Becoming a sports star is no easy feat, and neither is making it as a Hollywood actor. But these men and women have proven they can do both! Here are the football players, wrestlers, and more athletes who proved they had skills on *and* off the big screen:
1.
To start, John Cena is a 17-time WWE world champion and had his first major acting role in 2006’s The Marine. He’s since gone on to appear in Trainwreck, Blockers, and HBO Max’s Peacemaker.
2.
Terry Crews is a former pro football player and made the shift to acting by landing a role in 2000’s The 6th Day. He’s also been seen in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Are We There Yet?, and Everybody Hates Chris.
3.
Dave Bautista is a former WWE wrestler and started his acting career with minor roles in Smallville and Chuck. He’s now become a leading man with appearances in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, the Dune franchise, and Knock at the Cabin.
4.
Dwayne Johnson made a name for himself in the WWE as The Rock, and had his first acting job on That ’70s Show in 1999. Since then, he landed role after role with credits in The Fast and the Furious franchise, the Jumanji franchise, and the Moana franchise. (He’ll star in the forthcoming The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie.)
5.
You might remember Marshawn Lynch as “Beast Mode” during his days in the NFL, or you might know him for his acting roles in Bottoms, Westworld, or Freaky Tales.
6.
Former bodybuilder and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger kicked off his acting career in 1970. Some of his most famous roles include The Terminator franchise, Conan the Barbarian franchise, and Batman & Robin.
7.
Martial artist Jackie Chan broke into the acting scene in the ’60s. Some of his biggest roles include the Rush Hour franchise, the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and the Shanghai franchise.
8.
LeBron James is still playing pro ball for the Los Angeles Lakers, but has also had acting roles in Trainwreck, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and House Party.
9.
Jim Brown left the NFL to pursue his acting dreams with roles in The Dirty Dozen, Mars Attacks!, and Any Given Sunday. He passed away in 2023.
10.
Martial artist Chuck Norris is best known for his roles in Walker, Texas Ranger, The Expendables 2, and The Way of the Dragon.
11.
Former pro basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began his acting career in the ’70s. Some of his most notable roles include Airplane!, Glass Onion, and Troop Beverly Hills.
12.
Before his passing in 2024, Carl Weathers was a pro football player and actor with roles in the Rocky franchise, Predator, and The Mandalorian.
13.
Former pro skateboarder Jason Lee shifted his focus to acting in the early ’90s with iconic roles in My Name Is Earl, Almost Famous, and Vanilla Sky.
14.
Ronda Rousey is best known for her time in the UFC and WWE, but has also been featured in The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and Entourage.
15.
Rick Fox went from a pro basketball player to an actor with roles in One Tree Hill, Greenleaf, and Highest 2 Lowest.
16.
Shaquille O’Neal had an impressive NBA career, but also made a name for himself as an actor with roles in Kazaam, Uncle Drew, and Hustle.
17.
Serena Williams is a tennis great, danced with Kendrick Lamar at the 2025 Super Bowl, and had acting roles in Glass Onion, Ocean’s Eight, and Pixels.
18.
Pro boxer Kali Reis wowed audiences with her leading role as Evangeline Navarro in True Detective.
19.
Finally, Michael Jordan made headlines for his athleticism in basketball and baseball, but also earned acting credits with roles in Space Jam and He Got Game.
Who’s your favorite sports star turned actor? Share your pick in the comments!
