# Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest actor since . . .
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 3, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348 "2003-09-03T16:45:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/21 "2003-09-04T02:17:40Z")
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> \*Originally posted by Chronos \*
> \*\*How bright in the brains department to people perceive Schwartzencreature to be? \*\*
Since the polls show him doing fairly well, I am going to take a giant leap of logic here and say that alot of people obviously think he is smart and able to do the job.
Another corollary between Reagan and Schwarzy is neither of them served in the military yet they played enough soldiers that there is probably the misconception that they did actually serve.
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### Author:  [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/22 "2003-09-04T11:53:15Z")
…Pam Anderson’s implants.
…the MGM lion.
…Larry King playing himself in coutless film cameos.
Because of his success in the business sector, especially his very profitable real estate investments, and his marrying into a wealthy and powerful political family despite his politics being different from theirs, Arnie is given credit for being smarter than his screen image. Not exactly setting the bar very high, but considering the number of actors who seem to be dumber than the roles they play (Keanu, Melanie Griffith, etc) I guess it’s a mark of distinction to some.
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/23 "2003-09-04T12:53:59Z")
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> Reason for above answer is look at all the parallels. Both pretty bad actors but popular nonetheless, political aspirations, not as bright in the brains department as people perceive them to be.
The Big S is an intelligent guy. He successfully stood as a leading man in Hollywod for years, and that’s no mean feat. By all accounts he’s well spoken, albeit with an strong but not overwhelming accent, earned his economics degree the hard way, and has displayed a strong ability to focus hismelf on task.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/24 "2003-09-04T12:59:15Z")
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> \*Originally posted by deb2world \*
> Another corollary between Reagan and Schwarzy is neither of them served in the military yet they played enough soldiers that there is probably the misconception that they did actually serve.
Arnie served in the Austrian army (service was mandatory) before he moved to the US.
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### Author:  [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/25 "2003-09-04T13:02:07Z")
…Jennifer Lopez
i only hope to god she doesnt run for governer.
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### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/26 "2003-09-04T13:14:25Z")
Jennifer Lopez? That could only have been written by someone who didn’t see _Out of Sight._ She was poised to be a pretty decent leading lady before she decided to do a pop album. This unfortunately tarnished her credibility before everyone got to see how good she was onscreen. Too bad; wish she’d never done the music thing; but I’ll never avoid a movie on her behalf.
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### Author:  [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/27 "2003-09-04T15:34:03Z")
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> \*Originally posted by friedo \*
> \*\*Arnie served in the Austrian army (service was mandatory) before he moved to the US. \*\*
And Ronnie was in the Army Air Corps.
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### Author:  [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/28 "2003-09-04T18:10:40Z")
> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by friedo \*
> \*\*Arnie served in the Austrian army (service was mandatory) before he moved to the US. \*\*
> [@](#):
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> _Originally posted by Balle\_M \*
> \*\* And Ronnie was in the Army Air Corps_\*
Oops, my bad. The memory has once again failed me. I read Reagan’s autobiography years ago. The only thing I remember about it was how poorly he wrote. It was written about a 5th grade level.
I notice that Arnie has obviously taken some speaking classes. When he 1st announce his intention to run, he added multiple vowels to the state name that aren’t there. Now he has is saying California almost like a native, but not quite. I don’t know why, but this bothers me.
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### Author:  [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/29 "2003-09-04T18:18:41Z")
I know what I did with respect to Reagan’s military service, I confused him with John Wayne :smack: Both over-rated actors in my opinion.
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### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/30 "2003-09-04T18:59:29Z")
Wayne didn’t have much of a range, but _Rio Bravo,_ just for one example, would not have worked nearly as well with anyone else in his place.
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### Author:  [@Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Live_Better_Electrically)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/31 "2003-09-04T19:35:54Z")
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> I confused him with John Wayne Both over-rated actors in my opinion.
I don’t think Wayne’s acting is overrated–his popularity is because he has such distinctive film presence that he sticks in your mind. Schwartzenegger might be the same way. Whether or not he can act is almost beside the point. Jimmy Durante, too, could tell the lamest old jokes and people would laugh because of the force of his personality and appearance. Wayne at least made some fairly poignant films, such as _Angel and the Badman_ and _Stagecoach_.
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### Author:  [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/32 "2003-09-05T00:22:03Z")
Wayne had several acting roles to his credit that showed there was more to his acting than just the iconic image most remember: John Ford’s Cavalry trilogy, _Stagecoach, The Searchers, Red River, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, and True Grit_ (a comic send-up of his own image with touches of Wallace Beery mixed in). Wayne was even nominated for an Best Actor Oscar for _The Sand Of Iwo Jima_, although his performance in that film helped form the popular image of Wayne.
Reagan’s only really distinguished himself as an actor in one film: _Kings Row_. He was a mostly star of B-level movies, light comedies, and cookie-cutter action/adventure fare. The one time he played an out and out villain, in the remake of _The Killers_, he proved to be a rather hapless and weak bad guy.
Schwarzenegger has been clever enough to play to his strengths during his prime, roles emphasizing his body and strength, action fare that was suitably serious and grim (the first _Conan_ and _The Terminator_ films), or comedic films where his size, appearance, and voice were sources of humor because of his larger than life persona. I’ve read reviews and articles that referred to him as a living special effect, he commanded attention just by stepping into the frame.
As he has aged and special effects have developed and expanded he has been surpassed by what filmmakers can do. In a CGI era where Tom Cruise and even the _Charlie’s Angels_ girls can play at being action heroes due to wirework and computer graphics, Arnold seems less “special” and his recent films show it. He doesn’t have the range to move into serious dramatic roles, and dialogue-driven films would be laughable for all the wrong reasons. Can you see him reading David Mamet dialogue? Check out the 1980 TV movie _The Jayne Mansfield Story_ with Arnie playing Mickey Hargitay sometime. It was fairly early in his acting career, but still evidence of his acting limits.
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### Author:  [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/33 "2003-09-05T07:26:09Z")
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> \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \*
> \*\*earned his economics degree the hard way \*\*
His degree is in business administration, not economics. He earned it through a few correspondence courses plus credit for life experience. Not exactly the hard way.
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### Author:  [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/34 "2003-09-05T08:19:43Z")
> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by lissener \*
> \*\*Jennifer Lopez? That could only have been written by someone who didn’t see _Out of Sight._ She was poised to be a pretty decent leading lady before she decided to do a pop album. This unfortunately tarnished her credibility before everyone got to see how good she was onscreen. Too bad; wish she’d never done the music thing; but I’ll never avoid a movie on her behalf. \*\*
Ive seen Out of Sight. which is the only decent thing shes ever been in. being in one good film does not make you a decent actor, the same as sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.
i avoid her films like the plague, although im going to go see gigli for comedy value if they even bother to release it over here.:dubious:
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### Author:  [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/35 "2003-09-05T11:53:41Z")
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> \*Originally posted by kawliga \*
> \*\*His degree is in business administration, not economics. He earned it through a few correspondence courses plus credit for life experience. Not exactly the hard way. \*\*
I thought the credit for life experience was used to be accepted into the degree and you still had to pass the tests actually get it, even if you never had to attend class to pass the exams. Am I wrong?
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/36 "2003-09-05T12:13:37Z")
Bill the Cat!
Ack!
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### Author:  [@Kobaltblu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobaltblu)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/37 "2003-09-05T12:39:26Z")
lex barker
maria montez
tor johnson
_classic actor category_
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/38 "2003-09-05T12:57:14Z")
Stever Reeves
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/39 "2003-09-05T12:58:53Z")
Aaaagh. I’m retarded. that should read “Steve Reeves”
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### Author:  [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-since/199348/40 "2003-09-05T17:52:46Z")
Hey, if you want something visual that’s not too abysmal we could take in an old Steve Reeves movie.
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