Family Photographs
Maria was full of personality and joy, a bundle of positive energy that I wanted to be around. At the beach in 1980. Albert Busek
We weren’t looking for an East Coast–West Coast relationship, but before we knew it, Maria and I were going out. Here on a river-rafting trip near Sacramento in 1979. Douglas Kent Hall
When Maria decided she’d stay in California after the 1980 presidential campaign, I bought my first house, on 21st Street in Santa Monica, for us to live in together. Schwarzenegger Archive
Maria and Conan the dog and I dressed up as bikers for Halloween in the early eighties. Schwarzenegger Archive
When in Austria, I often put on traditional clothes and do as the Austrians do. Above, hiking in the Alps. Schwarzenegger Archive
Ice curling. Fototom.at
Dancing in a beer-hall version of a conga line. Schwarzenegger Archive
Maria and I saw each other for eight years before this happy day in spring 1986. I was thirty-eight and she was thirty. Denis Reggie
Denis Reggie
Franco was best man, and among my twelve other groomsmen were my nephew Patrick Knapp, my friends from the bodybuilding world Albert Busek and Jim Lorimer, and Sven-Ole Thorsen, who played a thug in many of my movies. Schwarzenegger Archive
I escort my mom and my new American mother-in-law across the Kennedy compound to the reception tent. Fortunately, Aurelia and Eunice got along well. Schwarzenegger Archive
Andy Warhol was outrageous and Grace Jones could not do anything low-key. Warhol’s version of a tuxedo at the reception was a motorcycle jacket. Schwarzenegger Archive
Traveling with Maria and Eunice and Sarge in Europe was fun. Here we are on a ferry crossing the Chiemsee, a big Bavarian lake. Albert Busek
Hiking in the Alps I’d sometimes wear loud obnoxious Hawaiian shorts just to get a rise out of the lederhosen traditionalists. Here I have charmed a dairy cow. Schwarzenegger Archive
In Santa Monica, Maria and I lived so close to a state park that we kept horses and rode there every day. My horse was named Campy. Schwarzenegger Archive
Katherine had just been born when the first President Bush named me fitness czar and we staged the Great American Workout on the South Lawn of the White House. Mary Anne Fackelman-Miner
With Christina, our second child, I perfected the art of letting the baby sleep on my chest. Schwarzenegger Archive
On the way to vacation in Sun Valley in early 1993, I’m showing Christina a magazine story about how Maria balances family and career. Schwarzenegger Archive
Most days I would bring Christina with me to the gym. Schwarzenegger Archive
Patrick, our older son, was born in September 1993. Schwarzenegger Archive
By this time, I had the nurturing thing down. Above, Katherine snuggles while Patrick snoozes on my chest. Schwarzenegger Archive
I was also adept at his diapers and bottles. Schwarzenegger Archive
I celebrated my forty-eighth birthday in Sun Valley with the guys: my old friend Adi Erber, a ski pro, my nephew Patrick Knapp, my brother-in-law Bobby Shriver, financial advisor Paul Wachter, and Godfather producer Al Ruddy. Schwarzenegger Archive
Katherine read Arthur’s Chicken Pox to me while I was recuperating from the heart-valve replacement surgeries, 1997. Schwarzenegger Archive
We Schwarzeneggers clown around at a hotel in Hawaii, 2000. Our youngest, Christopher, is three. Schwarzenegger Archive
After fishing at a pond near our house in Sun Valley. Schwarzenegger Archive
Katherine and I horse around in the Santa Monica Mountains. Schwarzenegger Archive
I supervise Christopher and Patrick at a cricket stadium during a trip to South Africa for the Special Olympics, 2001. Schwarzenegger Archive
Tranquilized lioness, park ranger, and us on safari in Tanzania. I was at least as excited as the kids because big cats have always fascinated me. Schwarzenegger Archive
We’re a skiing family, here in Sun Valley—snow and skis and pine forests and mountains have always been part of my life. Christopher isn’t in the photo because he was only four and was busy that day skiing on the bunny slope. Schwarzenegger Archive
This is me kissing me on Halloween, 2001, except that the right-hand Arnold is Maria wearing a Terminator mask. Schwarzenegger Archive
As you can tell from the photo above, Halloween is a big deal in the Schwarzenegger house. Schwarzenegger Archive
Patrick and Christopher with me behind the governor’s desk in Sacramento. California State Archives / Steven Hellon
Trips like this one to Maui during spring break 2007 were a happy change from all the time our family spent apart because of the governorship. Schwarzenegger Archive
Katherine draping her long hair over my head for laughs. Schwarzenegger Archive
I still love driving my M47 tank from the Austrian army, which now resides at a studio lot outside Los Angeles and appears occasionally in World War II movies. On board with me are Patrick, Christopher (in the tanker’s helmet), and my assistant Greg Dunn. Schwarzenegger Archive
In winter 2011, my nephew Patrick and I went to the grave of Meinhard, my brother and his father, in Kitzbühel, Austria, during an unusually heavy snow. Schwarzenegger Archive
Suiting up with Christopher. Cindy Gold
Suiting up with Patrick. Schwarzenegger Archive
Katherine and Christina. Schwarzenegger Archive
June 2012 was graduation month for Patrick, who finished high school, and Katherine, who completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern California. I’d grown the goatee for my role in The Tomb, a prison movie with Sylvester Stallone. Cindy Gold
For my fiftieth birthday, July 30, 1997, Maria surprised me with this poster. It’s a still life of tchotchkes and hobbies showing what I was all about: hiking, Hummers, fine pipes and watches, drawing in pen and ink, stogies and schnapps, being a dad, chess and pool, tennis and golf, movie scripts, motorcycles and leather, the history of weightlifting, and the future of bodybuilding. My list of interests has only grown since then. Schwarzenegger Archive