15 Athletes Who Became Actors (We Had No Idea Jason Statham)

Not all actors we see on screen had acting as their first job. Many of them played and sometimes shone in other activities. This is the case for several athletes who decided to take it a step further and started their successful careers as actresses or actors.

Today the awesome.club brings details of athletes who went to the movies.

His original name is Vincent Peter Jones and, before he was a movie star, he spent time on English football fields. He wore the Wimbledon FC shirt and ended his career at Chelsea, in addition to being captain of the football team of Wales. But in the world of football he is remembered for being a violent midfielder, with a record of 12 expulsions. In 1998, shortly before his retirement, he tried his luck in film and made his debut in Games, Cheating and Two Smoking Barrels🇧🇷 Today, at age 53, away from the ball, Jones has participated in more than 25 films.

Born in 1921, Esther Jane William, her full name, made her film debut at age 21, but before that she was a successful swimmer🇧🇷 Esther was a national champion and holder of the American record and saw her participation in the 1940 Olympic Games frustrated, before the outbreak of World War II a year earlier. Williams was a star in Hollywood in the 1940s and 50s, shining in films such as mermaid school🇧🇷 She passed away in 2013. In the film industry
became known as “The Mermaid of Hollywood”. During her film career, she participated in more than thirty films.

This one argentinian boxer (1942-1995) was the middleweight world champion and successfully defended the title 14 times. In 1974, he made his film debut starring in the film La Mary (directed by Daniel Tinayre) with Susana Giménez, who, for a few years, was his wife. Monzón left boxing after his last fight against Rodrigo Valdez. His personal best was 87 wins and 3 losses. Filmmaker Leonardo Favio made him participate in the film dream, dream🇧🇷 Monzón acted in two other Italian productions. He died in a car accident on his way back to prison after being allowed out. The former boxer had been arrested for the murder of Alicia Muñiz, his last partner.

We all know Jason from his participation in different movies. What few know is that this actor born in 1967 in England was a member of the British National Diving Team🇧🇷 For twelve years he was present in national competitions, reaching an important place in the ranking of divers. In cinema he debuted in Games, Cheating and Two Smoking Barrels and, a few years later, starred Snatch: Pigs and Diamonds (directed by Guy Ritchie, Madonna’s ex-husband). On both, she worked with her friend Vinnie Jones. So far, Jason has starred in over 40 movies, all of which have done very well at the box office.

The man with a wide smile and a well-built body like few others was born in the United States in 1972. His goal was to be an NFL player (American football), but he ended up shining as a professional wrestler (a sport in which his grandfather and father excelled). With the pseudonym The Rock (A Rocha) was unbeatable in the ring and won the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice. Dwayne began his film career in Star Trek: Voyager (1999). Today, Johnson is one of the highest-paid actors in the industry and has made 42 films, some of which have yet to be released.

Ronda was born in 1987 in Riverside and was one of the most famous faces in female fight in the UFC octagon. She was also the first woman to win an Olympic judo medal (bronze) for the United States, at the 2008 Olympics. After some time starring in combat, Rousey tried her hand at film. She debuted in The Expendables 3 and, a year later, showed its ability to act in Fast and furious 7🇧🇷 So far, she has 5 movie appearances and it seems that in Hollywood she feels very good.

Football fans know that Cantona was one of the best players in the English league. your time in Manchester United took him to the top of the world. Born in France in 1966 and owner of an irascible personality, which made him the protagonist of more than one scandal in the fields, Eric Cantona has always been determined to be part of the world of cinema. While still active, he participated in the film to deceive is to live (where he acted with his brother Joel). In addition to being an actor, Eric has worked as a producer for films, one of them starring himself, Looking for Eric (2009).

Arnold gained fame as an action movie actor and few know that he was born in Austria, having become an American citizen (he was governor of California). His time in the sports world started early: he practiced football, boxing and athletics🇧🇷 But Schwarzenegger found fame in the bodybuilding, in which he won 13 competitions (single record) and in 1968 he was elected Mr. Universe. The cinema gave him his first role in 1969, in the film Hercules in New York. However, fame came with two 1984 films, Conan the Barbarian and Terminator🇧🇷

In fact, we all know him as Apollo Creed, the one from the Rocky Balboa fight, but his real name is Carl Weathers. His sporting career was linked to football, both in the United States and Canada. In 1974, he retired from the sport and, a few years later, his name began to appear in cinema with the films Kung Fu and Friday Foster🇧🇷 Fame would come in 1976 with his participation in Rocky Balboa (also acts in the saga of this film).

We all know him as OJ, but his original name is Orenthal James Simpson (1947). In addition to his legal problems, his sporting life had important achievements: he stood out as a footballhaving been inducted into the 1985 Hall of Fame. The performance led to him appearing in the television miniseries roots🇧🇷 Then added some appearances in dramatic films, but success came with comedy. Run the police are coming (starring Leslie Nielssen). In 1979, he founded his own film production company, Orenthal Productions.

Another of the actors whose beginnings were in football🇧🇷 He was born in 1968 in Michigan, played in the major leagues and played in 32 games in the mighty NFL. Crews is also a cartoonist and illustrator. He recently made the cover of Ad Age magazine. His passage to acting was not only in the cinema, but also on the small screen. On television, he was successful with the comedy Everybody hates Chris (2004/2009) and, in cinema, he appeared in almost one hundred films, one of his last performances being in deadpool 2🇧🇷

Another athlete with a rebellious personality. Supermac, as it was known at the time, was one of the great tennis players of the professional circuit. He was born in Germany (1959) but grew up in Queens, New York. In tennis, he managed to win seven Grand Slam tournaments and remained number one in the world between 1979/80 and 84. His duels with Sweden’s Björn Borg were memorable. Retired from the court, McEnroe turned to acting, having participated in the films Zohan: A Good Cutting Agent, The Inheritance of Mr. Deeds and Shock treatment (2003).

The great Shaq was one of the great stars in the NBA. Born in 1972, he shone as a center for the Orlando Magic (his starting team) and later played for other teams in the american basketball league🇧🇷 With the Lakers, he won the 2000/2001/2002 titles and received recognition as the best player (MVP) in each of them. In 1993, he entered the world of acting in the film CB4🇧🇷 Shaquille continued on the sets and participated in other films, such as in Kazaam and, a year later, starred Steel, the Man of Steel🇧🇷 Critics were far from generous with him and nominated him for the Razzie Awards, given to the worst performers.

Now we all know him from the series My name is Earl and a list of movies that includes vanilla sky🇧🇷 The monster house (voice actor) and almost famous🇧🇷 For the latter, he was nominated for best supporting actor by the actors’ union. But Jason’s life has another side unknown to many. He was a professional skateboarder, having achieved a relevant fame in the 80s, to the point of having his own brand of sportswear. According to experts, Lee possessed an ability rarely seen for skateboarding, showing tricks difficult to reproduce.

Known in the basketball world under the pseudonym of The Air, Jordan was a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, he also tried his luck in baseball and did not miss the movie sets. Along with other NBA stars, he filmed Space Jam: The Game of the Centurywhere it can be seen as a basketball player interacting with cartoons. The Warner film was a blockbuster, grossing $80 million in the United States alone. Currently, there are rumors about the realization of Space Jam 2. Let’s wait if Michael accepts the proposal.

Do you know any other athletes who have decided to be an actor? Share with us and other readers in the comments below.