NIEK LAUWERS: TERMINATOR TOO!
The Life of an Arnold Impersonator!
Reported By: René de Jong
Sunday, May 14, 2000 - UPDATED PHOTOS ON Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Ever wish you looked like the great Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well Netherland's own Niek Lauwers was blessed at birth with the look of "The Oak" and explains all the advantages that comes with it.

Seven years ago, a new profession began for Niek Lauwers. When Lauwers, living in the Netherlands, went on vacation in the United States something happened that changed the rest of his life.

On a whim, Niek decided to shave off his mustache and change his current hair style. Without fully realizing it, Niek's decision would take his life into a new direction, when the public began recognizing Niek as the world famous muscleman of Hollywood, Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Niek's wife, Betty, couldn't believe her ears! People were actually calling her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger. She was so impressed that one day to Niek's surprise, she entered him into a Celebrity Look-alike competition. Dressed as Julius from Twins Niek placed fourth without any considerate preparations.

Now Niek Lauwers is a professional Celebrity Impersonator. The ARNOLD FAN decided it would be a hoot to learn more about the man behind the image, and paid Niek a visit:

TAF: So what is the job description of a Celebrity Impersonator? Can you live off of the income it generates?
Niek: I don't have another profession but sometimes I renovate homes and do other side jobs. My main career is Celebrity Impersonation... representing and opening stores, malls and other establishments. I am also hired as an attraction for parties, usually doing Terminator or Julius impersonations. But of course I also visit Netherland premiers as Arnold or do some guest spots in music-clips.

TAF: Which Schwarzenegger character is your favorite to impersonate and why do you love to be a look-alike?
Niek: I love to play Julius from "Twins", wearing the traditional shades and shorts. Of course, the fans prefer to see The Terminator, which is a role that is also delicious to play!
I love to entertain people and to give them a great feeling of excitement. Sometimes people start to scream when they see me and then go nuts when they hear I am not the real Arnold!

That's also one of the things you always are required to tell! Everyone you meet has to be informed that I am not the true Arnold Schwarzenegger, because of legal issues.

TAF: How often do people mistake you for Arnold?
Niek: In big cities? All day long, especially (for some reason) when I am eating. They just stare at me. And in America it's definitely worse than in the Netherlands. Free-lance photographers are always in hot pursuit taking snap shots of me, and people are always shaking my hand and requesting my autograph. I've even been on an American television program, a spoof show that secretly taped people's reactions when they suddenly interacted with me... say on a busy street.

TAF: An obvious question is Are you a fan of Arnold and which Schwarzenegger movie is your all time favorite?
Niek: (Surprisingly) I am not a fan of Arnold but I do admire him as a human being. I do find his movies entertaining though. Arnold's best movie for me by far is "Twins." I also love "Kindergarten Cop" and "The Terminator" but "Twins" is something special.

TAF: Do you imitate Arnold's voice?
Niek: No. I don't imitate Arnold's voice. But, while in America, people assume I do because I have a similar accent. In the Netherlands, my voice is totally different from Arnold's voice, but because it is European, it comes across as an Arnold imitation.

TAF: How often have you met Arnold?
Niek: I've met Arnold twice in Amsterdam (if you can call it a meeting.) First when Schwarzenegger opened a gift-store for Planet Hollywood: Amsterdam. He threw some T-shirts into the public and I caught one. Before you know it, he was gone... so I couldn't get close to him.

The second time was during the premiere of "Batman And Robin." When I heard Arnold was in Planet Hollywood Amsterdam I jumped into my car and sped to the scene. Once I arrived, I tried my best to get close to Arnold but his bodyguards pushed me away. Luckily I saw another opportunity and shouted his name. I am sure Schwarzenegger was surprised to see me (the mirror image of himself), and while he was stunned, I handed him a postcard featuring my impersonation abilities. Moments later, the bodyguards drove him forward and they all disappeared.

TAF: What are your plans for the future?
Niek: It is a dream, but someday I would love to be Arnold's stand-in in one of his films. Next year, I do plan on attending "The Arnold Classic" so maybe I can sell the idea to him there.

TAF: What are your hobbies??
Niek: I love to work out. One hour a day you'll find me in the gym, pushing (not to heavy) weights and doing everything to keep me fit and muscled. I also like to play soccer but because of some heart problems (oddly just like Arnold) I had to stop doing that.

TAF: What do your wife and children think about your profession??
Niek: My wife loves all this. She really does. Although always in the background, she's always at my side. My children, on the otherhand, really don't appreciate it like I do. It's the publicity. They don't like the extra attention. Now my grandchildren? They call me GRANDPA SCHWARZENEGGER.


We hope one day, he'll get his dream and be Arnold's stand-in. Thanks for the interview Niek!

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René de Jong