Some of today’s biggest names in entertainment actually started their careers in sports. From the football field to the wrestling ring, these stars made the leap from athletics to Hollywood. These athletes have shown that skills developed on the field—discipline, resilience, and charisma—can open doors in Hollywood and beyond. Whether dominating in action scenes or adding real-life athletic skills to their roles, these stars continue to impress fans in new ways. Here’s a list of 20 stars who once dominated in sports before making it big in showbiz.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Sport: Football, Professional Wrestling
Details: Johnson played college football at the University of Miami before becoming one of WWE’s biggest stars. After that, he made a successful transition to Hollywood, where he’s now a blockbuster fixture.
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Terry Crews
Sport: Football
Details: Before his acting career, Crews played as a linebacker in the NFL for teams like the Rams and Chargers. Known for his comedic talent and physical prowess, he’s now beloved for roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and various comedy films.
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Jason Statham
Sport: Diving
Details: Statham was a competitive diver, even participating in the Commonwealth Games for England. His athletic background is evident in his high-energy, stunt-filled roles in action films like The Transporter and Fast & Furious.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sport: Bodybuilding
Details: Schwarzenegger is one of bodybuilding’s most iconic figures, winning Mr. Olympia seven times. He leveraged his physique and fame to become an action movie legend and even served as Governor of California.
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Carl Weathers
Sport: Football
Details: Known for his role as Apollo Creed in Rocky, Weathers played professional football with the Oakland Raiders before shifting to acting. His athletic background brought authenticity to his famous boxing role.
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Chuck Norris
Sport: Martial Arts
Details: Norris was a six-time karate world champion before he transitioned to film and TV, where he starred in action classics like Walker, Texas Ranger and The Way of the Dragon.
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Burt Reynolds
Sport: Football
Details: Reynolds was a talented football player at Florida State University until an injury ended his athletic dreams. He went on to star in films like Smokey and the Bandit and Deliverance, often bringing a rugged athleticism to his roles.
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Vinnie Jones
Sport: Soccer (Football)
Details: Known for his “tough guy” persona, Jones was a professional soccer player in the UK before he became an actor. He’s since starred in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
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Esther Williams
Sport: Swimming
Details: A competitive swimmer in her youth, Williams used her aquatic skills to star in a series of “aquamusicals” in the 1940s and ’50s, where she performed synchronized swimming and diving.
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Jim Brown
Sport: Football
Details: A Hall of Fame running back, Brown became an action movie star in the ’60s and ’70s, with roles in films like The Dirty Dozen. His sports fame helped open doors in Hollywood.
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Mark Harmon
Sport: Football
Details: Harmon was a star quarterback at UCLA, which eventually led him to television. He’s best known for his role as Agent Gibbs in NCIS.
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Gina Carano
Sport: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)
Details: Carano was one of the first female stars of MMA. She later transitioned to acting and appeared in The Mandalorian and Deadpool, bringing her combat skills to her roles.
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Shaquille O’Neal
Sport: Basketball
Details: Shaq is one of the NBA’s most dominant players in history. After his sports career, he dabbled in acting, music, and even reality TV, and he continues to be a popular TV personality and commentator.
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Dave Bautista
Sport: Professional Wrestling (WWE)
Details: Known as “Batista” in WWE, he moved to Hollywood and became a well-known actor, particularly for his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy.
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O.J. Simpson
Sport: Football
Details: A Hall of Fame running back, Simpson found fame in acting and broadcasting post-football. Known for films like The Naked Gun, his legacy became complicated due to his infamous legal troubles.
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Ronda Rousey
Sport: MMA, Judo
Details: Rousey was an Olympic judo medalist and MMA champion before venturing into WWE and Hollywood. She’s appeared in films like Furious 7 and The Expendables 3.
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Michael Jordan
Sport: Basketball
Details: Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever, Jordan tried his hand at acting in Space Jam and has remained a cultural icon beyond his sports career.
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Derek Theler
Sport: Hockey
Details: Known for his role in Baby Daddy, Theler was a skilled hockey player before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
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Ed O’Neill
Sport: Football
Details: The Married… with Children and Modern Family star played football at Ohio University and Youngstown State before finding his niche in sitcoms.
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Caitlyn Jenner
Sport: Track and Field
Details: Known as Bruce Jenner, she won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. Jenner became a prominent figure on reality TV with Keeping Up with the Kardashians and later as an advocate for transgender rights.
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