Chris Pratt on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Parenting Legacy: The Surprising Discipline Katherine Inherited

When it comes to parenting, Chris Pratt says his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, has picked up a few strict habits from her father, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Guardians of the Galaxy star recently opened up about their different parenting styles during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Pratt explained that Katherine’s approach as a mother reflects what he calls an “Austrian toughness,” a nod to her dad’s famously firm discipline. “As a parenting team, she is… more of the authoritarian,” Pratt said, noting that his father-in-law’s methods have clearly left an impression.

Schwarzenegger, known for his no-nonsense style both on and off the screen, raised his five children—Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher (from his marriage to Maria Shriver) as well as Joseph Baena (from his relationship with Mildred Baena)—with a firm hand. Patrick once revealed that his dad punished him for not making his bed by tossing the mattress into the pool. Katherine, too, experienced her father’s tough love when her shoes were thrown into the fireplace after she left them scattered around.

Now, as parents to three children—Lyla, 4, Eloise, 2, and baby Ford, born in November 2024—Katherine and Chris are balancing their inherited and learned parenting styles. Pratt also has a 12-year-old son, Jack, from his previous marriage to Anna Faris.

The actor admitted that he himself grew up with a father whose old-school parenting methods left a lasting impression. “I was pretty scared of my dad,” Pratt recalled, though he has consciously chosen a different approach with his kids.

Even so, he shared a humorous anecdote about his daughter Lyla’s tough demeanor: “She’s sweet, but she’ll say something like, ‘I’ll cut your eyeballs out.’”

Pratt also touched on how his parenting can vary depending on the child, revealing in a May 2024 interview that he’s “wrapped around their finger” when it comes to his daughters. “I hate to make generalizations based on gender, but in my experience, girls are more emotional,” he told E! News.

While Katherine may channel some of her father’s stern tendencies, it’s clear the couple is carving out their own unique parenting dynamic—one that blends tough love, humor, and genuine affection.