Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals the Gruesome Moment That Nearly Severed His Fingers on Set

Arnold Schwarzenegger may be known as one of Hollywood’s ultimate action heroes, but unlike many of his contemporaries, he never made it his mission to perform every dangerous stunt himself. Aware that pushing physical limits could derail a career—or worse—Schwarzenegger wisely left the hair-raising feats to trained professionals whenever possible. Yet even the shrewdest planning couldn’t prevent a near-tragic accident on the set of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

While Sylvester Stallone was making headlines for breaking bones and risking his life for the perfect take, Schwarzenegger took a more strategic approach. In his prime, he was not just an actor but a savvy businessman who ensured he got the best deals—without putting his body unnecessarily on the line. The main logistical challenge for Schwarzenegger was always finding a stunt double who could match his massive, bodybuilder frame. Fortunately, Peter Kent filled that role expertly through much of his early action career, including The Terminator, Predator, and The Running Man.

However, by the time Terminator 3 rolled around, Kent was no longer doubling for him. It was during this installment—ironically the first without his longtime double—that Schwarzenegger had his closest brush with serious injury.

The near-disaster occurred during one of the film’s most explosive sequences: the graveyard shootout, where the Terminator retrieves Sarah Connor’s coffin and fends off a swarm of police. The production chose to film much of the scene practically, relying on real explosions rather than CGI. In hindsight, it was a risky move.

Recalling the incident in an interview with Black Film, Schwarzenegger described the harrowing moment: “The whole casket was loaded up with little explosions that would go off, and the idea was to put one underneath my hand. In the middle of the shoot, I felt this unbelievable pain and this explosion going off underneath my finger, and I’m absolutely convinced that if I wouldn’t have had thick leather gloves, my fingers would’ve come off with that.”

Thankfully, the gloves saved him from catastrophic injury. Still, the aftermath was brutal—Schwarzenegger’s hand was left “unbelievably bruised for a long time,” and he required medical attention to deal with the damage.

Had the injury been worse, it would have been a serious blow to both Schwarzenegger and the production. After all, the studio had invested heavily in his return to the iconic role, with Schwarzenegger commanding one of the most lucrative paychecks of his career for Terminator 3.

Accidents on set are an unfortunate reality of filmmaking, especially in action-heavy blockbusters. Yet this incident serves as a reminder that even a calculated approach and the best safety measures can’t eliminate every risk—especially when real explosives are involved.

For Schwarzenegger, it was a painful but lucky escape. He kept all ten fingers intact—and lived to deliver the Terminator’s grim, steel-eyed stare for many films to come.