Arnold Schwarzenegger Once Lost a Blockbuster Acting Role to His Pumping Iron Rival Lou Ferrigno

Arnold Schwarzenegger has enjoyed a celebrity status for over five decades now. He gained prominence as an amateur bodybuilder after winning the Mr. Universe title in 1967. However, he announced his initial retirement from the sport in 1975.

Though he came out of retirement to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia for a final time, he looked forward to getting his break in acting. Moreover, he went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest that year.

The role that Arnold Schwarzenegger lost to rival Lou Ferrigno

Schwarzenegger had always expressed his desire to act. So when he retired from bodybuilding, he tried his hand at acting. His break came in the form of a 1977 documentary, ‘Pumping Iron.’ But he was also considered for a series around this time.

The series in question was ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ and the makers considered the former governor for the lead role. But along with Arnie, the makers also had another bodybuilder in mind. It was none other than the Austrian Oak’s rival in the Pumping Iron documentary, Lou Ferrigno.

The series aired for the first time just nine months after the release of Pumping Iron. However, it was clear that Schwarzenegger failed to make the cut when the series aired in November 1977.

READ MORE- “Never Got That Chance”- Lou Ferrigno Regretted Taking on His Role Against Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Pumping Iron Documentary

It featured Ferrigno as the Hulk. The makers supposedly decided to go with Ferrigno because of his stature. Although Schwarzenegger stood at 6’2”, which despite not being a short height, fell short and the show’s makers decided to go with his rival partly due to Ferrigno’s height advantage of three inches over the Terminator star.

However, the former bodybuilder did not stop pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. He returned to the stage to compete in Mr. Olympia one final time to win the contest in 1980, much to his opponents’ exasperation.

The role that got Schwarzenegger the break he wished for

After his final retirement from bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger expended all his time, energy, and resources on acting. Although he starred in a movie called “Hercules in New York” in 1970, it did not give him the desired exposure.

His breakthrough role in the industry would come with the release of ‘Conan the Barbarian.’ The film immediately became a cult classic. It enjoys a massive fan following to this day. But the movie that made him the star we know today has to be ‘The Terminator.’

DIVE DEEPER- Arnold Schwarzenegger Compared Himself to ‘Mickey Mouse’; Revealed His Psyching Techniques Against Competitors

After its release, the franchise and the star became so popular that both names became synonymous. People still associate Schwarzenegger with the Terminator franchise. And this trend will continue for eternity.