The Oscars are approaching and we couldn’t be more excited.
A lot of great movies were released the past year, including sports-related films I, Tonya and of course, Goon: Last of the Enforcers (a classic). In the spirit of this glorious time of year, here’s a look at seven athletes who went on to have successful acting careers after they stepped away from their respective sports.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
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a legend in his craft, Schwarzenegger was a beast of a body-builder. Not only would Arnold go on to star in classic films such as the Terminator and Predator, but he also went on to become the governor of California. What an interesting dude.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
(Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Of all the athletes on the list, Johnson is currently the most popular. The agent from HBO’s Ballers has starred in Fast & Furious: Supercharged and San Andreas, and was more recently featured in Jumanji. Before his acting career took off, Johnson rose to stardom during his time in the WWE. Prior to his wrestling career, he notoriously played football for the University of Miami with Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp. Johnson's football career may not have worked out, but there’s no denying things worked out for him in the end.
Jim Brown
(Robert Riger/Getty Images)
Legendary running back Jim Brown moved on from football early (age 29) to pursue a career in acting. He would go on to star in The Dirty Dozen, and even starred alongside Schwarzenegger in The Running Man. No athlete in history has been able to say they were the best player at their position and also managed to make it big in Hollywood. Could Rob Gronkowski be next?
Terry Crews
(Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Did anyone realize that the ultra-jacked Terry Crews was drafted into the NFL? From 1991-1995, Crews played in 32 NFL games, but only recorded 2.5 tackles. Luckily he was able to make it in Hollywood, and finally got a chance at playing highly competitive football in a prominent role in The Longest Yard.
Bruce Lee
Everyone knows Bruce Lee for his awesome action movies, but the only reason he was able to make it in Hollywood was because of his success in martial arts beforehand. Lee was quick and someone you didn't want to mess with.
Burt Reynolds
Reynolds has been nominated for an Oscar and is one of the biggest names on the list. He played running back for the Florida State Seminoles back in 1954, and similar to Crews, was given the opportunity to show off some of his skills on the big screen in The Longest Yard.
John Wayne
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John Wayne is the only player on the list with an Academy Award for his performance in ‘True Grit’. Before becoming an actor, Wayne played football for the USC Trojans, but a surfing injury cut his career short.
