The action icon is universally recognized as an iconic tough guy. Yet, in the midst of his blockbuster fame in the late 20th century, he also headlined several genuinely hilarious comedies. The standout film is Kindergarten Cop, which celebrates its 35-year mark this holiday season.
The Story and That Line
In the 1990 movie, Schwarzenegger plays a hardened detective who poses as a kindergarten teacher to catch a killer. For much of the story, the investigation plot functions as a simple backdrop for the star to have charming scenes with children. The most unforgettable features a little boy named Joseph, who out of nowhere announces and declares the stoic star, “It's boys who have a penis, females have a vagina.” The Terminator deadpans, “I appreciate the insight.”
The young actor was played by youth performer Miko Hughes. Beyond this role encompassed a recurring role on Full House playing the antagonist to the Olsen twins and the pivotal role of the youngster who comes back in the 1989 adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. He still works in film today, with several projects in development. Furthermore, he engages with fans at fan conventions. Not long ago discussed his experiences from the production after all this time.
A Young Actor's Perspective
Q: To begin, how old were you when you filmed Kindergarten Cop?
Miko Hughes: I believe I was four. I was the most junior of all the kids on set.
Wow, I can't remember being four. Do you remember anything from that time?
Yeah, somewhat. They're flashes. They're like mental photographs.
Do you recall how you were cast in Kindergarten Cop?
My mother, mainly would bring me to auditions. Often it was a mass tryout. There'd be dozens of children and we'd all patiently queue, be seen, be in there briefly, deliver a quick line they wanted and that was it. My parents would help me learn the words and then, once I learned to read, that was some of the first material I was reading.
Do you have a specific memory of meeting Arnold? What was your impression of him?
He was very kind. He was fun. He was pleasant, which I guess makes sense. It would have been odd if he was a dick to all the kids in the classroom, that surely wouldn't foster a positive atmosphere. He was great to work with.
“It would be strange if he was unpleasant to all the kids in the classroom.”
I knew he was a huge celebrity because that's what my parents told me, but I had barely seen his movies. I knew the air around him — it was exciting — but he wasn't scary to me. He was merely entertaining and I only wanted to hang out with him when he wasn't busy. He was occupied, of course, but he'd sometimes engage here and there, and we would dangle from his limbs. He'd flex and we'd be dangling there. He was exceptionally kind. He gifted all the students in the classroom a Sony Walkman, which at the time was the hottest tech. That was the must-have gadget, that funky old yellow cassette player. I listened to the Power Rangers soundtrack and the Ninja Turtles soundtrack for a long time on that thing. It finally gave out. I also received a genuine metal whistle. He had the referee's whistle, and the kids all got a whistle as well.
Do you remember your experience as being positive?
You know, it's interesting, that movie was this cultural thing. It was a huge film, and it was an incredible opportunity, and you would think, looking back now, I would want my memories to be of working with Arnold, the legendary director, traveling to Oregon, the production design, but my memories are of being a finitely child at lunch. For instance, they got everyone pizza, but I avoided pizza. All I would eat was the toppings only. Then, the original Game Boy was just released. That was the hot thing, and I was proficient. I was the youngest and some of the older kids would bring me their Game Boys to get past hard parts on games because I knew how, and I was really proud of that. So, it's all childhood recollections.
The Infamous Moment
OK, that specific dialogue, do you remember how it happened? Did you grasp the meaning?
At the time, I likely didn't understand what the word provocative meant, but I realized it got a reaction and it made adults laugh. I understood it was kind of something I wouldn't usually utter, but I was given approval in this case because it was humorous.
“My mom thought hard about it.”
How it originated, from what I understand, was they didn't have specific roles. A few scenes were part of the original screenplay, but once they had the entire ensemble assembled, it wasn't necessarily improv, but they refined it on set and, I suppose it's either the director or producers came to my mom and said, "We have an idea. We want Miko to say this. Are you okay with this?" My mom paused. She said, "Give me a moment, I need time" and took some time. She really wrestled with it. She said she wasn't sure, but she believed it will probably be one of the most memorable lines from the movie and she was right.
