Five Athletes Who Have Been a Part of Oscar Contenders/Winners

The Academy Awards, also known as The Oscars, are known globally. After all, people adore movies, making this prestigious annual ceremony a must-watch event. However, alongside the acting professionals who dream of winning an Oscar, there is a plethora of sports stars who have successfully transitioned over to the movie sphere. 

These sporting heroes aren’t just starring on the basketball court, with their stints in smash-hit Hollywood productions leading them to achieve even more success. Some sportspeople are certainly better at acting than others, though, resulting in rave reviews and additional roles. Likewise, some sports stars have gone one step further by stealing the show at the Oscars, with the Academy Awards they win taking pride of place in their homes. 

With some true sporting legends shining in the movie world, below we highlight five sports stars who have won an Oscar or been a part of films that have. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arguably the most famous bodybuilder of all time is also Hollywood royalty, with four Oscar winning films to his name, including Best Visual Effects and Best Sound due to his prominence in movies like Terminator. The legendary Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a champion in the gym and on screen, with his exploits in the movie sphere making him one of the biggest stars we’ve ever seen. 

Paul Newman

Paul Newman is a popular American actor who also made a name for himself in motor racing. While his racing days aren’t quite a memorable as his foray into the movie category, Newman still did a remarkable job on the track. His acting career is where his name grew even bigger, though, as Newman was nominated nine times, eventually being awarded an Honorary Oscar for his memorable film performances, while also winning the Best Actor award in 1986 with the film The Color of Money. 

Kobe Bryant

When Kobe Bryant sadly passed away, it was felt around the world. The former LA Lakers hero, a team many fans got behind when looking at NBA betting lines, was a man of many talents. In the end, Bryant was such a confident performer that he even fancied dipping his feet into the world of acting. He didn’t look out of place either, as the NBA legend gained recognition for his role in Dear Basketball. The short film from 2017 was a powerful watch, while Kobe Bryant himself was a natural in front of the camera. Winning the best short film at the Oscars, Kobe Bryant’s input clearly played a key role. 

 Carl Weathers

There have been some iconic boxing movies over the years, but none of them really come close to the Rocky franchise. Carl Weathers played a crucial role in the films, with iconic scenes in the ring involving Weathers’ boxer character, Apollo Creed, and Rocky himself. However, not everyone knows that Carl Weathers is a former NFL player, making his foray into the acting category even more impressive. A consummate professional on the football field and on movie sets, Carl Weathers helped make the Rocky films so iconic, with Rocky going on to win three Oscars, including Best Picture.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke is a former boxer. Yes, you did read that correctly. While more senior movie fans will be fully aware of Rourke’s exploits in the boxing ring, not everyone is. The now-73-year-old eventually had to end his boxing career to look after his health. He also didn’t actually win an Oscar despite being nominated for his part in The Wrestler. Still, Mickey Rourke has starred in numerous movies over the years and could eventually win the prestigious award in the future. He does have a Golden Globe award to his name, though.