“Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Famous Surname Nearly Cost Him ‘The White Lotus’ Role, But His Talent Won Over Producers”

Patrick Schwarzenegger has openly expressed his intention to establish his own identity separate from his renowned family lineage since joining The White Lotus season 3. The creators of the acclaimed HBO series now publicly support his efforts.

The 31-year-old actor, portraying Saxon Ratliff in Mike White’s drama, has consistently addressed assumptions that his casting stemmed from familial ties to action star Arnold Schwarzenegger. During a conversation with PEOPLE, Patrick highlighted his dedicated theater training as the foundation of his career.

Production team members recently shared their perspective, with executive producer David Bernad telling The Hollywood Reporter that the Schwarzenegger surname initially posed challenges during casting deliberations.

“His family background wasn’t a favorable factor in our decision,” Bernad clarified regarding Patrick’s heritage. Ultimately, the performer’s skill proved undeniable: “His audition simply outperformed others.”

Casting director Meredith Tucker elaborated on the complex process of assembling the Ratliff family ensemble, which includes actors Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola: “Finalizing the young Ratliff trio required extensive audition sessions and meticulous selection.”

While asserting his independent career path, Patrick acknowledged paternal influences to PEOPLE: “My initial fascination with performance stemmed from childhood visits to my father’s film sets. He’d arrange early dismissals from school so I could observe movie-making magic at Universal Studios.”

Reflecting on professional values, the actor noted: “My father personifies dedication and perseverance – qualities that drive my daily pursuit of acting excellence.”

Patrick also recognized maternal contributions: “My mother Maria prioritized family over her career, making significant personal sacrifices to raise us.” This sentiment extends to his siblings – Katherine (35), Christina (33), and Christopher (27).

“Dad himself would credit Mom for 95% of our upbringing,” Patrick revealed with humor.

Viewers can catch the climactic episode of The White Lotus season 3 airing April 6 at 9:00 PM Eastern on HBO.