You Won’t Believe Arnold’s Most Crucial Terminator Character

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic portrayals of killer cyborgs have defined the Terminator franchise for decades, from his original role as the relentless T-800 in 1984 to his return as the reprogrammed protector in subsequent sequels. Yet buried in a little-seen sequence from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines lies a forgotten role that might be his most significant contribution to the series’ lore—not as a machine, but as the human model who inspired the Terminator design.

Schwarzenegger as Sergeant William Candy
In a tongue-in-cheek sequence included as a DVD bonus for Terminator 3, Schwarzenegger plays Sergeant William Candy, a cheerful military man whose likeness was used as the template for Cyberdyne’s humanoid Terminators. The scene unfolds as a promotional video shown to military brass, showcasing Cyberdyne’s early Terminator models before introducing Candy. Unlike the stoic, Austrian-accented cyborg audiences are familiar with, Candy speaks in an exaggerated, high-pitched American drawl. When the generals express distaste for the accent, a Cyberdyne scientist—voiced by Schwarzenegger’s real voice—chimes in, assuring them the accent can be altered.

The Strange, Comedic Heart of the Scene
Though played for laughs, the Sergeant Candy segment offers a bizarre but oddly fitting explanation for why so many Terminator models resemble Schwarzenegger. In a franchise where Skynet has personified itself and cyborgs have settled into suburban life, the notion of a prototype human “face” for Terminators doesn’t feel far-fetched—it’s just presented in a particularly offbeat way.

Canon or Not, Candy’s Legacy Endures
The status of Sergeant Candy as official franchise canon is murky. The scene never made it into Terminator 3’s theatrical cut and exists only as a DVD bonus feature and an Easter egg in a Terminator 3 video game. Technically, it’s not considered a deleted scene, but rather a humorous nod to fans. Whether viewers choose to embrace it as canon is a matter of personal preference, but its impact on the series’ mythology is undeniable.

In a world where many Terminators inexplicably look like Schwarzenegger, Candy provides an origin story—albeit a quirky one. While not integral to the Terminator narrative, it’s a reminder of the franchise’s capacity for both gravitas and absurdity. And for Schwarzenegger, Sergeant Candy represents a unique twist on his Terminator legacy: not just as the face of the machines, but as the man who inspired them.