Son of the Beach

Background:

Austrian-born bodybuilder-turned-actor Roland Kickinger arrived to the US in the mid '90s and got his first big in the new millennium when he got the part of Chip Rommel, the hunky, muscular, but dumb lifeguard who is an obvious parody of Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the "Baywatch" spoof series, "Son of the Beach" (2000-2002). He also had recurring roles on the "Knight Rider" spin-off, "Team Knight Rider," and on Nickelodeon's sitcom starring Emma Roberts, "Unfabulous."

Making his film debut in "Lethal Weapon 4" (1998), Kickinger would add to his resume with roles in several short films and the upcoming films "Andre: Heart of the Giant" and "Disaster Movie." The 6' 5" also portrayed the younger version of fellow Austrian/bodybuilder-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the biographical TV movie, "See Arnold Run" (2005).

Mr. Austria

Childhood and Family:

In Vienna, Austria, Roland Kickinger was born on March 30, 1968. He enjoyed swimming and playing soccer, but at age 15, he began bodybuilding. He exercised at the gym where he cleaned at night in exchange for a membership. He took part in the European National Bodybuilding Championships and won the title of “Mr. Austria.”

Meanwhile, he continued his formal education and graduated from college with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He left his homeland for America in 1995 to pursue an acting career.

See Arnold Run

Career:

A former bodybuilder who won the title of “Mr. Austria” in his native country, Roland Kickinger moved to America in 1995 to pursue his dream to become a Hollywood star. He got his first break in 1996 when he scored an endorsement contract with the leader in health and fitness, Joe Weider.

In the next year, he landed a guest spot as a bodybuilder in an episode of the NBC teen sitcom "Hang Time." He followed it up with a recurring role in the syndicated television spin-off series of "the Knight Rider" franchise, "Team Knight Rider," and a guest appearance in an episode of UPN half-hour sitcom "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer."

The bodybuilder-turned-actor landed his film role debut as a detective in director Richard Donner's buddy cop action-comedy feature "Lethal Weapon 4" (1998), starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, and Jet Li. He then played The Austrian in Mark F. Schwartz's 25-minute short comedy film, "15 Minutes" (1999).

Meanwhile, he appeared in the comedic TV movie "Gone to Maui" (1999) and guest-starred in an episode of the NBC sitcom starring Lea Thompson, "Caroline in the City," and ABC's Golden Globe-Winning sitcom starring actor/comedian Tim Allen,"Home Improvement." He also appeared in two episodes of UPN sitcom "Shasta McNasty," playing Buff Dennis and a Big weightlifter.

From 2000 to 2002, Kickinger played Chip Rommel, the hunky, muscular, but dumb lifeguard who is an obvious parody of Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the "Baywatch" spoof series, "Son of the Beach." During this time, he played a bodybuilder in Dionysius Zervos' romantic family/comedy movie "Skippy" (2001), alongside William Sadler and Allan Rich, and supported William Shatner and Harry Hamlin in J. Randall Argue's comedy film "Shoot or Be Shot" (2002).

Following the demise of his show "Son of the Beach," Kickinger was spotted as a guest in an episode of the CBS Emmy-nominated sitcom "The King of Queens" and the short-lived WB series "The Help."

2005-2006 saw Kickinger played the recurring role of Sven on Nickelodeon's sitcom starring Emma Roberts, "Unfabulous." Meanwhile, he portrayed the younger version of fellow Austrian/bodybuilder-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the biographical TV movie "See Arnold Run" (2005). He co-starred with Emmanuelle Chriqui in Andrew Waller's 27-minute comedy film "Candy Paint" (2005) and with Jillian Clare and Caitlin E.J. Meyer in the comedic made-for-television movie "Against Type" (2006). He also appeared as a guest in an episode of the TNT police drama series starring Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer."

Next, moviegoers will catch Kickinger in the upcoming films "Andre: Heart of the Giant," Rokki James Hollywood and Joshua D. Vick-directed biopic based on the life and struggles of professional wrestler André the Giant (played by Daniel Gilchrist) in which Kickinger portrays French professional wrestler Édouard Carpentier, and "Disaster Movie," a film parodies directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer in which he will portray Hulk, along with Carmen Electra, Kimberly Kardashian, Matt Lanter and Vanessa Minnillo.

Awards:
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