A Perfect Match for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bodybuilder With 50-Inch Back Found His Dream Role as T-800 in 2015

Arnold Schwarzenegger was among the most genetically gifted bodybuilders of all time. Even today, bodybuilding legends like Ronnie Coleman say no one has Schwarzenegger’s chest and biceps genetics. Arnie was also among the tallest Mr. Olympia winners standing 6’1″ tall. His physique also stood head and shoulders above everyone else when he started becoming a Hollywood action star.

Hence, portraying a young Schwarzenegger in a film today is a monumental task. Few bodybuilders in the world can match the unique blend of size and aesthetics that the seven-time Mr. Olympia brought to the stage and the silver screen. However, in 2015, the Terminator: Genisys makers?“scoured the earth”?to find a suitable body double to portray Arnie in his prime. Here’s who they found.

The man with the 50-inch back who portrayed Arnold Schwarzenegger

YouTuber Luke Sherran recently discussed how filmmakers discovered Brett Azar in 2015 to serve as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body double. Although Azar is recognized for his role as the Iron Sheikh in the Young Rock TV series, he also portrayed a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in two Terminator franchise films. In 2015, the production team of Terminator: Genisys took note of Azar’s physical measurements.

“We contacted my agent to find guys with certain measurements and it wasn’t just… bicep and chest and waist, it was like elbow to wrist,” explained Luke Sherran in the video. Although Azar fell slightly short on the Austrian Oak’s measurements, he had Arnie’s 50-inch back. The rest of his physique also matches Schwarzenegger’s proportions.

Surprisingly, Brett Azar didn’t even know who he was going to play when he got picked. “Playing the Terminator was a dream path for Brett (Azar),” said Sherran. The bodybuilder with the 50-inch back also portrayed the iconic T-800 in?Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). However, the 2019 film nearly got delayed.

The Austrian Oak overcame a massive challenge

When Schwarzenegger filmed Terminator: Dark Fate he was coming off of his third heart surgery. Shortly before filming started, the seven-time Mr. Olympia got his third heart valve replacement. However, the surgery didn’t go smoothly as doctors had accidentally caused a superficial wound in his heart. So the Terminator star had to undergo two surgeries before filming.

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However, the then-71-year-old refused to let the circumstances dictate the outcome. The Governator started walking with the help of a walker. His immediate goal was to get rid of it so he walked every day. Soon, the former Mr. Universe was back in the gym. Schwarzenegger had realistic expectations and made a steady recovery. Hence, Schwarzenegger didn’t let his surgery delay filming.

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Did you know that the Iron Sheikh from Young Rock played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body double in not one but two Terminator films? Tell us in the comments.