Prior to their successful stints in Tinseltown, a lot of actors and actresses had another passion, namely, sports. An unlikely combination that has created some of the finest in Hollywood, this relatively exclusive group of people boasts hundreds of awards and accolades between them. Considering their proficiency in sports, some have argued that they could have easily pursued a completely different career path. Below is the creme of the crop in terms of starts with an athletic history, which may have even contributed to shaping their modern-day success in the first place.
1. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Widely considered to be one of the most popular and charismatic wrestlers of all time, Dwayne Johnson was a staple for the WWE in the 1990s, assisting with turning wrestling from a niche activity to a household name in American homes. Starting in 1996 as Rocky Maivia, aptly chosen in honor of the names of his father and grandfather, “The Rock” was born at the turn of the new century, and the rest is history.
Dwayne Johnson
Success in the ring in tow, Johnson took a risk and switched to film acting with an appearance in 2001’s ‘The Mummy Returns’. Twelve months later, a leading role in ‘Scorpion King’ gave him the kind of exposure that would lead to 40 roles down the line. In 2016, Forbes was named the highest-paid actor of the year, earning $64 million in that year alone.
2. Hulk Hogan
One of the most famous wrestlers from the WWE, with thanks to his trademarked handlebar mustache, Hulk Hogan was Terry Gene Bollea before entering the ring as “Sterling Golden” at the end of the 1970’s. It didn’t take a long time for the general public to take to “Hulk Hogan” shortly after, and before anyone could blink, his face could be found from newspapers to posters and even the first-ever wrestling toys.
Hulk Hogan
In 1982, Hogan appeared in ‘Rocky III’ as an extravagant character called Thunderlips. TV and movie producers kept calling afterward, leading to roles on popular shows like ‘Thunder in Paradise’ and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’. Over three decades later, the athlete turned actor celebrated his career success, immortalized as part of the WWE Hall of Fame forever.
