16 Athletes Who Become Successful Actors

Considering 15 athletes who became successful actors makes it clear that the transition isn’t impossible. Of course, some did a little better than others.

Gina Carano

Many people will remember this former MMA star from The Mandalorian, where she played the appealing character Cara Dune. But she has also appeared in a few other movies, such as a cameo in Blood and Bone with Michael Jai White.

Shaquille O’Neal

It is possible to consider Shazam one of his biggest flops or attempts at acting. But Shaq also appeared in Blue Chips with Nick Nolte, where he was a solid presence.

Dwayne Johnson

Where hasn’t Dwayne Johnson showed up since his move to Hollywood? Either as a voice actor for Maui in Moana, The Scorpion King, or Walking Tall with Johnny Knoxville and Neal McDonough. This guy has taken Hollywood by storm.

John Cena

His initial foray into Hollywood was engaging with his role in The Marine, which The Miz took over at one point. But as he continued forward, he acted on television and became a brief part of the Fast and Furious crew.

Chuck Norris

It’s easier to say that he has been a solid actor over the years. But trying to pin down all of his exploits is tough. From his time on screen with Bruce Lee to Walker: Texas Ranger, he’s been a fan favorite.

Jason Statham

The Transporter helped to push his career into high gear, but Lock, Stock, Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and several other movies helped to keep him relevant early on.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

You could almost call him one of the most substantial reasons anyone has gone into action films these days. In his prime, Arnold was one of the godfathers of action movies.

Esther Williams

You do have to step back in history to appreciate her contributions to competitive swimming and acting entirely. But if you take a moment to watch her movies, you’ll see that Esther is undoubtedly on this list.

Ronda Rousey

While her hype grew too quickly and too high, Ronda is still an impressive individual. If she continues, she’ll still be building a resume as an actor, but she’s earned her accolades.

Jim Brown

This guy is one of those tough old veterans from the field who got better as he got older. His role in Any Given Sunday was significant since it hearkened back to his NFL days.

LeBron James

It’s not tough to say that this guy is great at what he does, but it’s fair to say that he still has a ways to go when it comes to acting. His accolades are earned, but putting him on this list is still sketchy.

Dave Bautista

Like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, Bautista has undergone a fun transition to watch. He wasn’t convincing in the Kickboxer remake as Tong Po but was golden as Drax in the MCU.

Sonja Henie

Sonja is another blast from the past that’s not meant to be ignored. The figure skater went on to star in several movies that people might not have watched, but her career was still noteworthy.

Ed O’Neill

Anyone who’s seen Married…With Children knows that Ed’s character, Al, always talks about his glory days playing football. The fun fact is that Ed was once an undrafted free agent for the Steelers, even if he got cut in training camp. But his years of acting have made him a legend since he’s created a few of the funniest characters imaginable.

Burt Reynolds

College football was Burt’s thing until an injury slowed him down and eventually led to his quitting. But if not for that, it’s fair to assume that fans might never have been able to see him as a top-tier actor of his time.

Terry Crews

After being drafted by the Rams, Crews was bounced around the NFL before retiring from football in 1997. After that, his acting career started taking off, and his physique and sense of humor fully blossomed into something that fans loved without reservation.