Dwayne Johnson has had a hell of a ride. While he was immensely popular as The People's Champion in WWE, no one really expects professional wrestlers to make their way into the movie business with much success. For every Rock or Dave Bautista you've got Stone Cold Steve Austin's terrible direct-to-DVD action movies ('Maximum Conviction', anyone?).
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bds9FcpFUR7/?taken-by=therock]]
And, when his first movie appearance was in The Scorpion King, things weren't necessarily looking too great; but now, in 2018, he's the go-to Hollywood actor for comedies and action movies alike, with some people even encouraging him to run for president in 2020. He actually ranked as one of the highest-grossing actors of last year, which isn't much of a surprise when you see how many huge blockbusters he's been in lately.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BeJjsVXFSoo/?taken-by=therock]]
But things weren't always running so smoothly for the wrestler-turned-actor. He played football for four years at the University of Miami, but was passed over by the NFL. He ended up playing for the Canadian Football League for a short while, but was cut from his team, the Calgary Stampeders. At 23 he was living in a small apartment with his parents and lost for what to do, which is when depression set in.
Johnson has previously opened up in a way that men often don't do, speaking about how he has struggled with depression and other personal demons in his 20s. In a 2015 interview as part of the Master Class series on the Oprah Winfrey Network, he spoke about this process and how he got through it.
[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_T9Jg0U2DA]]
He has now posted a very personal story on Instagram to remind others to look out for each other during these tough moments, referring to the time his mother attempted suicide when he was a teenager.
In his HBO show Ballers, a character recently committed suicide, which got him thinking about "how many of us have been affected by suicide of our friends, family" and what we have to do to help people get through dark chapters such as these. The photo shows him filming in a graveyard, and the caption read:
"Not your typical scene on our comedy #ballers, as I cracked a beer open toasting my character’s brother, William who committed suicide. Got me thinkin’ though bout how many of us have been affected by suicide of our friends, family. Struggle and pain is real. We’ve all been there on some level or another.My mom tried to check out when I was 15. She got outta the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars swerving outta the way not to hit her. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road. What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t."
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bepdn7llGWc/]]
"S**ts of a scene to shoot - didn’t like it - but it did reminder that we always gotta do our best to really pay attention when people are in pain. Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone. We got lucky that day when I was 15 and that ain’t always the case."
While not all of us will have gone through the same things that Johnson did, we can all take his words to heart and spend a little more attention to those around us who might be in pain.
While we're used to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson making us chuckle in whatever blockbusting venture he's recently starred in, it's evident that the so-called "funny people" of the world also have their own set of struggles to contend with.
The 45-year-old actor, who has become known as one of the biggest action heroes in Hollywood, has recently opened up for the first time about his mental health, after admitting that he's struggled with depression for decades.
Speaking to the Express, the semi-retired professional wrestler revealed that he experienced bouts of low moods which began while he was living in poverty as a child. He also confessed that he witnessed his mother, Ata, attempt suicide when he was just 15 years old.
"She got out of the car on the Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic," the Scorpion King star said. "Big rigs and cars were swerving out the way. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road."
Dwayne then disclosed that his mother was in such a state during the incident that she doesn't even remember attempting to take her own life. "She has no recollection of it whatsoever," he stated. "Probably best she doesn’t."
Touching on his own struggles with mental health, the actor revealed that at his "worst point", he reached a level "where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly."
And while asserting that both he and his mother eventually "healed", he admitted that there's always further work to be done. "We’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain," he added. "We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone."
And Dwayne has certainly remained faithful to this latter point. Last year, he reached out to English television presenter, Davina McCall, following her marriage split. Speaking to a columnist from The Sun, he said, "Davina seems like she has a lot of positive energy herself, because saying nice things about others is a big sign that you are confident in yourself. She is going through a difficult time at the moment, so my advice to her is to just keep on going.”
"I’ve been there, I have been in a dark place, and if there’s one thing she needs it is to talk things out, because nobody should be suffering in silence," Dwayne continued. "Talking it through and not going through it alone is half the battle won."
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is now one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood —but before he became one of the highest-paid actors in the country, he was living on meager paychecks while trying to make it in the NFL.
Here we break down his success story...
Credit: Michael Melia / Alamy Stock Photo
Dreams of the NFL
Johnson's childhood dream was to play in the NFL. After being a football star in high school, he was enlisted into the Miami Hurricanes, and went on to become part of the 1991 national championship team.
However, a career in American football was not to be for the eventual Hollywood star. After suffering serious injuries to his shoulders and back, he failed to be signed into the NFL draft.
He went on to play in the Canadian Football league, where he was making just $250 per week, and he was ultimately cut from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
Speaking about this time in his life, he later recalled, per ABC News, "The dreams I had, they're dashed. There is no more football. My relationship was crushed. That was my absolute worst time."
Credit: Moviestore Collection LTD / Alamy
Wrestling
With his hopes of NFL glory dashed, The Rock turned to a family pursuit: wrestling.
Funnily enough, Johnson's father, Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, was a member of the first African-American tag-team champions, and his grandad, Peter Maivia, was a Samoan wrestler, so the sport was very much in his blood.
Unsurprisingly, he was a runaway success. Johnson, who went on to become the first third-generation wrestler in WWE history, made his television debut at the 1996 Survivor Series. Paying homage to his father and grandfather, his first wrestling name was "Rocky Maivia", which contained both of their names.
He became known for moves like The People's Elbow and The Rock Bottom — as well as winning the WWE heavyweight title six times.
But what really emerged from his time there was his natural showmanship.
Credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy
A career in acting
Following off the back of his wrestling success, Johnson used his fame to transition into Hollywood.
His first acting role came in a 1999 episode of That 70's Show, where he played his father, Rocky Johnson.
From there, he went from strength to strength. The Rock made his debut as a leading man in The Scorpion King — where he was given a whopping $5.5 for the role. In fact, he actually set a Guinness World Record after receiving the biggest paycheck for a first-time actor for his role in the 2002 feature.
Credit: AA Film Archive / Alamy
A Hollywood star
Over the course of a decade, The Rock went on to become one of the highest-paid actors in America, and starred in a slew of blockbusters.
He's now known for his roles in Jungle Cruise, Jumanji, Baywatch, and Moana. He’s a regular fixture on our screens — and he's also starred in Fast & Furious, which is one of the highest-grossing franchises in the world.
He first appeared in Fast Five as Luke Hobbs — and his participation is often credited for helping reinvigorate the franchise.
Next up, we can expect to see him in Black Adam, DC League of Super-Pets and Red Notice.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a bona fide Hollywood legend. After beginning his career as a college football player before injury forced him into the ring, and, by chance, onto the big screen, he is now the world's highest-paid actor. And to celebrate the 47-year-old's nuptials, we've compiled a list of what you need to know about Hollywood's top guy!
[post_page_title]The Early Years[/post_page_title]
Dwayne Johnson was born in May 1972 in Hayward, California. However, by the time he was old enough to attend elementary school, Johnson spent the majority of his formative years living in Honolulu, Hawaii. Where he would marry the love of his life years decades later...
[caption id="attachment_1837" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: YouTube[/caption]
[post_page_title]Dwayne's Father[/post_page_title]
Rock came from greatness. Dwayne's father is Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, who earned legendary status in the ring because he was one-half of the first African-American tag-team champions. His grandfather, Peter Maivia, also found success as a wrestler, and he was one of the first Samoan wrestlers. But contrary to what was in his blood, at first, Dwayne chose a different sporting path.
[caption id="attachment_1869" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]Before Wrestling There Was Football[/post_page_title]
By the time Dwayne had graduated from high school, he knew that he wanted to take sports more seriously and while at college, he played for the Miami Hurricanes. This eventually culminated in him becoming a part of the 1991 national championship team, giving him a collective 39 games and 77 tackles to his name.
[caption id="attachment_1838" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]His First Wife[/post_page_title]
But playing football wasn't the only significant life event to happen to Dwayne at college, it's also where he met his first wife and mother of his oldest child, Dany Garcia. They were together for a decade, and despite their split, remain on good terms. "Since our divorce, we've become pretty good at working together, and we are also raising our beautiful daughter, Simone," Johnson said.
[caption id="attachment_1839" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The End Of Dwayne's First Dream[/post_page_title]
Although Dwayne had a promising start as a footballer and could have very well gone on to become an NFL start, he was forced to quit the sport after a number of injuries. "The dreams I had, they're dashed," he recalled. "There is no more football. My relationship was crushed. That was my absolute worst time."
[caption id="attachment_1840" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]Rocky Maivia[/post_page_title]
Then, fate stepped in, and Dwayne's attention finally turned to the family sport - wrestling. He began his career, like many, in WWE's minor leagues. Once he'd honed his craft, he made his on-screen debut at the 1996 Survivor Series. He combined his father and grandfather's names to initially fight under the name "Rocky Miavia."
[caption id="attachment_1841" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Greatest Ever?[/post_page_title]
The Rock wasn't just an incredibly talented wrestler, he also made history just by entering the ring in the first place. Dwayne was the first third-generation wrestler in WWE's history, and even though he's now retired, many still consider him to be the greatest wrestler to ever enter the ring.
[caption id="attachment_1842" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]His Signature Moves[/post_page_title]
Dwayne made his mark on the ring in more ways than one and actually came up with moves of his own including the 'The People's Elbow' and 'The Rock Bottom.' All of which ultimately resulted in the Rock winning the WWE heavyweight title eight times and the tag team titles six times.
[caption id="attachment_1843" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]He Proved Himself On SNL[/post_page_title]
By this point, the Rock was a hit in the ring, and it wasn't just the sporting world who took notice, Hollywood did too and invited him for a stint on SNL. He smashed it too, and the ratings went through the roof. Dwayne had shown the world that he wasn't just a talented wrestler, he was a talented actor too.
[caption id="attachment_1844" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Mummy Returns[/post_page_title]
This resulted in Dwayne bagging his first professional acting gig in the 2001 movie The Mummy Returns, where he played the villainous ruler, the Scorpion King. Dwayne was paid $5.5 million for the role, which was the most any actor had ever been paid for a debut, and he went onto reprise his role as the Scorpion King in a sequel of the same name.
[caption id="attachment_1845" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Universal Pictures[/caption]
[post_page_title]His Big Break[/post_page_title]
However, even though Dwayne's role as the Scorpion King came with a big paycheque, it wasn't for another two years that people, generally speaking, accepted him as an actor. This happened with 2003's The Rundown. "The Rock has a flair for action and comedy," Rolling Stone wrote. "He's a real movie star."
[caption id="attachment_1846" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Universal Pictures[/caption]
[post_page_title]The New Schwarzenegger?![/post_page_title]
Prior to Dwayne's early foray into the world of acting, the world's best-known action hero was arguably Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even then, people thought he might just rival Arny."Whether The Rock will rival Schwarzenegger's long run as an action hero is hard to say," Ebert wrote. "But on the basis of 'The Rundown,' he has a good chance."
[caption id="attachment_1848" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Rock No More[/post_page_title]
When Dwayne's acting career took off, he realized that he was going to have to be known by his given name and not The Rock. "'The Rock' was a name, a character I created in TV," he said. "When I made the transition into film, I knew eventually I was going to be billed as my given name."
[caption id="attachment_1850" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]His Acting Range[/post_page_title]
As Dwayne appeared in more movies, he showed the world that he had real range as an actor, such as when he starred in comedies like The Other Guys. "I felt there were bigger and better opportunities," Johnson said. "I also felt there was franchise potential, hopefully multiple franchises in every genre - whether drama or comedy or action-comedy."
[caption id="attachment_1851" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Columbia Pictures[/caption]
[post_page_title]But It Wasn't All Sunshine And Roses[/post_page_title]
At the MTV Movie & TV Awards, the wrestler-turned-movie star was honored with the Generation Award. The 47-year-old stunned the crowd as he recounted his rather demoralizing experience during his early days in Hollywood. When Johnson started out, he says was repeatedly told he would have to change certain aspects about himself if he wanted to make it.
[caption id="attachment_1856" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]They Didn't Know What To Do With Him[/post_page_title]
"When I first got to Hollywood, Hollywood - they didn’t know what the hell to do with me," he told the audience. "I was this half-black, half-Samoan, 6 foot 4, 275-pound wrestler. I was told at that time, you’ve gotta be a certain way," he revealed. "You've gotta drop some weight, you've gotta be somebody different."
[caption id="attachment_1857" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]Hollywood's Terrible Suggestions[/post_page_title]
"You've gotta stop working out, stop doing the things that I love, you've gotta stop calling yourself 'The Rock'. For years, I actually bought into it because you think, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do.' And I was miserable doing that, so I made a choice. The choice was, I wasn't going to conform to Hollywood; Hollywood was going to conform to me."
[caption id="attachment_1858" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]He Is A First Class Dad Too[/post_page_title]
As we all know, this worked out and now Dwayne enjoys not only the spoils of being one of the world's most successful actors but fatherhood. After comfortably making the transition from greatest wrestler in the world (don't @ me) to the most bankable movie star in the world, it turns out that The Rock is a better dad than you too.
[caption id="attachment_1859" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Baby Rock[/post_page_title]
He already has a 17-year-old daughter with ex-wife Dany Garcia, but since shackin' up with Lauren Hashian, he's come up with two more Baby Rocks for us to coo over. Baby Tiana Gia was only born in 2018, but she's already getting on handsomely with her daddy, and this conversation they had is a pretty good example of that.
[caption id="attachment_1860" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]Morning Convos[/post_page_title]
"Morning convos!" Hashian captioned a post on social media, which shows The Rock and Tiana chitter-chattering away, with the tot getting to know her daddy in a deep, intellectual way.
[MediaContent]https://www.instagram.com/p/BlbB5ADnauh/[/MediaContent]
[post_page_title]The Highest-Paid Actor[/post_page_title]
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continues to come across as one of the nicest stars in Hollywood. After making the transition from WWE legend to a star of the silver screen, he's now the highest-paid actor in the world, according to Forbes.
[caption id="attachment_1862" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
But unlike many people who make it big, the 46-year-old has not forgotten his roots, and he has shared his many millions with his nearest and dearest. Dwayne then revealed that a few weeks ago, he'd offered to buy his dad a new home anywhere he wanted to live - an offer which he says left the 74-year-old "speechless".
[MediaContent]https://www.instagram.com/p/Bueo4U4hJVr/[/MediaContent]
[post_page_title]A Present For His Dad[/post_page_title]
And now that the WWE Hall of Famer is about to start looking at properties, he said to his son, "I'm so excited and I'm so nervous," Dwayne revealed. He explained that his father was "an old school tough guy" and that he'd never heard him talk in such an emotional way before.
[caption id="attachment_1863" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]Rocky Beat His A*s[/post_page_title]
He captioned the emotional clip with the following message: "He's a weathered soul and like all weathered souls, there's often a harsh storied path that got them there. Well for my pops that path started at 13yrs old when his mom kicked him out of his house on Christmas day and forced him to live on the streets (very true and f***ed up story) so his reality of compassion and love was forged thru pain and toughness."
[caption id="attachment_1864" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]How The Rock Was Raised[/post_page_title]
"He raised me with that tough physical love and used to beat my ass in the gyms and on wrestling mats. I hated it then as a little boy, but grateful for it today as a man. It's shaped my DNA and helped inform how I raise my own babies (minus the ass kickings;) but always instilling the value of hard work and discipline."
[caption id="attachment_1865" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Rock's Second Marriage[/post_page_title]
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson tied the knot with his longtime partner, Lauren Hashian, on August 18, 2019. The 47-year-old actor took to Instagram to share the news, and also posted several pictures from the special day. "We do. August 18th, 2019. Hawaii."
[MediaContent]
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1V5m7WFfUy/
[/MediaContent]
[post_page_title]The Well Wishes[/post_page_title]
The pair, who have been together since 2007, have two daughters together; three-year-old Jasmine, and 15-month-old Tiana. The comments section was inundated with well-wishes from The Rock's fans. "Congratulations, you two!!! ❤️ I’m so happy for you!" wrote one social media user, while another added, "The rock gave her a rock."
[caption id="attachment_1867" align="aligncenter" width="760"]
Credit: Getty[/caption]
[post_page_title]The Wedding Was Postponed[/post_page_title]
Johnson and Hashian were due to marry in the spring of 2018, but postponed the event when Hashian fell pregnant with their second child. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine at the time, the retired professional wrestler said that his partner didn't want to have a "big belly" in her wedding photographs.
[MediaContent]
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiFVYGIlJ-E/
[/MediaContent]
[post_page_title]Mama Wanna Look Good[/post_page_title]
"Then we got pregnant. And Mama don't wanna take wedding pictures with a big belly – Mama wanna look good," he joked to the publication. Johnson said that they weren't "exactly" trying to conceive again, but had been "talking about it" prior to the fact.
[MediaContent]
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcql9vMFB1D/
[/MediaContent]
[post_page_title]Another Strong Girl[/post_page_title]
Speaking about the birth of his youngest child, Tiana, (he also has an 18-year-old daughter from his previous marriage to Dany Garcia) The Rock said he was "blessed and proud to bring another strong girl into this world."
[MediaContent]
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRuOdFHIC0/
[/MediaContent]
"I was raised and surrounded by strong, loving women all my life, but after participating in baby Tia’s delivery, it’s hard to express the new level of love, respect and admiration I have for and all mamas and women out there," he continued.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continues to come across as one of the nicest stars in Hollywood. After making the transition from WWE legend to star of the silver screen, he's now the highest paid actor in the world, according to Forbes.
But unlike many people who make it big, the 46-year-old has not forgotten his roots, and he has shared his many millions with his nearest and dearest.
Now, the actor has recently taken to Instagram to share the special moment he told his dad he was going to buy him a new house:
A clearly emotional Dwayne said at the start of the video that he'd just finished "a great call" with his dad, Rocky Johnson - a legend in the professional wrestling world.
Dwayne then revealed that a few weeks ago, he'd offered to buy his dad a new home anywhere he wanted to live - an offer which he says left the 74-year-old "speechless".
And now that the WWE Hall of Famer is about to start looking at properties, he said to his son, "I'm so excited and I'm so nervous," Dwayne revealed. He explained that his father was "an old school tough guy" and that he'd never heard him talk in such an emotional way before.
The Jumanji star then thanked Rocky for "beating [his] ass", and even though he "hated it back then", he's "so grateful for it now".
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Imgur]]
He captioned the emotional clip with the following message:
"He's a weathered soul and like all weathered souls, there's often a harsh storied path that got them there.
"Well for my pops that path started at 13yrs old when his mom kicked him out of his house on Christmas day and forced him to live on the streets (very true and f***ed up story) so his reality of compassion and love was forged thru pain and toughness."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram / @therock]]
"He raised me with that tough physical love and used to beat my ass in the gyms and on wrestling mats. I hated it then as a little boy, but grateful for it today as a man.
"It's shaped my DNA and helped inform how I raise my own babies (minus the ass kickings;) but always instilling the value of hard work and discipline."
However, this is certainly isn't the first time that the actor has shared his kindness on social media. Another person who was instrumental in Rock's success was his stunt double and cousin, Tanoai Reed, who he surprised in October of last year with a brand new car.
This is the moment Reed was brought to tears by Dwayne's generosity:
There's no denying that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is one of the most successful men in existence.
Aside from being a ten-time world wrestling champion, he has also managed to forge an extremely successful career for himself in show business. Having starred in huge blockbusters such as Moana and The Fast and the Furious franchise, Johnson is one of the highest-paid actors on the planet.
In light of all this, there's absolutely no questioning that he merits yesterday's win at the MTV Movie & TV Awards:
During the ceremony, the wrestler-turned-movie star was honoured with the Generation Award.
And if there's one thing Johnson excels really excels at (well, aside from being the crème de la crème of the wrestling world), it's that he really knows how to captivate an audience. And that's exactly what he did in his acceptance speech.
The 47-year-old stunned the crowd as he recounted his rather demoralising experience during his early days in Hollywood.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]
When Johnson started out, he says was repeatedly told he would have to change certain aspects about himself if he wanted to make it.
"When I first got to Hollywood, Hollywood - they didn’t know what the hell to do with me," he told the audience. "I was this half-black, half-Samoan, 6 foot 4, 275-pound wrestler."
"I was told at that time, you’ve gotta be a certain way. You’ve gotta drop some weight, you’ve gotta be somebody different, you’ve gotta stop working out, stop doing the things that I love, you’ve gotta stop calling yourself ‘The Rock,'" he continued.
"For years, I actually bought into it because you think, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do.' And I was miserable doing that, so I made a choice. The choice was, I wasn't going to conform to Hollywood; Hollywood was going to conform to me."
.jpg_I4Ebof?tr=cr-0.338.2730.3068,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.jpg_I4Ebof?tr=cr-0.338.2730.3068,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
