon by his side, Park died on 22 November 2007 in his home in South Africa, after an eight-month battle with metastatic melanoma. Park's legacy is continued by a personal trainer and former Olympic swimmer. Reg Park trained Jon Jon in South Africa. Today Jon Jon Park is the owner of a popular gymnasium in West Los Angeles. Reg's daughter, founded Food & Trees for Africa, a non profit that changed thousands of lives and landscapes. Famous for his mass and strength, Reg Park was an early influence and lifelong mentor to champion bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger said. For three years in the 1960s Schwarzenegger was trained by Wag Bennett in his gym in the East End of London, it was there where he met his idol Reg Park. Bonus footage from the DVD release of the classic documentary film Pumping Iron features Park mentoring Schwarzenegger.
Park can be heard performing the Master of Ceremonies duties in the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia contests featured in the film proper. 1946 Mr Britain 4th 1949 Mr Britain 1st 1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Tall, 1st 1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Overall Winner Mr Europe 1950 Overall Winner Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 2nd 1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 1st 1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner 1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st 1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner 1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st 1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner 1970 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd 1971 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 3rd 1973 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd Height: 6'1" Contest weight: 214-222 lbs Off-season weight: 225-250 lbs Arms: 18.5 @ 215 lbs, 19.0 @ 230 lbs" Ercole Alla Conquista Di Atlantide Italty. Aka Hercules Conquers Atlantis Hercules and the Captive Women Ercole Al Centro Della Terra Italy. Aka Hercules in the Centre of the Earth and Hercules in the Haunted World co-starring Christopher Lee Maciste Nelle Miniere Di Re Salomone Italy.
Aka Maciste in King Solomon's Mines Ursus, Il Terrore Dei Kirghisi. Italy. Aka Hercules, Prisoner of Evil Sfida Dei Giganti Italy. Aka Hercules the Avenger List of male professional bodybuilders List of female professional bodybuilders Obituary in The Times, 27 November 2007 Reg Park on IMDb Reg's personal site Reg's fan tribute A great collections of articles of Reg Park Interview of Reg Park for LEXNEWS MAGAZINE The Reg Park Story Reg Park “Mr. Universe”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, businessman, philanthropist, activist and former professional bodybuilder and powerlifter. He served as the 38th Governor of California, from 2003 to 2011. Schwarzenegger began lifting weights at the age of 15, he won the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times, remaining a prominent presence in bodybuilding and writing many books and articles on the sport; the Arnold Sports Festival, considered the second most important professional bodybuilding event in recent years, is named after him. He is considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all-time, as well as the sport's most charismatic ambassador. Schwarzenegger gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film icon, his breakthrough film was the sword-and-sorcery epic Conan the Barbarian in 1982, a box-office hit that resulted in a sequel. In 1984, he appeared in the title role of James Cameron's critically and commercially successful science-fiction thriller film The Terminator.
He subsequently played a similar Terminator character in most of the franchise's installments, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Genisys. He has appeared in a number of other successful films, such as Commando, The Running Man, Twins, Total Recall, Kindergarten Cop, True Lies. Schwarzenegger married Maria Shriver, a niece of the 35th U. S. President John F. Kennedy and daughter of the 1972 Democratic vice presidential candidate and former Ambassador to France Sargent Shriver, in 1986, they separated in 2011 after he admitted to having fathered a child with another woman in 1997. As a Republican, Schwarzenegger was first elected on October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace then-Governor Gray Davis, he was sworn in on November 17. He was re-elected in the 2006 California gubernatorial election, to serve a full term as governor. In 2011, he returned to acting. Schwarzenegger was nicknamed "the Austrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, "Arnie" or "Schwarzy" during his acting career, "The Governator" during his political career.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, Styria, to Aurelia and Gustav Schwarzenegger. His father was the local chief of police and had served in World War II as a Hauptfeldwebel after voluntarily joining the Nazi Party in 1938, was wounded during the battle of Stalingrad, but was discharged in 1943 following a bout of malaria, he married Schwarzenegger's mother on October 20, 1945. According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, his parents were strict: "Back in Austria it was a different world... if we did something bad or we disobeyed our parents, the rod was not spared." He grew up in a Catholic family. Gustav had a preference for his elder son, over Arnold, his favoritism was "strong and blatant", which stemmed from unfounded suspicion that Arnold was not his biological child. Schwarzenegger has said that his father had "no patience for listening or understanding your problems." He kept in touch with her until her death. In life, he commissioned the Simon Wiesenthal Center to research his father's wartime record, which came up with no evidence of Gustav being involved in atrocities, despite his membership in the Nazi Party and Sturmabteilung.
Gustav's background received wide press attention during the 2003 California recall campaign. At school, Schwarzenegger was academically average, but stood out for his "cheerful, good-humored, exuberant" character. Money was a problem in their household; as a boy, he played several sports influenced by his father. He picked up his first barbell in 1960. At the age of 14, he chose bodybuilding over soccer as a career, he said, "I started weight training when I was 15, but I'd been participating in sports, like soccer, for years, so I felt that although I was slim, I was well-developed, at least enough so that I could start going to the gym and start olympic lifting." However, his official website biography claims that "at 14, he started an intensive training program with Dan Farmer, studied psychology at 15 and at 17 started his competitive career." During a speech in 2001, he said, "My own plan formed. My father had wanted me to be a police officer. My mother wanted me to go to trade school."Schwarzenegger took to visiting a gym in Graz, where he frequented the local movie theaters to see bodybuilding idols such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves, Johnny Weissmuller on the big screen.
When Reeves died in 2000, Schwarzenegger fondly remembered him: "As a teenager, I grew up with Steve Reeves. His remarkable accomplishments allowed me a sense of what was possible when others around me didn't always understand my dreams. Steve Reeves has been part of everything I've been fortunate enough to achieve." In 1961, Schwarzenegger met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who invited him to train at the gym in Graz, he was so dedicated as a youngster that he broke into the local gym on weekends, so that he could train when it was closed. "It would make me sick to miss a workout... I knew I couldn't look at myself in the mirror the next morning if I did
