Top 10 Athletes Who Succeeded As Actors
Script written by Matthew Thomas
Top 10 Athletes Who Succeeded As Actors
These celebrities are big names in two very different and competitive industries. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Athletes Who Succeeded As Actors.
For this list, we’re looking at former athletes who competed either professionally or on an international stage, who’ve since gained fame as actors. We did not consider anyone who never progressed past the college level in their sport, so Burt Reynolds and Nick Nolte never had a chance. On top of that Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee were also not up for the running as they never competed in any international tournaments.
#10: Chuck Norris
Norris has arguably had one of the most impressive karate careers in history, having held the Professional Middleweight Karate Championship title for six years, so he could easily have rested on his laurels. Opting instead to make the jump to film, he appeared alongside martial arts legend Bruce Lee, and almost immediately began headlining action flicks. Although he’s stepped away from the spotlight, his impact on the industry has never been forgotten and even resulted in his inclusion in “The Expendables” series along several Hollywood heavyweights. Perhaps one of the biggest tributes to his star power is the fact that “Walker, Texas Ranger” once became the subject of a recurring bit on Conan O’Brien’s late night show.
#9: Terry Crews
How did such a massive man become such an accomplished comedic actor? After being drafted in 1991, Crews spent a few years as an NFL journeyman before retiring in ‘97 to become T-Money on an “American Gladiators” rip-off called “Battle Dome.” Finding the job he may have always been fated for, he began to take small, but memorable, roles, like President Camacho in “Idiocracy,” before landing more substantial ones. An actor blessed with natural charisma, perfect timing, and a more-than-impressive physique, the background could no longer contain him and he broke out in television and films.
#8: Jim Brown
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Jim Brown’s credentials in the sports world are beyond reproach. Transitioning from the gridiron to movie sets doesn’t seem like a simple move, but Brown managed to pull it off with style. He’s taken roles that play off his life experience, like “Any Given Sunday,” as well as those that fall outside our perception of what his comfort zone might be. For our money, though, his most entertaining role may just be as Fireball in “The Running Man,” as he manages to remain intimidating despite the ridiculous getup.
#7: Dave Bautista
Professional wrestlers may not be taken seriously in some circles, but we assure you they have to be fantastic athletes. A face of the WWE franchise for a number of years, Bautista decided to step away and after appearing in several small productions, he nailed the role that would alter his life forever. Tapped to play Drax in the surprise smash “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Bautista’s stellar personification of the character introduced the world to his acting potential and what makes Drax great. Less experienced than others on this list, the fame he seems poised to capture has more than earned his spot on our list.
#6: Jason Statham
A former member of the British National Diving Squad as well as a standout in martial arts, Statham came to the world’s attention after meeting a young, upstart director. Taking a major role in Guy Ritchie’s feature film debut, which against all odds made him recognizable, Statham worked with the director once more before the lure of Hollywood beckoned them both. Going on to star in several franchises like “The Transporter,” “The Expendables,” “Crank,” and the “Fast & Furious” movies, The Stath has since become one of his generation’s definitive action stars.
#5: Jean-Claude Van Damme
A competitive fighter since the age of 15, Van Damme once defeated twenty-five fighters in three days and in five years of competition was defeated just once. A résumé like that allows the typical filmgoer to buy into someone’s credibility, which played a huge part in JCVD’s ability to become a bankable movie star. Peppering his films with amazing splits and incredible roundhouses, he’s mostly been known for his fighting technique. When “JCVD” was released, however, his acting finally took center stage. A role that garnered Oscar buzz, the moment he addressed the camera directly set him apart from the persona he’d crafted for so long.
#4: Jason Lee
There are few people in film history that are as skilled at delivering monologues as this man. Technically part of a “Classics” team roster to this day, Lee is an accomplished professional skateboarder, but is best known to the masses for delivering scripted lines. An important cog in the careers of both Kevin Smith and Cameron Crowe, there is something about Jason Lee that reminds you of your smartass friend when he’s at the very top of his game. Altering his persona completely for his television role as Earl Hickey, Jason proved he could go from acerbic and whip-smart to sincere and uneducated overnight.
#3: Carl Weathers
A former linebacker in the NFL and CFL, Weathers’ professional football career didn’t turn many heads, but he’ll go down in the annals of pop culture history nonetheless, for his turn as Apollo Creed. His character was so beloved that nearly forty years later when the “Rocky” franchise was continued, it took on his character’s last name. Embracing his comedic in the later years of his career, alongside Adam Sandler and the “Arrested Development” crew, he is clearly multi-faceted performer and will likely never be forgotten.
#2: Dwayne Johnson
Another former Professional wrestler and a veteran of the Canadian Football League, The Rock has become one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Able to breathe new life into franchises like “G.I. Joe,” “The Mummy,” and the “Fast & Furious” films, he went so far as to lampoon his ability to act as franchise Viagra in an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Johnson came this close to grasping the top spot on our list, but nobody can quite top the impact of our ultimate athlete turned actor – not even The Rock.
Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
– Johnny Weissmuller
– Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
– O. J. Simpson
– Vinnie Jones
– Steve Austin
– Roddy Piper
#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Who didn’t see this one coming? If you remember Arnold’s time at the very, very top of the professional bodybuilding world, there’s virtually no way he wouldn’t top this list. His powerful build made him the perfect choice to play a certain unstoppable robot on a mission to terminate. Then in the opening moments of “Predator,” he showed off his massive muscles while greeting Carl Weathers’ Dillon. With the look, personality and talent to be an A-list star for over thirty years, and a filmography that’s pulled in money measured in billions, Arnold is simply THE MAN.
Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite athlete turned actor? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.