Arthur Boyadjian was born in Nimes, France in March 1929, the son of Armenian immigrants who had fled to France a decade earlier to escape the devastating Armenian genocide. Despite their initial plans to immigrate to the United States, his parents never quite made it, and Arthur was raised in France, where he would later draw upon his French heritage to launch a successful acting career.
Arthur's early life took an unexpected turn when he moved to Canada in 1955, where he pursued a career as a professional wrestler, adopting the alias "Guy LaRoche" and honing his physical skills in the ring. He would go on to spend seven years in Canada, working as a wrestler and developing a strong physique that would later serve him well in his acting career.
In 1962, Arthur made the move to Southern California, where he once again took up the mantle of a professional wrestler, this time adopting the persona of "Mustapha Pasha, the Terrible Turk." It was during this period that he received an unexpected phone call from a movie agent, seeking a strong Frenchman to play the role of a chauffeur in a forthcoming film.
The wrestling promoter, recognizing Arthur's physical prowess, pointed out that he was indeed present in his office and suggested that the agent consider him for the role. And so, Arthur's acting career was born, as he went on to star in the 1964 film "Bedtime Story," alongside Marlon Brando, David Niven, and Shirley Jones.
One particular scene in the film, set in the picturesque French Riviera, required Arthur to lift and carry Marlon Brando in his arms, a task that demanded both physical strength and agility. Arthur's ability to perform this feat, thanks in part to his years as a professional wrestler, proved to be a key factor in his casting and marked the beginning of a long and successful acting career.
