Full Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson
Nickname: The Rock
Birthday: May 2, 1972
Birthplace: Hayward, California (US)
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Dwayne Johnson (otherwise known as “The Rock”) made the transition from being one of the biggest names in professional wrestling to stunning audiences with his natural charisma on the silver screen. Find out more about him in his Kidzworld Bio!
Dwayne Johnson comes from a long line of wrestlers
Football to the Family Biz
As a kid Dwayne Johnson moved around a lot, from the U.S. to Hawaii to New Zealand, and back! A truly multicultural family, his father is of African American descent but hails from Nova Scotia, Canada and his mother is Samoan. Despite moving around a lot, there was always a constant in his life – wrestling! His father (Rocky Johnson) and grandfather (“High Chief” Peter Maivia) and uncles (The Wild Samoans) were all professional wrestlers and his grandmother was a professional Pro-Polynesian wrestling promoter! Even though he came from a long line of wrestlers Dwayne followed his dream of playing football at university and even played on the Miami Hurricanes National Championship Team, but an injury took him off the field for good and that’s when he turned to the family business.
Dwayne Johnson kicked off his acting career by hosting SNL!
The Rock Takes Off!
At first his father didn’t want Dwayne to become a pro-wrestler, but eventually agreed to train him himself, warning his son that he wouldn’t go easy on him! He decided to use a combination of hisfather and grandfather’s ring names – Rocky Maivia, which eventually turned into the name we all know today, “The Rock.”Over the next few years he quickly became one of the most respected and most recognizable names in wrestling. It was his undeniable success in wrestling that allowed him to make his next move into film. People loved to watch The Rock in the ring, and were ready to see him on the big screen.
Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson in G.I. Joe RetaliationCourtesy of Paramount Pictures
Dwayne Again
The Rock realized he might have a future in film when he hosted Saturday Night Live and afterwards got a host of offers for other projects, starting with guest roles on TV shows like That 70’s Show and Star Trek: Voyager. His big screen debut was as The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns leading to its own film,The Scorpion King. He went on to star in Tooth Fairy, Faster, Fast Five, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, and most recently as Roadblock in G.I. Joe: Retaliation. He is slated to star in Hercules: The Thracian Wars in 2014.
Did You Know...
- Dwayne Johnson won the 2013 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Favorite Male Buttkicker!
Have Your Say
Do you prefer Dwayne Johnson as a wrestler or an actor? Let us know in the comments section below!
