Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger recently shared insights into his upbringing and career during the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s “The White Lotus.” The son of Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed a childhood shaped by frequent travel related to his father’s career and philanthropy,as well as his approach to balancing work and personal life as an actor.Schwarzenegger also touched on his recent marriage to Abby Champion and his experience joining the highly-regarded series, revealing a playful push from his mother and sister to audition for the role.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, 32, shared stories of a childhood spent traveling between the U.S. and Europe, following his father Arnold’s work. The actor’s comments came during the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s hit series, “The White Lotus.”
“When he became governor of California [from 2003 to 2011], we’d go up to Sacramento to visit him, going on hikes and visiting the desert,” Patrick told a media outlet.
“My dad really loved being in California. He felt it had everything, from beaches and skiing to mountains and desert,” Patrick said, adding that he feels the same way about California, where he currently lives.
“In California, you can drive an hour in any direction – without traffic – and feel like you’re in a completely different place,” the actor explained. This versatility has long been a draw for both residents and productions in the Golden State.
The “Terminal List” actor also reminisced about opportunities to travel through his involvement with the Special Olympics, founded in 1968 by his grandmother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. As a volunteer at the World Games, Patrick traveled to China, Greece, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
“One of my earliest memories is going to South Africa for the Special Olympics,” he said, describing the trips as “amazing travel experiences.”
Schwarzenegger also discussed balancing work and leisure while filming in various locations around the globe.
“If I’m in Thailand, I’ll bring my wife, and we’ll do something there, and when I was filming in London this summer, we traveled around Europe,” he said, referring to Abby Champion, whom he married in September 2025.
“It’s more about combining vacation with work, which is a strategic thing,” he said.
Patrick spoke with “People” in February 2025 about joining the third season of “The White Lotus,” explaining, “Every time we’d watch the show… my mom would always say, ‘Why didn’t you audition for this? Why didn’t you audition for this?’ And my sister said, ‘You need to call your agents right away. It’s funny that you’re not in the show, that you didn’t even audition,’” he said of his 70-year-old mother, Maria. The show’s popularity has made it a coveted role for rising actors.
