Arnold Schwarzenegger's parents used to think he was gay.

The 'Terminator' muscleman has revealed his family thought he was interested in men as a teenager because there was "something off" and they tried their best to 'cure' him of it.

Speaking on US talk show '60 Minutes', the actor said his father took an aggressive approach and "ran after me with a belt and beat me", whereas his mother took him to visit a doctor because she was so worried.

He joked: "I don't know if mum thought I was gay, or if she just thought there was something off. And 'let's catch it early'.

"She asked the doctor, 'Can you help me? I don't know if there's something wrong with my son because his wall is full of naked men.

"All of Arnold's friends have pictures of girls above their bed. And Arnold has no girls'."

The 65-year-old star also confessed he deeply regrets having an affair with his housekeeper Mildred Beana - with whom he fathered an illegitimate son - and ruining his 25-year marriage to now estranged wife Maria Shriver.

He said: "I think it was the stupidest thing I've done in the whole relationship. It was terrible. I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids."

The former Governor of California - who is currently promoting his tell-all book 'Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story' - also admitted to a string of affairs throughout his marriage.