Today, we will explore sports stars who have turned into actors using their sporting skills to pursue careers in film and television. However, some have left their previous careers entirely to pursue roles in comedy or drama.
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger went from being a famous bodybuilder to a movie hero. He won Mr. Universe at the age of 20. His Hollywood reputation was cemented by his roles in Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. He is back in action, appearing in the critically acclaimed Netflix series FUBAR, following a diversion into politics as Governor of California.
2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Dwayne Johnson, a former WWE wrestler going by the moniker, The Rock, is one of Hollywood’s biggest action movie stars. Johnson, who played The Scorpion King in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, was a key figure in WWE’s prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He established himself as a mainstream actor in 2002 by starring in the spin-off film, The Scorpion King. Since then, Johnson has starred in several comedies and action films and has performed exceptionally well in voice roles in films, such as Mona.
3. John Cena
John Cena made history as a world-champion WWE wrestler before becoming well-known in Hollywood for his outstanding performance as John Triton in The Marine. Considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Cena followed in the footsteps of Dwayne Johnson and left WWE to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. With his comedic appearances in Trainwreck, his action roles in Fast X, and even his critically acclaimed voice work in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, John Cena has now established himself as a mainstay in the film industry.
4. Jason Lee
Before becoming well known for his roles in sitcoms, My Name is Earl and Mulrats, and his films, Jason Lee was a major player in professional skating. Lee’s skating prowess was captured in the legendary Spike Lee-directed Skate Video Days, which served as a notable record of the sport. Although Lee focused on acting full-time after retiring in 1996, he remains the co-founder of Stereo Skateboards and can still play a role in Tony Hawk’s video games.
5. Jim Brown
Jim Brown, the greatest running back in NFL history, set many records during his sports career. At the height of his success, he retired at the age of 30 to focus entirely on acting. He began his career in television in the 1980s, after landing small parts in films, such as Rio Congos and The Dirty Dozen. He later played lead roles in The Spit and 100 Rifles. Although his acting career never reached the heights of his football achievements, he proved to be a talented actor with significant star power.
These most adaptable stars in Hollywood, who once ruled the field of sports, are now even more brilliant on the big screen.ca
