You probably don't remember Patrick Schwarzenegger in Grown Ups 2. Honestly, most people don't. He isn't the star. He doesn't have a massive emotional monologue. He’s basically part of a pack of hyper-aggressive, Abercrombie-clad frat boys who spend their screen time terrorizing Adam Sandler and his middle-aged buddies.
But if you look back at it now, that 2013 cameo was a weirdly perfect starting line for a guy who is currently crushing it in The White Lotus and Gen V.
The "Frat Boy Cooper" Era
In Grown Ups 2, Patrick plays a character named Cooper. He’s one of the "Alpha" frat bros led by Taylor Lautner’s character. You remember the scene—the one at the quarry where the college kids force the "old guys" to jump off a high cliff naked.
It’s peak Adam Sandler slapstick.
Patrick is right there in the mix, rocking the stereotypical frat aesthetic: backwards hat, no shirt, and an abundance of unearned confidence. It’s a small role. Tiny, even. Yet, for a nineteen-year-old trying to break out from the massive shadow of his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, it was a strategic move.
Why he took such a small part
You'd think the son of the Terminator would hold out for a lead role. He didn't. Patrick has been pretty vocal in recent years—especially while promoting The White Lotus—about his desire to "go small" first.
- He wanted to learn the ropes. Being on a Happy Madison set is like a masterclass in comedic timing and set culture.
- The Sandler Connection. Adam Sandler is famous for hiring his friends and creating a "family" atmosphere. Patrick saw how Sandler worked—playing basketball between takes, smoking cigars, keeping the energy light—and realized that was the kind of career he wanted.
- Zero Pressure. When you’re "Frat Boy Cooper," nobody is blaming you if the movie gets a 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. You just show up, be a bro, and get your SAG card points.
Breaking the "Jock" Typecast
For a long time, Patrick Schwarzenegger was stuck in the "pretty boy" lane. Before Grown Ups 2, he was "Jock Kid Game No. 3" in The Benchwarmers. He was the handsome guy in an Ariana Grande music video.
It would have been very easy for him to stay there.
However, he spent over a decade in acting classes. While he was a student at USC's Marshall School of Business, he was still showing up to auditions for bit parts. He wasn't just a "nepo baby" coasting on a last name; he was genuinely obsessed with the craft.
The shift from the shirtless frat boy in Grown Ups 2 to the complex, superpower-wielding Golden Boy in Gen V didn't happen overnight. It took years of these "nothing" roles to build the skin necessary for the industry.
What happened behind the scenes?
Working on Grown Ups 2 was essentially a summer camp for famous people. Patrick has recalled watching legends like Chris Rock, David Spade, and Kevin James just riffing.
He wasn't just there to act. He was there to observe.
He noticed how Sandler ran the show. It wasn't just about the jokes; it was about the loyalty. Sandler's friends were the directors. His other friends were the producers. Patrick once told People magazine that seeing that dynamic made him realize, "This is the dream."
He didn't want to just be an actor; he wanted to be a creator who worked with people he actually liked.
The Frat Pack Cast
Patrick wasn't the only "famous" face in that frat house. The group included:
- Taylor Lautner (The leader)
- Milo Ventimiglia (Before his This Is Us fame)
- David Henrie (From Wizards of Waverly Place)
- Jimmy Tatro (Who became a huge YouTube and TV star)
It’s a bizarrely stacked group of "young Hollywood" from 2013. Seeing them all together now is like looking at a time capsule of people who were about to become much more famous.
From Cooper to Saxon Ratliff
If you fast forward to today, Patrick is playing Saxon Ratliff in The White Lotus. The character is, ironically, an evolved version of his Grown Ups 2 persona. He’s still a "bro." He’s still obsessed with his physique. But now, Patrick is playing it with a level of satire and dark nuance that he simply didn't have at nineteen.
He’s moved from being "the kid in the background" to being the actor everyone is talking about on Sunday night.
✨ Don't miss: Childish Gambino Lyrics Freaks and Geeks: Why Those 2011 Punchlines Still Hit Different
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Actors
If there is any lesson to be taken from Patrick Schwarzenegger's trajectory since 2013, it’s these three things:
- Don't skip the "small" roles. Even if you have a famous name, there is value in being a background character. It builds a reputation for being professional and low-maintenance.
- Education matters. Patrick stayed in acting school for ten years after doing movies like Grown Ups 2. Talent is a muscle that needs constant work.
- Observe the leaders. Don't just sit in your trailer. Watch how the veterans conduct themselves on set.
Patrick Schwarzenegger in Grown Ups 2 wasn't a career-defining performance, but it was a necessary one. It was the moment he decided to stop being "Arnold's son" and start being a working actor in the Hollywood machine.
To track Patrick's evolution, compare his performance in Grown Ups 2 (currently streaming on various VOD platforms) with his recent work in The White Lotus or The Staircase. You’ll see a massive leap in presence, vocal control, and comedic timing. Pay attention to how he uses his physicality in both; he went from being "the guy with the abs" to an actor who knows how to use his body to tell a story.