Hide the Pain Harold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
András Arató
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The most popular stock image of András Arató
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András István Arató
11 July 1945 Kőszeg, Hungary
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| Other names | Hide the Pain Harold |
| Alma mater | Budapest University of Technology and Economics |
| Known for | Internet meme |
| Spouse(s) | Gabriella Andrásné Arató |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | János Urbanek Prize Déri Miksa Award |
András István Arató, born on July 11, 1945, is a retired electrical engineer from Hungary. He is famous for becoming an Internet meme known as Hide the Pain Harold. This meme uses many stock photos of him. People noticed his unique facial expression and what looked like a fake smile in these pictures. Arató has worked as a model for stock photos and advertisements. He also enjoys traveling and sharing his adventures online.
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Who is András Arató?
András Arató was born in 1945 in Kőszeg, Hungary. He grew up there and remembers a huge chestnut tree in his hometown. He thought of it as a tree of wisdom. In 1969, he finished his studies at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. He became an electrical engineer. Arató has a son, who was born in 1973. Today, he lives in Budapest with his wife, Gabriella.
His Journey to Fame
From Stock Photos to Memes
While on holiday, András Arató took many photos and shared them online. A professional photographer saw his pictures and asked him to be a model. Arató agreed, and they took over a hundred stock photos. He allowed these photos to be used for many purposes, but not for politics.
Later, Arató searched for himself on Google Images. He found his photos being used in many funny ways. His face was even put onto Mount Rushmore in one picture. This was the start of the "Hide the Pain Harold" meme. People thought his smile in the photos looked like he was hiding sadness. Arató later explained he was just tired from smiling so much during the photoshoot.
Accepting His Meme Status
At first, Arató did not like people making fun of his photos. He felt he was not a "funny guy." But then he realized he used to do similar things in school. He would draw funny faces on pictures in his textbooks. He understood that he could not stop the meme from spreading. So, after six years, he decided to accept his new fame.
People from all over the world started sharing his photos. An internet user found out his real name. This user emailed Arató, saying many people thought he was not a real person. Arató then uploaded a photo of himself on his Russian fan page. He held a sign that said "Я ЖИВ," which means "I'M ALIVE" in Russian. This photo quickly became very popular.
Life Beyond the Internet
Fun Appearances and Hobbies
András Arató has appeared on TV shows in Hungary. In 1996, he was a contestant on the Hungarian version of Jeopardy!. After he retired, he worked as a DJ for a local radio station for five years. In 2019, he became the advertising face for Coca-Cola in Hungary. In 2020, he was on the Hungarian Masked Singer show. He dressed up as "Szörnyecske," or "Little Monster." In 2025, he even presented an award at the Hungarian Sportspeople of the Year gala.
Awards and Recognition
András Arató has received awards for his work as an electrical engineer. In 2002, he won the János Urbanek Prize. This award is given each year by the Hungarian Electrotechnical Association. It honors members who have done great work in lighting technology. In 2010, he also won the Déri Miksa Award from the same association.
See also
- Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point
- List of Internet phenomena
- List of Hungarians
