Stars From 'The Terminator': Then & Now May 22nd, 2009 Christian Bale in 'Terminator Salvation' Backstage meltdowns aside, we're excited to see "Terminator Salvation." The fourth film in the "Terminator" franchise (now released 25 years after the original) looks like it's going to live up to its predecessors in terms of post-apocalyptic plot and state-of-the-art visual effects. But it fills us with nostalgia for the cast of the first three films and makes us wonder, "Where are they now?"See "The Terminator" Stars Through the Years >>Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Schwarzenegger: Then T-800 in "The Terminator," "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," and "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"The bodybuilder-turned-actor had pretty much only appeared onscreen with an oiled chest or a loincloth before he was cast in the title role of "The Terminator." That one film launched an epic action star and gave us one of the greatest tag lines in movie history. Say it with us: "I'll be back." And he was -- for two "Terminator" sequels -- the only actor to appear in all of the first three films.Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Schwarzenegger: Now The Terminator is now the Governator. The Republican took office in California following a recall election in 2003 and was re-elected in 2006. There are rumors of a Senate run in 2010, but Arnold's Austrian birth precludes him from a bid for the Oval Office, barring any significant (and once-rumored) changes to the Constitution. In the meantime the movie star hasn't given up acting altogether. While running the state and balancing budgets, Arnold found time to make an appearance in 2010's "The Expendables," written, directed by, and starring his pal Sylvester Stallone along with fellow action stars Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren.Corey Feldman Linda Hamilton: Then Sarah Connor in "The Terminator," "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," and Terminator Salvation (voice only)After a string of TV appearances, including the soap "Secrets of Midland Heights" and a starring role in the cult classic "Children of the Corn," Linda Hamilton became a silver-screen success in "The Terminator." Between "T1" and "T2" she scored on the small screen as well with her Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated role of Catherine Chandler on "Beauty and the Beast." She left the series in 1989 and, we can only imagine, spent all her time pumping iron -- lots of it -- to get those incredibly cut arms she sported in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." All the hard work paid off: Linda took home two of pop-culture's highest honors, the 1992 MTV Movie Awards for Best Female Performance and Most Desirable Female.Linda Hamilton Linda Hamilton: NowLinda's worked consistently since her "Terminator" films but has yet to enjoy another major success (and before you start posting your comments, NO, we do not consider "Dante's Peak" a success). Her most intense dramatic role in the '90s, however, was the one she played in her divorce from director James Cameron. The two had met while filming "T1," worked together again on "T2," and were married in 1997. He even offered her a part in a little film he was working on called "Titanic." But she turned down the part of Molly Brown, and it went to Kathy Bates instead. Maybe if Linda had been on the set every day her marriage wouldn't have hit an iceberg in the form of Suzy Amis (who played Lizzy Calvert in the film). When Hamilton learned of her husband's affair, she filed for divorce. Her settlement was of titanic proportions: roughly $50 million.Michael Biehn Michael Biehn: Then Kyle Reese in The TerminatorMichael Biehn had been steadily climbing the Hollywood ladder for seven years, with appearances on "James at 15" and "Family" and film work in "The Fan" and "The Lords of Discipline." But he got his big break in '84 as the hero in the mega-action flick, "The Terminator." He would surely be the breakout star. After all, he was the handsome good guy, and the other dude, who played the villain, was some bodybuilder/cult-movie actor with an unpronounceable name and only 17 lines of dialogue. And yet 25 years later we had to struggle to remember Michael Biehn's name. And Arnold -- well, he doesn't even need that unpronounceable surname any more.Michael Biehn Michael Biehn: NowBiehn followed "Terminator" with roles in James Cameron's "Aliens" and "The Abyss" and a few more movies before turning to TV. There he seemed to land one short-lived series after another, including "The Magnificent Seven," "Adventure Inc.," and "Hawaii." All the while he never quite found that next big role. We're not sure if any of his upcoming films will help him break back into the mainstream, but with parts like Policeman in "Young Americans" and Detective Marling in "Psych 9," we have our doubts.Edward Furlong Edward Furlong: Then As John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment DayFurlong was not an aspiring child star when casting director Mali Finn noticed him at the Boys Club of Pasadena and asked if he'd like to audition for the new "Terminator" movie. Nonetheless, he won the role of John Connor and seemed to be on the path to big-budget movie superstardom.Edward Furlong Edward Furlong: Now After "T2," Furlong took parts in indie and edgy films like "Pecker" and "American History X," avoiding the big-budget blockbusters that had thrust him into the spotlight. Although he was considered to reprise John Connor in "T3," he turned it down. Eddie hasn't stopped working, but that hasn't kept him out of personal trouble. Known to have drug and alcohol problems, Furlong has had several run-ins with the law, including two separate DUI incidents in 2001 and an arrest in 2004 for drunkenly trying to remove lobsters from a Kentucky grocery store in the name of animal rights.Robert Patrick Robert Patrick: Then T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment DayUnless you were a big fan of "Warlords of Hell," "Killer Instinct," or "Future Hunters," you probably hadn't heard of Robert Patrick before "Terminator 2." But he'll go down in movie history as the first guy to really morph before our very eyes (OK, we know the first morphing was done in "Willow" and that Cameron used the effect in "The Abyss"; settle down, visual effects fans), back and forth between a lock-jawed cop and a shiny silver snake. He didn't say much. He didn't need to. His steely stare was chilling.Robert Patrick Robert Patrick: NowRobert's appeared in two or three movies a year since his "T2" breakthrough, including "Rosewood" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." He was also a regular on the TV series "The X Files" and "The Unit." Busy guy. This year will be no different: he's got four movies slated for release, including "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and "Freedom for Joe."Nick Stahl Nick Stahl: Then John Connor in Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesThe 24-year-old Stahl was already a veteran actor when he was cast as John Connor in "Terminator 3." From his first gig in the TV movie "Stranger at My Door" at age 12 to his first acclaimed performance, alongside Mel Gibson, in "The Man Without a Face," to his Screen Actors Guild nomination (Best Ensemble Performance) for "In the Bedroom," Stahl was without a doubt a promising young actor. So it's not surprising that he beat out more high-profile young stars like Shane West for "T3."Nick Stahl Nick Stahl: NowStahl followed his "T3" turn as a series regular on HBO's cult-classic series "Carnivale." He went on to a string of movies, including "Sin City" and "My One and Only," and has six films due in 2009: "In NorthWood," "Kalamity," "Burning Palms," "The Speed of Thought," "Everything Will Happen Before You Die," and "The Chameleon."Claire Danes Claire Danes: Then Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesMaybe it was her role as introspective teen Angela Chase on "My So-Called Life" or her turn as Juliet to Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's ultra-hip retelling of the ultimate Shakespearean romance, but we were shocked when Claire Danes was cast in one of the biggest action movies of all time. We know she'd played an undercover cop in the film adaptation of "The Mod Squad," but could she compare to the ultra-tough everywoman, Linda Hamilton? Big shoes to fill, but she did just fine.Claire Danes Claire Danes: NowAfter "T3," Danes returned to more subdued roles, such as Mirabelle in Steve Martin's quirky love story "Shopgirl" and Julie Morton in the Sarah Jessica Parker Christmas tale, "The Family Stone." Off-screen her life was far more interesting. First she dated Aussie indie darling Ben Lee for almost six years (before he went on to marry Ione Skye). Then she got wrapped up with her "Stage Beauty" co-star, Billy Crudup. That would have been OK, but Billy was living with his pregnant girlfriend, Mary-Louse Parker, at the time, and he left her just two months before their baby was born to be with Claire. But in a perfect turn of celebrity love karma, Danes dumped Billy for her "Evening" co-star, Hugh Dancy. This seems to be the end of Claire's love rollercoaster -- she and Hugh were engaged in February.Kristanna Loken Kristanna Loken: Then T-X in Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesLoken's stunning good looks landed her a slew of TV guest spots ("Law & Order," "Lois & Clark," and "Just Shoot Me!" to name a few) and roles on shows like "Unhappily Ever After, "Mortal Kombat: Conquest," and "D.C." But that one big film part had eluded her, until she was cast as the Terminatrix in "Terminator 3."Kristanna Loken Kristanna Loken: ThenAfter "T3," Loken returned to her TV roots as a regular on "Ring of the Nibelungs," "Painkiller Jane," and "The L Word." But she heads back to the big screen in two very different movies this year: the comedy "The Legend of Awesomest Maximus," co-starring Will Sasso and Ian Ziering, and the drama "Darfur," co-starring another "Terminator" alum, Eddie Furlong.James Cameron James Cameron: Then Director of "The Terminator," "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," James Cameron had only written and directed one film prior to "The Terminator," a low low-budget (we're talking $20,000 low) short called "Xenogenesis" that was allegedly funded by a group of dentists. Hey, if four out of five dentists recommend this guy, who wouldn't give him a shot at a big action movie? But shockingly, "T1" wasn't that big of a financial risk. The film cost only $6.4 million to make and went on to earn almost $80 million worldwide. Now that would put a smile on any studio executive's face.James Cameron James Cameron: NowCameron has gone on to become one of the most innovative and financially successful directors of all time. He pushed the visual effects boundaries not only in the "Terminator" franchise but also in such films as "Aliens" and "The Abyss." And his 1997 epic, "Titanic," still holds the #1 all-time box office spot, with a $1.8 billion take despite the onslaught of "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" movies that have vied for the position. There are also high hopes for Cameron's next sci-fi blockbuster, "Avatar," currently in post-production and due out December 18.
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