In a moment that perfectly blends Hollywood legacy and classic family humor, legendary actor Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted he was just as surprised as everyone else to see his son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, showcasing his physique on Season 3 of *The White Lotus*. The revelation came during a recent *Actors on Actors* session featured in Variety, where the 77-year-old action icon shared a candid and lighthearted conversation with his son.
“I’m watching your show, and I’m watching you with your butt sticking out there,” Arnold recalled. “And I see the weenie, and I said, ‘What is going on here?’ This is crazy! And then I said to myself, ‘Well, Arnold, hello, you did the same thing in Conan and in Terminator and all those films. You were naked, so don’t complain about it.’ But it was kind of like a shock to me, that you would follow in my footsteps that closely.”
Patrick, who arguably had his breakout moment with his role in Season 3 of *The White Lotus*, has actually been steadily building his acting career for years. Prior to his appearance on *The White Lotus*, he appeared in the 2022 true crime miniseries *The Staircase* and the 2024 sports drama *American Sports Story*. However, many fans still consider his standout performance in the 2019 psychological horror film *Daniel Isn’t Real*—where he played the chillingly charismatic imaginary friend opposite Miles Robbins—as his most compelling work to date.
While Patrick continues to carve out his own identity in Hollywood, his father remains an enduring cultural icon. Schwarzenegger first gained attention with his role in the 1970 film *Hercules in New York*, but it was his unforgettable portrayal of the T-800 in the *Terminator* franchise that solidified his place in cinematic history. Although he hasn’t appeared in a major film since 2019, Arnie has remained active in the entertainment industry, starring in Netflix’s comedy series *FUBAR* since 2023. Fans can also look forward to seeing him in two upcoming projects: *Kung Fury 2* and *The Man With the Bag*.
