Sometimes, the most honest answers come from a place of self-reflection. Take it from Patrick Schwarzenegger, who didn’t sugarcoat his feelings when talking about his decision to not act alongside his dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger. We mean, imagine being asked that question a thousand times!
It’s the kind of pressure that could easily make anyone crack. But not The White Lotus star. He dug deep, reflecting on his career path, and in a candid conversation on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he revealed exactly why he chose to carve his own path, away from the shadow of his legendary father.
Let’s be honest here—following in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s massive footsteps can’t be easy. But his son, with his own career ambitions, had his reasons for wanting to stand on his own two feet.
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s honest take on the father-son acting dilemma
During his recent chat on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Patrick Schwarzenegger admitted that the question of working with his father often comes up in interviews. But here’s the thing—he never really wanted to act alongside his legendary dad in a movie.
It wasn’t about disliking the idea of working with his dad, it was about protecting his own career and happiness. Even if the movie was a hit, Schwarzenegger felt it would somehow diminish his own achievements. After all, how could he fully enjoy his success if people just saw him as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son?
Patrick explained,
I get asked the most is like why have you not why haven’t you done a movie with your dad um and that’s one of the reasons is just I I didn’t want to I really didn’t want to work with him because I didn’t feel like I would feel happy doing that um whether insecurity, it was in an amazing movie or not like I just felt like that to me would be, you know, not advancing the career that I wanted to build and I wouldn’t feel like I earned it.
For him, it was important to build something on his own. He didn’t want to ride the coattails of his father’s name, even if that meant rejecting potential opportunities that might seem like a natural pairing. As Patrick continued,
It becomes the story and I could imagine like at a certain point in your life maybe that makes sense but it’s like when you’re building something from the ground up and you want to build it on your own.
Totally, totally, like now if he asked me if there was a cool script that had some sort of father-son thing, you know, like great I would be I’d be open to it but I wanted to feel like I was building my own reputation, my own career without him in a way I know everything will be included with him everyone will think that but, you know, I wanted to for myself.
Patrick, like many in the ‘nepo kid’ category, insisted on rejecting the notion that his success is a mere byproduct of his famous family. The weight of building his career independently was essential for him. He needed to prove to himself and others that he had the chops, the grit, and the talent to succeed—not because of his father’s legendary status but because of his own ability.
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s on near-misses and new beginnings
Though not all his auditions went according to plan, Patrick Schwarzenegger’s honesty about his near-miss with superhero roles is equally refreshing. One of the most notable roles he auditioned for was Superman in James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe movie. But it didn’t quite work out. In fact, he didn’t even make it to the costume fitting. During his chat with Josh Horowitz, he joked,
I don’t think I got any feedback. I think it was like, ‘No, not for you.’
But, as with most things in life, the doors that close often lead to the ones that open. Patrick didn’t land the Superman role, but soon after, he found himself starring in HBO’s The White Lotus, a huge break that probably softened the blow. As he shared,
And then it was fine, because right after that, I got The White Lotus.
At 31, Patrick Schwarzenegger has certainly made a name for himself. From his debut in The Benchwarmers to roles in The Staircase and American Sports Story, he’s slowly been building his own career. With his role as Saxon Ratliff in The White Lotus Season 3, he is clearly stepping out from his father’s towering legacy and showing the world his true potential.
His journey reminds us that while having a famous last name might open a few doors, it’s the talent, grit, and authenticity that ultimately hold them open. But more than anything, it’s Patrick Schwarzenegger’s commitment to creating a career based on his own merits, not his dad’s shadow, that stands out.
The White Lotus can be streamed on Max.
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