From Scrimmage to Screen: Athletes Who Became Actors 

There has been an interesting discussion on social media recently, centering on the question of who the best pro wrestler turned actor is. The trend may have been prompted by the death of Hulk Hogan or something else, but it was intriguing to note that Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune) was consistently voted at the top of the polls. 

It is, of course, not uncommon for pro wrestlers to turn to acting, nor should it be viewed as surprising. They already act in their roles as cartoonish superheroes and villains in the world of wrestling, so the path to Hollywood is a well-trodden one. 

And yet, Bautista has been singled out for his transition to more serious roles rather than a textbook action hero. His work on the Last Showgirl, for instance, saw a transition to more dramatic roles, and he seems to be flourishing. Bautista has made an effort to slim down from the bulky muscles that made him a wrestling superstar, which is another sign he wishes to be considered for serious roles. 

We aren’t here to discuss the best wrestler turned actor, though, but rather to discuss the transition from athlete to actor itself, asking what makes it possible? 

No rule on athletic success leading to acting

The first thing to say is that while recognition and individual success in your sport can help, it is only up to a point. Someone like O.J. Simpson was a superstar in football before heading to Hollywood, but that’s one of the few exceptions to the rule, so we wouldn’t be looking at this year’s NFL MVP odds for clues as to who is going to Hollywood next. 

Indeed, the most successful athletes turned actors tend to leave their sports careers behind after college. We could cite Oscar winners like Mahershala Ali, Tommy Lee Jones, and John Wayne. Ali played college basketball, whereas the latter pair were accomplished football players in college. While not Oscar winners, Burt Reynolds, Paul Robeson, and Brian Dennehy followed similar paths. 

Familiarity with athletic pursuits can help in some situations, allowing actors to be both physically suited to a role and to understand its wider context. Allison Janey, for instance, won an Oscar for I, Tonya, years after her own figure-skating career was cut short by an on-rink accident. Hilary Swank clearly drew on her years as a competitive gymnast and swimmer to deliver her Oscar-winning turn in Million Dollar Baby. 

Having natural charisma will always help

Natural screen presence does, of course, count. If we return to the world of professional wrestling and look at one of the most successful (in box office terms, if not critically) athletes turned actors, then Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a prime example. He oozed charisma, and he had no lack of sharp wit during his years with WWE, making his transition a success. Yes, the muscles help secure certain roles, but it is his presence and comedic timing that made him a star. 

It would be remiss of us not to mention Jim Brown. We stated that it is quite rare for top-tier athletes – the best in the business – to transition to acting, but Brown was considered one of the greatest NFL players in history. His acting career spanned decades, and he was seen as a trailblazer, both for athletes going into acting and, importantly, Black athletes trying their hand in Hollywood. 

Overall, the best way to sum it up is that being an athlete can act as a way to open the door to Hollywood, but it is up to the individual to make it work. The late Hulk Hogan, for instance, and with all due respect, could not act, so the attempts to make him a Hollywood star fell flat. For Dave Bautista, the opposite was true, as many believed he would, at best, be typecast as an action star.

In light of all that, it might be worth keeping an eye out for Maxwell Friedman, who wrestles under the moniker of MJF. Friedman got his acting break as Lance Von Erich in The Iron Claw, the acclaimed wrestling movie that follows the tragedy of the Von Erich Family. Being a wrestler is what opened the door for Friedman to get the role, but he has been showing that he may have more to offer the acting world. Being an athlete got him the gig, but it is the fact that he is potentially a very fine actor that will make (or break) his Hollywood career.