Arnold Schwarzenegger?signed on to star in the 2003 western,?Cry Macho.?However, the project was put on hold after Arnold became governor of California. After serving two terms, Schwarzenegger returned to acting, but the negative press surrounding his divorce and affair resulted in the project getting halted again. Finally, Clint Eastwood took the helm of Cry Macho as director and lead actor.

While Schwarzenegger lost the $33 million film in 2012, the?bodybuilding?icon wrote about Eastwood in his book. In his autobiography, the Austrian Oak, he wrote about looking up to Clint Eastwood and explained why the legendary actor-filmmaker impacted Arnie. He recalled how he thought about Eastwood after reaching the pinnacle of his acting career.

Arnold Schwarzenegger idolized Clint Eastwood’s mindset

Just like legends such as Reg Park inspired Arnold Schwarzenegger during his bodybuilding days, Clint Eastwood was among those actors who inspired Anire when he began acting. In 1991, the Austrian reached the peak of his popularity after the success of Terminator 2. While he wanted to continue acting, Schwarzenegger also looked to emulate the Gran Torino star to keep himself?“interested.”

Schwarzenegger recalled wanting to?“do what Clint Eastwood does and spice up the movie career with directing and producing every so often.”?Schwarzenegger, who always challenged himself,?“loved”?the idea of exploring new horizons in the film industry. However, the Terminator actor didn’t just praise the Dirty Harry star for his creative capabilities.

“Clint was one of the very few Hollywood personalities who had his head scr**ed on straight,”?Arnie?wrote in Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story. Arnie also praised The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly star’s business sense and passion for what he loves.?“From the time I came to America, he was always someone I?d idolized,”?Schwarzenegger wrote. However, the Eraser actor did much more than idolize Clint Eastwood.

Walking in the footsteps of the legendary actor

Many Arnold Schwarzenegger fans believe the seven-time Mr. Olympia’s interest in politics and marrying a Shriver got him into politics. However, in his 2012 book, Arnie revealed the role the 93-year-old played. While his interest and the Kennedy family’s influence molded Arnie, Eastwood becoming the mayor of Carmel, California, inspired him as well.

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Even today, the 75-year-old continues to idolize the icon of Spaghetti Westerns. On May 31, the bodybuilding icon posted an image with Eastwood. He?wrote a tribute to the filmmaker?on his 93rd birthday.?“You?ve inspired me, you?ve mentored me, and you?re a wonderful friend,”?Schwarzenegger wrote in the caption.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood never worked together, and despite that, the former Mr. Olympia found inspiration through the legendary actor-filmmaker’s work.

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