Arnold Schwarzenegger is a living legend, a man who’s accomplished more in his lifetime than most people can dream of. From bodybuilding to acting to politics, he’s done it all – and he’s done it with style.
"They did not explode the window, I cut my wrist deep": Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Too Badas* to Stop Shooting After an Awful Hand Injury During 'Total Recall'

But even the toughest of the tough can get hurt, as Arnold Schwarzenegger found out during the filming of Total Recall. In an interview with Yahoo!

Entertainment, Schwarzenegger opened up about one of the most dangerous stunts he ever attempted on a movie set – and the shocking injury he sustained.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Close Call
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The scene in question involved him smashing through a train window with a gun, a classic action movie moment that Arnold Schwarzenegger was too happy to pull off himself.

But as he revealed in the interview, things didn’t exactly go according to plan.

“They did not explode the window before I hit the window with the gun, so therefore I cut my wrist deep. And I had to get stitched up during lunch break, which was at like midnight, because we were night shooting.”

Most people would be out of commission after an injury like that, but not Schwarzenegger. After getting stitched up, he returned to the set and finished filming the scene – all while keeping the injury hidden from view.

“We hid the bandages, we pulled the jacket to the front and taped it up so we don’t see the bandages.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall
That kind of dedication makes Arnold Schwarzenegger one of the greatest action stars ever. He’s not afraid to get hurt, and he’s not afraid to push himself to the limit to get the shot he wants.

That attitude has helped him create some of the most iconic moments in movie history, from his turn as the Terminator to his role in Total Recall.

Pushing for Recognition in Hollywood

This kind of determination is not unique to Arnold Schwarzenegger, either. Tom Cruise suffered a broken ankle during a stunt for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, causing production delays, but once again, he didn’t let that slow him down.

Similarly, Jackie Chan is another prominent action actor known for performing his stunts. He has a metal plate on his head from a fall while filming Armor of God II: Operation Condor.

Despite these injuries, the actor has continued to push himself and perform his stunts in his movies, often bringing a unique and entertaining element to his action scenes.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in hospital
Arnold Schwarzenegger in a hospital

While working on The Last Stand, Arnold Schwarzenegger also sustained a minor head injury but returned to work within an hour after being treated by the medical team.

In recognition of the risks that stunt performers take, there has been a growing movement to have the Academy Awards include a category for stunt work.