Which actor portrayed the Terminator in the original 1984 film?

Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed the Terminator in the original 1984 film, The Terminator.

Schwarzenegger plays a cybernetic assassin sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor before she can give birth to John, the future leader of the human resistance. Although the character is called the Terminator, the machine’s specific model is later identified as the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, built around a living-tissue exterior.

The role made Schwarzenegger internationally famous as an action star, even though the machine has relatively little dialogue. His imposing physical presence and heavily accented delivery helped define the character’s identity. In later films, Schwarzenegger returned as reprogrammed versions of similar machines, usually serving as an ally to the Connors.

The original film differs from the sequels because Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is the villain rather than the protector. Michael Biehn plays Kyle Reese, the resistance fighter sent back to protect Sarah.