“It’s the wrong Terminator, how dare you”: Robert Patrick Gives Fan a Hard Time Who Showed Up With an Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator Head
- Robert Patrick’s portrayal of T-1000 in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' set a new standard for sci-fi villains.
- Patrick channeled his T-1000 persona during a meet-and-greet session, almost scaring a fan.
- Patrick’s went through intense physical preparation, like breath control while sprinting.
The Terminator franchise has undoubtedly given some of the most iconic sci-fi characters in movie history. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor have now become unforgettable faces. But Robert Patrick’s T-1000 is one character that is still considered one of the greatest sci-fi villains.
The way Patrick played the shape-shifting assassin in Terminator 2: Judgment Day became a game changer. It was cold, menacing, and completely different from Schwarzenegger’s T-800, which was mostly about brute force. And even years after its release, it seems like Patrick still enjoys being in character.
Robert Patrick Channels His Inner Terminator In Front of Fans
Terminator 2: Judgment Day was released in 1991. The story was about John Connor being hunted by Patrick’s advanced T-1000 character, and Schwarzenegger’s T-800 was reprogrammed to protect him as Connor would be the future leader of human resistance.
Robert Patrick’s T-1000 was a new kind of threat at that time. He could shape-shift, heal from any injury, and was almost indestructible. The special effects and CGI in the movie are still considered ahead of their time, and Patrick’s performance made it more terrifying.
During a meet and greet session, a fan learned the hard way that it is better to come prepared to meet T-1000, even off-screen. Patrick thought to take a dig at the fan for bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s T-800 head to sign. He said to the fan (via Robert Patrick’s Instagram),
It’s the wrong Terminator. How dare you? The balls you’ve got to come up here with this f*cking T-800 Arnold Schwarzenegger bust. I’ve got a good mind to drop kick this son of a b*tch out of here..like the rugby player I am. I’m not signing this.
The fan didn’t expect the reaction and seemed a bit confused. But Patrick lightened the mood, saying, “I’m only having fun buddy. It’s called acting.” This funny interaction shows the impact of Patrick’s role among fans and on himself too.
Besides their on-screen rivalry, Patrick and Schwarzenegger actually got along during filming. In an interview with The Guardian, Patrick praised him as “one of the biggest personalities walking the planet right now.” Their movie is a part of pop culture now and is still considered the best movie of the franchise.
Robert Patrick’s Dedication to the Role of T-1000
Robert Patrick didn’t prepare just to act robotic in Terminator 2. He wanted to embody T-1000. His method acting for the role has become stuff of Hollywood legend. Patrick trained like an Olympic sprinter to nail the T-1000’s iconic running style.
As T-1000 is a machine, it doesn’t need to breathe. Patrick practiced running without showing any signs of fatigue or heavy breathing. He clenched his jaw and never opened his mouth to breathe while running, as it would make his character human. He even trained himself not to blink while firing guns. In The Empire Film Podcast, he explained,
I trained four times a day and physically got myself into it. I did it like a sprinter would: I locked eyes on a target and focused so there was no wasted energy.
Patrick’s performance was so impactful that it took a while for him to realize how it made him popular overnight. He told The Guardian about an incident where he was walking on the streets of Chicago and “people were just freaking out.” Patrick even looked around to confirm if they were reacting to him only or if there was someone else.
The fun part is that he was not even going to get the role if Billy Idol wouldn’t get injured in a motorcycle accident, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, it worked great for him as he became a part of the legend forever.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is available to stream on Netflix and Paramount+.
