Bob Rafelson, the director of ‘Five Easy Pieces’, died Saturday, aged 89. Not only did he become one of the key architects of the New Hollywood of the 1970s, but he also gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his start in film.

The seven-time Mr. Olympia, who was repeatedly denied acting opportunities because of his build and accent, hadn’t caught a break since his first title role in ‘Hercules in New York’. Then came Rafelson with the offer of ‘Stay Hungry’, his first serious acting role.

Arnold Schwarzenegger pays tribute to Bob Rafelson

Upon hearing the news of Bob Rafelson’s death, Arnold Schwarzenegger took to social media to pay his respects and write in remembrance of the overlooked auteur. “Bob Rafelson was a genius and a visionary,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’ve talked for years about how agents, producers, & directors laughed me and my dreams of being an actor out of their offices. It was Bob who finally opened the door to Hollywood and let me in with ‘Stay Hungry.’”

Now, fans hail Schwarzenegger as one of the biggest action heroes of the 80s. But initially, the young bodybuilder found himself strapped for work. But his dreams of starring on the silver screen hit quite a few roadblocks. They told him that his hard-to-pronounce last name, thick Austrian accent, and over-developed muscles made him less marketable for Hollywood.

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His first principal role in a serious movie came as ‘Stay Hungry’, directed by Bob Rafelson. “He saw something the others didn’t, and he helped make my dream into a reality. He was a fantastic director, teacher, mentor, and friend. I’m so grateful that I got to work with him and get to know him,” Schwarzenegger continued.

READ MORE: Arnold Schwarzenegger Once Revealed Why He Decided to Promote the Sport of Bodybuilding

Rafelson: a director ahead of the curve

Bob Rafelson’s directorial debut in 1968 started with ‘Head’, a Monkees movie that proved too weird for young fans and “too Monkees” for the film fanatics. But over time, the movie gained positive reassessment, and it wasn’t the last time Rafelson would be ahead of his time.

He became a key player in the Hollywood New Wave and created the 1970s drama ‘Five Easy Pieces’. The Oscar-nominated feature film stands as one of the most influential works of the era with its caustic viewpoints on class and conformity in America. Its raw emotional power remains untouched even over five decades later.

Just like he gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his start in Hollywood, Rafelson also helped launch Jack Nicholson’s career. As the bodybuilding legend puts it, “The best way any of us can honor Bob’s unbelievable life is to remember that there is always someone out there waiting for a door to be opened to their dreams, and each of us has the power to let them in like Bob did over and over throughout his fantastic career.”

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