Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to be in a stable condition in hospital
Arnold Schwarzenegger has undergone heart surgery in Los Angeles.
The Austrian-American film star and former California governor, 70, had a scheduled procedure to replace a valve at Cedars-Sinai hospital on Thursday.
The device was installed to repair a defective aortic valve in 1997. Thursday's operation lasted several hours, TMZ website reports.
Schwarzenegger is said to be recovering well and reportedly commented after waking from surgery: "I'm back."
His spokesman, Daniel Ketchell, said that Schwarzenegger was "in good spirits".
Responding to the news, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wished his "friend" well in a tweet, adding: "I look forward to seeing you again."
Schwarzenegger is best known as the hardman of cult movies such as the Terminator and Conan the Barbarian.
He served two terms as California governor from 2003 to 2011 before returning to acting in The Expendables.
In May last year, Schwarzenegger was honoured in France with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, the country's most prestigious medal, for his environmental work.
The former California governor underwent a planned procedure on a pulmonic valve originally replaced in 1997, his spokesman said
Arnold Schwarzenegger had heart surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday, his representative has confirmed.
The former California governor and Terminator actor underwent surgery to replace a pulmonic valve, a spokesman, Daniel Ketchell, said in a statement.
Schwarzenegger originally had the valve replaced in 1997 to counter a congenital heart defect. Ketchell said Thursday’s operation was a planned procedure to replace that same valve.
“That 1997 replacement valve was never meant to be permanent and has outlived its life expectancy, so he chose to replace it yesterday through a less-invasive catheter valve replacement,” Ketchell said.
The spokesman claimed Schwarzenegger’s first words upon waking from the operation were “I’m back”.
The celebrity news website TMZ had reported early on Friday that Schwarzenegger had undergone “emergency open-heart surgery”, sparking a wave of news coverage, but Ketchell said that although an open-heart surgery team had attended the operation, they were only there as a precaution.
“They frequently are in these circumstances, in case the catheter procedure was unable to be performed,” Ketchell said.
“Governor Schwarzenegger’s pulmonic valve was successfully replaced.”
Schwarzenegger, 70, was 49 when he had his first heart surgery.
“Choosing to undergo open-heart surgery when I never felt sick was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Schwarzenegger said at the time.
The actor, who served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011, has been most active recently in his role as a Donald Trump antagonist.
Schwarzenegger has criticized Trump over his response to the violence in Charlottesville – Trump defended far-right marchers – and over the president’s tax reforms.
In 2017, James Cameron, who wrote and directed the first two Terminator films, said Schwarzenegger had signed up to appear in a sixth Terminator movie. The film will be set in Mexico City, although it is not clear when it will be released.
Arnold Schwarzenegger reportedly underwent emergency open-heart surgery on Thursday due to complications from a related experimental procedure.
TMZ first reported that the 70-year-old star went to the hospital for an experimental procedure to replace a catheter valve in his heart. The outlet reported that complications arose and open-heart surgeons took over. A rep for the star released a statement noting that an open-heart surgery team was present as a precaution, but didn't specify if they were needed during the procedure.
"Schwarzenegger underwent a planned procedure at Cedars-Sinai to replace a pulmonic valve that was originally replaced due to a congenital heart defect in 1997," a spokesperson for the star said in a statement. "That 1997 replacement valve was never meant to be permanent, and has outlived its life expectancy, so he chose to replace it yesterday through a less-invasive catheter valve replacement. During that procedure, an open-heart surgery team was prepared, as they frequently are in these circumstances, in case the catheter prodedure was unable to be performed. Governor Schwarzenegger's pulmonic valve was successfully replaced and he is currently recovering from the surgery and is in stable condition."
The rep also claims that the star is in good spirits, even invoking his famous "Terminator" catchphrase upon waking up, "I'm back."
In 1997, he reportedly underwent a different heart surgery to replace an aortic valve. At the time, he said the condition was congenital and had nothing to do with possible steroid use.
In 2016 the star opened up about his past heart surgery in an interview with Graham Bensinger.
Earlier this week, the former California governor spoke to CNN about the changes in the Republican party, noting that its lack of diversity and ability to reach across the aisle are leading to decreased numbers.
“Since then the party has decreased and now has only a 26 percent popularity overall and so it is dying and I see it like the Titanic,” he said. “The only thing is that we don’t have to go under completely. We don’t have to wait for that moment. Let’s change and let’s go and be more open and go back to this kind of like big tent idea of Ronald Reagan.”
The actor has been an occasional critic of the Trump administration and has a unique tie to the president as he took over for him after NBC's brief revival of "Celebrity Apprentice."
Reps for Schwarzenegger did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Holywood star and former California governor, has reportedly undergone emergency open-heart surgery.
The operation lasted several hours and came after he was getting a catheter valve replaced on Thursday, according to the celebrity website TMZ.
He was in a stable condition after attending the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, a representative confirmed.
It is not the first time the 70-year-old has undergone heart surgery. In 1997 he had an aortic valve replaced.
At the time Mr Schwarzenegger said: “I've never felt sick or had any symptoms at all, but I knew I'd have to take care of this condition sooner or later.
“I said to the doctors, 'Let's do it now, while I'm young and healthy.' They agreed this was the way to go."
