THEN: Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger took one of his first major film roles as the murderous cyborg T-800. The rest, as they say, is cinematic history.
NOW: Besides being the governor of California, Schwarzenegger has had more iconic performances than you can count ranging from “Kindergarten Cop” to “Predator.” He'll be back in his most famous role once more for "Terminator Genisys."
She reprised Sarah Connor in 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." This time, she didn't need anyone to defend her honor. She could do it alone.
NOW: Hamilton hasn't wandered too far from science fiction, she could be seen for a few episodes on SyFy's "Defiance."
THEN: Michael Biehn played Kyle Reese, who came from the future to protect Sarah and her unborn child.
NOW: Biehn was cast in Cameron's 1986 movie "Aliens." He is set to return for Neill Blomkamp's upcoming "Alien" sequel.
THEN: Paul Winfield played Lieutenant Ed Traxler, one of the LAPD officers who tried to keep Sarah safe from Schwarzenegger's T-800.
NOW: Winfield passed away in 2004. His last role was in the TV series "Touched by an Angel," which ended in 2003.
THEN: Recognize the blue haired punk who unwittingly picked on the wrong cyborg? That's Bill Paxton.
NOW: Paxton got a more substantial role in a James Cameron film in 1986's "Aliens." He can now be seen in the History's mini-series "Texas Rising."
THEN: Edward Furlong played the young John Connor in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" long before he became leader of The Resistance.
NOW: Furlong starred in movies such as "American History X" and "Pecker" throughout the 1990s. In 2011, he was featured in "The Green Hornet."
In recent years, Furlong has battled alcoholism and drug addiction. He has been in and out of jail several times for charges of domestic violence. He most recently starred in the drama "Awakened."
(Source: E! Online)
THEN: Robert Patrick played T-1000, the villain of "Judgment Day" who was tasked with trying to kill John Connor.
NOW: Patrick can be seen all over TV. He had a recurring role in HBO's "True Blood." He can currently be seen in CBS's "Scorpion."
He also races in his spare time.
BONUS: Back in 1984, director James Cameron was a young, untested Canadian director with an ambitious idea for a sci-fi movie.
NOW: He's king of the movie world. Cameron won three Oscars for "Titanic." He is also responsible for "Aliens" and "Avatar," which is the highest-grossing film of all time.
In 2019, the rights to the "Terminator" franchise will go back to Cameron. Maybe one day we will get yet another Cameron-helmed "Terminator" film.