Arnold Schwarzenegger is the embodiment of versatility and dexterity. As a bodybuilder, actor, politician, writer, producer, and businessperson, he metamorphosed his skill set to cater to the demands of the role he played. More than five decades have passed since coming to the U.S., yet the Terminator star holds a thick Austrian accent. It makes one wonder why he couldn’t change his accent.

Arnold dreamt of coming to the United States from a very young age. The Austrian-born American actor stepped on the soil of the land of dreams with the bare minimum to become one of the most influential personalities in the world. Interestingly, in the interview with Jimmy Kimmel, the Austrian-American actor attributed his accent to his then-rival, Sly, but there’s a compelling reason for it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a dig at his rival turned-friend Sly

Kimmel asked, “How is it possible that your accent has not subsided even to the slightest degree?” While the audience and the host were keenly waiting to hear this response, Arnie broke all their expectations and assumptions by giving a response that was impossible to guess. “I think it has to do that I’m hanging out with Sly every so often.”

Arnie’s response is opposed to the popular belief about their rivalry. In his words, “In the ‘80s, he[Sly] was just a rival.” Furthermore, he explained the level of competitiveness they had during their peak. “It was all about who is making bigger movies, who has more definition in their muscles, who has more box office success, who kills more people (pauses) creatively, who has bigger knives, who has bigger guns..”

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Arnold and Sylvester Stallone dominated Hollywood during the ‘80s with their action movies. Besides their popularity as blockbuster stars on-screen, they are widely renowned for their epic rivalry. However, their recent reunion has won more hearts, proving their dominance off-screen as well.

Schwarzenegger purposely held on to the accent

The Austrian Oak once claimed he could speak perfect English. But he continues to speak with a sprinkle of Austrian slang because his fans expect it. “It’s now become such a big part of me, the accent, that people really enjoy it,” Arnold explained in a 2015 interview. Moreover, he added that his accent impeded the initial phase of his career, which later became his biggest asset.

Schwarzenegger’s debut in Hercules in 1969 was dubbed due to his strong accent. From dubbing to becoming one of the most imitated accents is a testimony of Arnold’s magnificent contribution to Hollywood through his stellar performances.

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