The Most Athletic Actors: Hollywood Stars Who Have Impressive Sports Backgrounds
While many actors were seemingly born to perform — starting with childhood roles or formal theatre training — it's also true that there's more than one route to Hollywood success. Indeed, some actors excelled in other fields long before they ever thought about responding to a casting call.
These actors were all athletically accomplished before their careers in Hollywood. While in most cases, they're best known for their roles on screen, many of them competed at the highest levels of their respective sports.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Most people know that Dwayne Johnson, one of modern Hollywood's most bankable stars, was a successful pro wrestler known as The Rock just before he found success on the big screen. What's less known, however, is the fact that Johnson played defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes college football team in the early '90s.
While he had legitimate pro potential, injuries and setbacks stalled his pro career, and he never made it to the NFL. Despite this, his athleticism, impressive physique, and natural charisma made him a success as a performer — first as a wrestler, and then as an actor.
Jason Statham
Action star Jason Statham followed an unconventional path to Hollywood success, as he first made waves as a competitive diver in the early '90s. Statham represented England on the national diving team for over a decade, competing in events like the 1990 Commonwealth Games and World Diving Championships.
Later on, Statham transitioned into modeling and then acting, finding early Hollywood success in films like Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Later, roles in franchises like Transporter and Fast & Furious established Statham as an action star.
Terry Crews
Terry Crews was blessed with natural athleticism, a trait he put to good use with a football career. After earning a scholarship to play linebacker at Western Michigan University, Crews had a pro career in the NFL with three teams in the early '90s.
After his football career fizzled out, Crews sought work as an actor. He struggled to break through before his unexpected comedic talent in films like White Chicks made him a known quantity. Further roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Idiocracy, and Everybody Hates Chris helped to establish Crews as a physically imposing actor with fantastic comedic timing.
Gina Carano
Gina Carano began training in Muay Thai and MMA in her early twenties and quickly established herself as a pioneer in women's combat sports. Her professional MMA record still stands at an impressive seven wins and one loss.
Carano leveraged her popularity to cross over into acting, making her debut in the 2011 spy thriller Haywire. Later on, she became better known for starring in Fast & Furious 6 and The Mandalorian.
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers was a football star at San Diego State University before enjoying a short-lived pro career in the NFL and CFL. After his playing days, his presence and physique made him a natural fit for acting roles. His breakout role came as Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series.
Beyond Rocky, Crews carved out a niche as an action star in films like Predator and Action Jackson. While he was somewhat typecast, he managed to break out of this box with a comedic turn as a fictionalized version of himself in the TV series Arrested Development.
Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds first emerged as a football star and not an actor, earning a football scholarship to Florida State University in the 1950s. Unfortunately for Reynolds, his football career was derailed by injuries — but fortunately for moviegoers, he quickly transitioned to acting.
While he was originally cast largely for his good looks and athletic physique, Reynolds had a commanding screen presence and became one of the most popular actors of the 20th century.
Esther Williams
Old-school movie star Esther Williams helped to pioneer "aqua musicals" — a short-lived but popular genre of light-hearted, water-based musicals. This typecasting made sense, as Williams was a champion swimmer whose path to the Olympics was disrupted by World War II.
Thanks to her good looks and elite swimming ability, there was no one in Hollywood better suited to performing in aqua musicals than Esther Williams. She never abandoned swimming, as she promoted the sport throughout her life.
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Olympic legend long before he was a Hollywood star, as the swimmer won five gold medals and set numerous world records in the 1920s during his illustrious swimming career.
His swimmer's body got him cast in the role of Tarzan, a character he'd go on to play in several films throughout the 1930s and '40s. While he was somewhat limited as an actor, the popularity of Tarzan made him a consistently bankable star.
Chuck Norris
Depending on who you ask, Chuck Norris is best remembered as either the star of Walker, Texas Ranger, a meme of the early internet, or a martial arts legend — and indeed, he is notable for all three.
Before Norris was a martial arts-oriented action star, he was a legitimate martial arts competitor, training in numerous disciplines and earning black belts. Of course, Norris wouldn't have succeeded in Hollywood without acting chops, and his commanding screen presence placed him front and center in numerous movies and TV shows.
Jim Brown
Jim Brown is likely the only person on this list who's better remembered for their athletic career than for their acting, but that doesn't mean that Brown's acting career was a flash in the pan.
Indeed, after retiring from football at the peak of his career, Brown swiftly transitioned into acting. He starred in notable films like The Dirty Dozen, Ice Station Zebra, and 100 Rifles, mostly in roles that capitalized on his tough, no-nonsense image.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilder turned actor turned governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has worn many hats throughout his remarkable life. He became a bodybuilding icon in the 1970s, winning the Mr. Olympia title seven times during the decade.
After his breakout movie role in Conan the Barbarian, Schwarzenegger — complete with a distinctive accent — defied expectations by becoming one of the biggest action stars of all time. Later on, of course, he also served two terms as Governor of California.
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon became a household name in television thanks to his confident, composed demeanor in dramas like St. Elsewhere and NCIS.
Before his acting career, though, Harmon played quarterback at UCLA in the early 1970s and had a reputation for leadership, confidence, and a competitive spirit — all attributes that helped him in his acting career. He never pursued an NFL career, and given his Hollywood success, it seems like he made the right choice.
Ed O'Neill
While Ed O'Neill's most iconic role as Al Bundy frequently saw him lamenting and reliving his failed football career, the real-life O'Neill found considerably more success on the gridiron.
He played defensive line at Youngstown State's football team and was briefly signed to a pro contract by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 (though he didn't appear in any regular-season games).
Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck is often associated with baseball, thanks to his roles in various baseball-centric movies and his character in Magnum PI wearing a Detroit Tigers hat. While Selleck is indeed a baseball fan, he was actually more accomplished as a basketball player.
Selleck earned a basketball scholarship to play for the USC Trojans in the late '60s and early '70s. Instead of seeking a pro career, he sought work as a model and then as an actor.
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa grew up in Hawaii, which helps to explain his early athletic pursuits, which included surfing, rock climbing, and martial arts. While Momoa didn't compete professionally, he still lived a life than emphasized fitness, agility, and strength.
These qualities served him well in his breakout role as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones as well as the titular character in Aquaman. While Momoa is a strong actor, his physical stature is generally front and center in the roles that he plays.
