Some people just seem to have it all. Youth, a great body, and even a phenomenal career like those in the field of sports, which require a focused spirit, determination, and of course, charisma. But is that enough? What happens when youth vanishes and the need to do something memorable re-appears? Perhaps this is why a lot of athletes eventually become actors or actresses.
At this point, we can agree that a sports career isn’t that different from an acting one. Both of them require the best performances every single time. With that said, we shall now see how this crossover worked out for several of these on-field turned onset celebrities!
Howie Long, 59 - Football
Howie Long used to play in the National Football League (NFL) and won the Super Bowl XVII title as the left defensive end of Oklahoma Raiders back in 1983. Pretty thrilling stuff, but nothing lasts forever. After his retirement, the sports star set out to make it in the realm of action movies.
Long appeared in films like Broken Arrow and Firestorm, which hints at his love for experiences packed with an adrenaline rush. Looking at his resume in acting, the Boston-raised Howie has proven that transitioning from the field to the silver screen is entirely possible if you're determined enough.
Terry Bradshaw, 71 - Football
Terry Bradshaw played as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the ’70s and got inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He then decided that it was about time to start burning calories in a different field.
Bradshaw, after he retired from sports, has appeared in many famous TV shows such as Married…with Children, Modern Family, and The League. His most memorable appearance was in the 2006 motion picture Failure to Launch. It was a rom-com directed by Tom Dey, which also starred Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 47 - Wrestling
Dwayne Johnson was a professional wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation for eight years prior to his prominent acting career. The bar was already set high for Dwayne, but he managed to surpass it. It seems that Dwayne does not only have a diet plan but something far greater than that: A life plan!
Johnson appeared in numerous action films such as The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King. He also acted in several movies for children like Moana and Jumanji: Welcome to the jungle, making himself likable among different types of audiences.
Jim Brown, 83 - Football
In 2002, Sporting News named Jim Brown as the “greatest football player ever”. Moreover, Jim used to be a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 1957 through 1965. He also excelled in basketball, lacrosse, and track and field.
Jim was already an accomplished football player when he decided to leave the field and began pursuing an acting career. He graced action and film noir movies like The Dirty Dozen, Dark of the Sun, and Black Gunn. His last movie project to date was the 2014 sports drama Draft Day, wherein he appeared as himself.
Jason Lee, 49 - Skateboarding
Jason used to be a well-known skateboarder during the '80s and the late '90s. He co-founded Stereo Skateboards along with Chris Pastras back in 1992. What happens though, when an already recognized skateboarder shifts the course of his sports career to an acting one? The answer is pretty obvious.
Lee is currently serving as a recurring guest star on the NBC sitcom Up All Night. Also, we can never forget that he was in TV shows like Memphis Beat and My Name is Earl. Jason had roles in the big screen as well, and some of his projects were Dogma, Almost Famous, and Chasing Amy.
Gina Carano, 37 - Mixed Martial Arts
Muay Thai fighter Gina Carano is probably best known for her turn as Crush on American Gladiators. Her popularity actually led her to be called "the face of women's MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)". Gina's fighting spirit also made her recognizable in the movie industry.
The 37-year-old has appeared in movies like Deadpool and Haywire. She was also in the TV series Fight Girls. Carano won the Best Female Action Star Award, otherwise known as the Chuck Norris Award, during the 2012 ActionFest Film Festival. Undeniably, her role in Fast & Furious 6 made her a force to be reckoned with.
Ray Allen, 44 - Basketball
Ray Allen played as a guard for The Boston Celtics, and it's one of the reasons why he became a famous NBA player. After a successful basketball career, he decided to step up his game and turned to the movie industry. Ray appeared as Marcus Blake in the 2001 film Harvard Man and had numerous appearances on TV as well.
Still, Allen's most important acting achievement has got be co-starring opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's 1998 drama, He Got Game. Allen not only proved that he is a great athlete but a great actor as well!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 72 - Basketball
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, during his career (1969-1989), has been recognized as a basketball phenomenon. In 1996, he was even honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. It seems that for this 72-year-old New Yorker, the sky is the limit.
Kareem decided then to take his career a little bit higher by playing co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane!. He clearly enjoyed one of the film's more memorable scenes, wherein a young passenger acknowledged that he was, in fact, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 2016, Kareem was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-U.S. President Barack Obama.
Shaquille O'Neal, 47- Basketball
Shaquille O'Neil is a man of many talents. A basketball player, a musician, and an actor all rolled into one. He is considered one of the most celebrated players in the National Basketball Association. Plus, he was able to play for a bunch of famous teams like The Los Angeles Lakers and The Boston Celtics.
Even though O'Neil retired from his basketball career, he never stopped scoring. The 2.16 meter-tall celebrity started his acting career with Blue Chip and Kazaam. Later on, O'Neal appeared as Officer Fluzoo in the comedy sequel Grownups 2.
Caitlyn Jenner (Bruce Jenner), 69 - Track and Field
Caitlyn Jenner, who previously went by the name of Bruce, won the men's decathlon event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, setting a third successive world record. Because of that, this former Olympian gained fame as an all-American hero. Once dubbed as the world's greatest athlete, Jenner went on to establish a career in film, writing, and most notably, television.
Caitlyn is widely known for her appearance in the TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. In November 2015, Jenner was listed as one of Entertainment Weekly's 2015 Entertainers of the Year.
LeBron James, 34 - Basketball
LeBron James has three NBA championships, four Most Valuable Player Awards, and two Olympic gold medals accolades under his belt along with many others. On top of all these, he has also been ranked as one of America's most influential and popular athletes.
His popularity made his entrance to the entertainment industry quite easy. In 2007, he co-hosted the ESPYs with Jimmy Kimmel. He also presented the season 33 premiere of SNL. in 2009, Lebron started his own production company and made the documentary More Than a Game. He is set to star Space Jam 2 by 2021.
Michael Jordan, 56 - Basketball
Former basketball player Michael Jordan is basically a living legend by now. He played 15 seasons and won six championships with his team, the Chicago Bulls. The owner of the Charlotte Hornets is also credited for popularizing the world of NBA from the ‘80s through the '90s.
Michael found great success not only in sports but also as a public figure. He received multiple endorsements with popular brands, and even fast-food restaurants like McDonald's had him as their image! In 1996, Jordan starred as himself in the film Space Jam. Since his retirement, he has been dedicated to his business ventures.
Tony Danza, 68 - Boxing
Tony Danza started out as a professional boxer before making it big in television. He had a record of nine knockouts–of which seven were in the first round–and three loses by technical knockout. After graduating from college, Tony was discovered while training in a gym by a television producer.
He went on to star in the TV sitcom Taxi, which earned him wide recognition. After that, he also starred in Who’s The Boss. In 1988, Tony received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2018, he starred in the Netflix show The Good Cop, where he plays the role of Tony Carusso.
Bubba Smith, Died at 66 - Football
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American football player. For 9 years, he played in the NFL for multiple teams like the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders, and the Houston Oilers. However, he didn’t just shine in the sports industry. Bubba also made the jump and became a frequent figure on television.
During his acting career, Smith did many commercials as well as TV shows and films. His most notable role was in the comedy film series Police Academy as Moses Hightower. Unfortunately, he died in 2011 due to drug intoxication and a heart condition. He was at the age of 66 when he passed away.
Fred Dryer, 73 - Football
Former American football defensive player Fred Dryer had 13 NFL seasons under his belt with popular teams like the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams before he officially retired. He played in 176 games before he realized it was time to move and choose another interesting path.
Following his retirement, Fred started an acting career. His best-known role was in the ‘80s crime drama TV series Hunter. Besides that, he also went on to act in the film Death Before Dishonor. In 2018, Dryer played a Vietnam veteran in the series NCIS.
Ed Marinaro, 69 - Football
Ed Marinaro played in the NFL for teams like the New York, the Jets Minnesota Vikings, and the Seattle Seahawks. Thanks to his outstanding performance in the sport, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. But after leaving the sport, Marinaro decided to become an actor.
He was a cast member for many successful TV shows like Sisters, Laverne & Shirley, Hill Street Blues, and Blue Mountain State. In 2019, Ed Marinaro appeared as a guest star on Turner Classic Movies, introducing a series of films focused on college football together with Ben Mankiewicz.
Alex Karras, Died at 77 - Football
Alexander George Karras was an American footballer, who was also a professional wrestler, sportscaster, and actor. He played for the NFL's Detroit Lions as a defensive tackle for 12 years. During his 12 seasons, Karras was named a member of the '60s All-Decade team by the Hall of Fame.
After he retired from football, he decided to act and found success starring in films like Blazing Saddles and Victor/Victoria. Also, he landed a role on television when he was cast a George Papadapolis in the sitcom Webster. Sadly, he passed away in 2012 due to many health problems, including kidney failure.
Merlin Olsen, 69 - Football
Merlin Jay Olsen’s career in the NFL lasted 15 years. During that time he found great success by making six All-Pro First teams, 14 Pro Bowl selections, the 75th Anniversary team and the All-Decade teams. After leaving his chosen sport, Olsen became an actor, broadcaster, and businessman.
He started out in television as a color commentator. But eventually, he transitioned into working in front of the cameras, appearing in the film The Undefeated. He was also in the shows Petticoat Junction, and Carter Country and even starred in a Western drama titled Father Murphy. His last acting work was in the late ‘80s with a series called Aaron's Way.
Wyatt Russell, 33 - Ice Hockey
Wyatt Russell is the son of Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn and the younger brother of actress Kate Hudson. Initially, he had his heart set on ice hockey, and he played for multiple amateurs and professional teams, including the Chicago Steel, the Richmond Sockeyes, and the Langley Hornets. Unfortunately, injuries ended his career.
This kicked off the beginning of his on-screen adventure. As an actor, he has starred in films like Cowboys & Aliens, This Is 40, 22 Jump Street, Folk Hero & Funny Guy, and Overlord. In 2020, he will be starring in the upcoming mystery film The Woman in the Window, which is currently in post-production.
Dave Bautista, 50 - Wrestling
Dave Bautista is a retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as World Wrestling Entertainemt Inc. (WWE), in 2000. He went by the ring name Batista and won six world champion titles. He did it by winning the WWE Championship twice and the World Heavyweight Championship four times.
Dave starred acting in 2006, and he became famous for acting in pretty big films like Riddick, Spectre, Blade Runner 2049, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Avengers franchise. Bautista recently starred in the 2019 film Escape Plan: The Extractors.
John David Washington, 35 - Football
John David Washington started his football career playing for Morehouse College before signing with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent in 2006. More recently, John has shifted his focus to pursuing an acting career just like his famous father, Denzel Washington.
In 2015, John starred in the HBO drama series titled Ballers. Sometime later, he got chosen to play the lead in Spike Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman, which earned nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, he is set to star in the Christopher Nolan film Tenet.
Vinnie Jones, 54 - Soccer
Vincent Peter Jones, best known as Vinnie Jones, is a British former soccer player, who played for 15 years as a midfielder. Teams like Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Wales, Wimbledon, Leeds United, and Sheffield United were pretty lucky to have worked with him.
Soon enough, Vinnie turned to a career in show biz. He decided to use his tough-guy image and found success in films, being typecast into roles as a violent guy or criminal. As a result, he’s starred in a couple of Guy Ritchie films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as Snatch. In 2018, he starred in the film The Gandhi Murder.
Mark Harmon, 68 - Football
Mark Harmon’s college football career peaked after he transferred to the University of California in Los Angeles. There, he played as a starting quarterback for the Bruins on their 1972-1973 season. Thanks to his performance, he received the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence in his senior year.
After college, Mark decided to pursue an acting career. He started out with small guest roles in police procedural TV dramas in the mid-‘70s. He then landed a starring role in the medical drama St. Elsewhere. Currently, he plays the lead character in the TV series NCIS, which has brought him worldwide recognition.
John Matuszak, 38 - Football
Late actor John Daniel Matuszak was a famous NFL player before he started working in the acting world. He was the first overall pick in the 1973 Draft, and he played the majority of his career for the Oakland Raiders. John won two Super Bowls before retiring in 1981.
After he left the sport, he starred in multiple ‘80s movies like One Crazy Summer, Caveman, The Ice Pirates, and The Goonies. In addition to those, he also made appearances in many TV shows of that time like Hunter and Miami Vice. Matuszak passed away in 1989 at age 38 due to an accidental overdose.
Kyrie Irving, 27 - Basketball
Professional basketball player Kyrie Irving plays for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA. He was drafted in 2011 by the Cleveland Cavaliers and named Rookie of the Year for his outstanding performance on the basketball court. Irving even won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers back in 2016.
Kyrie started out his onscreen career by appearing in a series of advertising ads for Pepsi Max. This participation led him to reprise the role in a sports comedy film titled Uncle Drew, which features some NBA colleagues. In 2018, Kyrie guest starred for an episode of the animated comedy Family Guy.
Brett Favre, 49 - Football
Former American football quarterback Brett Favre spent most of his sports career playing for the NFL's Green Bay Packers. He holds many records within the league, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After quitting football, Favre joined the NFL Network to cover the Super Bowl XLVII as a career analyst.
Brett finally made it to Hollywood in 1998 after making a cameo in the rom-com There's Something About Mary, starring Cameron Diaz. Favre revealed in a 2013 interview that his years in the NFL have left him with memory loss due to the repeated concussions he sustained.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Died at 61 - Wrestling
Roderick George Toombs, otherwise known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler. During his 16-year run in wrestling, he played a Scottish character, an homage to his real-life Scottish heritage. Roddy was also nicknamed Hot Rod. In 2005, he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Outside of the ring, Piper has starred in many films and TV shows like the thriller film They Live and science-fiction action film Hell Comes to Frogtown. He also had a recurring role in the comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. At the age of 61, Piper passed away in his sleep back in 2013.
Ronda Rousey, 32 - Mixed Martial Arts
Ronda Rousey is a professional mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, judoka, author, and actress. She rose to fame in the sports world after becoming the first woman to bag an Olympic medal for Judo in 2008. After that, she started a very successful mixed martial arts career, which would later transition to wrestling.
However, Ronda didn't seem like she was satisfied with just her fighting portfolio. So, she took a shot at acting by making appearances in films like The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and most recently, Miles 22. Rousey recently appeared in the reality show titled Total Divas.
Carl Weathers, 71 - Football
Former football player Carl Weathers didn’t have such a prominent football career compared to his acting one. He played college football representing San Diego University for quite some time. This was before he signed up as a free agent for the Oakland Raiders after going undrafted.
But Carl wasn’t going to just wait around for an opportunity. He decided to actively seek for them by working an extra while still playing football. He is mostly remembered by playing Apollo Creed in Rocky, a role he would reprise in the next films of the series. In 2019, Carl starred in the Pixar film Toy Story 4.
Terry Crews, 51 - Football
Terry Crews started out playing college football at Western Michigan University. Eventually, his talent allowed him to be a linebacker and defensive end in the NFL. He played for teams like the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins. Eventually, he retired from the NFL in 1997.
Terry then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the acting business. He did commercials and minor appearances in films and music videos. Sometime after, he was cast in successful movies like White Chicks and The Longest Yard. In television, he landed a role in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. In 2018, Crews starred in Deadpool 2.