United Kingdom, March 26 -- Lucille Ball was "like a mother" to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The actor, 78, recalled how comedienne Lucille - who died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in April 1989 aged 77 - phoned his gym the day after the Hollywood icon saw Arnold on The Merv Griffin Show and asked him to audition for a masseur in her 1974 TV film, Happy Anniversary and Goodbye.

During an interview with Andy Cohen, 57, on Sirius XM, Arnold, 78, remembered: "I was shocked that she would call the gym, Gold's Gym.

"[She said,] 'I saw you on The Merv Griffin Show, Arnold. I saw you last night ... you were so funny. I want you to be part of my special. There is a character that is a masseur, and he's going to massage me, and my husband is gettin...