Arnold Schwarzenegger, the renowned actor and former California governor, opens up about his challenging upbringing and the abuse from his father in an upcoming Netflix documentary titled Arnold.
Growing up in Thal, Austria, Schwarzenegger, now 75, describes his father, Gustav, as a decorated Nazi soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. He speaks of the brutality he and his family experienced, including beatings and being hit with a belt. Gustav exhibited erratic behavior, leaving the family unsure of what to expect and creating an atmosphere of fear and violence.
Gustav, who later became the chief of county police, implemented strict discipline and demanded absolute cleanliness in the house. Schwarzenegger recalls how they had to “earn” breakfast and his mother’s obsessive cleaning habits that could trigger her to “go nuts” if things weren’t perfectly placed. Reflecting on his childhood, Schwarzenegger reveals that many children in the German-Austrian culture were broken by their parents, who aimed to suppress individuality and enforce conformity.
Despite the hardships, Schwarzenegger’s will remained unbroken. He rebelled against his father’s abuse and became determined to escape his home and achieve success. His journey led him to become an international bodybuilding champion, an actor, and eventually the Governor of California. In the documentary, Schwarzenegger attributes his drive and determination to the experiences he had during his childhood.
The documentary also touches on a personal revelation that impacted Schwarzenegger’s marriage. During a marriage counseling session in 2011, his then-wife Maria Shriver confronted him about his son, Joseph, whom he fathered with his housekeeper Mildred Baena. Schwarzenegger admitted to being Joseph’s father, which devastated Shriver. Initially, both Schwarzenegger and Mildred believed he was her husband’s child. However, as Joseph grew older, it became apparent that he was Schwarzenegger’s biological son.
Arnold is part of Schwarzenegger’s collaboration with Netflix, joining his other project, the show Fubar. The documentary, offering a candid look into his life, will premiere on Netflix on June 7th.
