Famous actors who started out as athletes

NBA superstar LeBron James has taken on a few small acting roles over the years, but his starring role in the 2021 'Space Jam' reboot was a major score for the basketball player. 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' saw James take on a similar role to that of Michael Jordan in the original. He gets trapped in digital space and teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes to take on the villains in a high-stakes basketball game. James delivered a far better performance than his predecessor!

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Bruce Lee -

Lee Jun-fan, commonly known as Bruce Lee, started acting at a young age, though he became a martial artist before pursuing a career in Hollywood. Lee opened his own martial arts school and called it the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme - The "Muscles from Brussels" is a former karate champion. JCVD went on to become one of the biggest action stars of the '80s and '90s.

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Lou Ferrigno -

You can catch a glimpse of Ferrigno's bodybuilding career in the 1977 documentary 'Pumping Iron.' Shortly after, he became known for his role in 'The Incredible Hulk' (1977-1982).

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -

You probably remember the legendary NBA player in the comedy 'Airplane!' (1980).

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

This former bodybuilding champion needs no introduction. He won numerous titles in the sport and went on to become an accomplished actor (and later, a politician).

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Ronald Reagan -

Arnold is not the only athlete-turned-actor-turned-politician in this list. Former actor and US president Ronald Reagan did the same. He used to be a football player.

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Jason Segel -

You might think the 'How I Met Your Mother' star is tall enough to be a basketball player, and you're absolutely right. He was indeed one in high school.

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Ed O’Neill -

The 'Modern Family' actor used to be a football player. He managed to combine both passions in the 1994 movie 'Little Giants.'

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - "The Rock" first started as a football player and then found huge success as a professional wrestler. All this before becoming the famous Hollywood star he is today.

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Dave Bautista -

Before starring in the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise, among others, Bautista was a very successful wrestler.

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Bubba Smith -

Before becoming Hightower in the 'Police Academy' franchise, Bubba Smith played nine seasons in the NFL.

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André the Giant -

The Frenchman started his career as a professional wrestler and became famous as both an athlete and as an actor.

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Michael Jordan -

Who can forget the great Michael Jordan in 'Space Jam' (1996)?

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Dolph Lundgren -

The Swedish actor might have become famous for playing the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV' (1985), but he is a former Kyokushin karate European champion (1980–81).

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Carl Weathers -

Another 'Rocky' franchise alumnus, you probably remember him best as Apollo Creed, but his background is actually not in boxing. Carl Weathers was in fact a linebacker.

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Chuck Norris -

Before he became the action star we all came to know and love, Norris was a karate champion. He won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968 and held it for six years.

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Jason Lee -

Before becoming an actor, the 'My Name is Earl' star was a professional skateboarder.

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Shaquille O'Neal -

Not only is Shaq a former NBA star, but he's also a successful actor. He started his acting career in 1994 with 'Blue Chips' and hasn't stopped since then.

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Vinnie Jones -

Talking about British bad boys, before Jones became one on the big screen, he practiced it extensively on the pitch. No wonder he's so believable!

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Dean Cain -

You might remember him for playing 'Superman' on the TV show 'Lois & Clark,' but before he became an actor, Cain was a football player.

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Mark Harmon -

Not only is Mark Harmon a former football quarterback, his father was also a famous football player—Tom Harmon. Though you probably know Mark best from shows such as 'NCIS.'

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Joel McHale -

The actor started his career as a football player at University of Washington, though reportedly not a very good one. He probably made the right decision in becoming an actor instead.

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Burt Reynolds -

The former Florida State University football player went on to become a famous actor, starring in movies such as 'Smokey and the Bandit' (1977) and 'Boogie Nights' (1997).

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Lawrence “L.T.” Taylor -

The football player can be seen in movies such as 'Any Given Sunday' (1999), 'The Waterboy' (1998), and 'In Hell' (2003).

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John Matuszak -

The former NFL defensive lineman became known for his acting in movies such as 'The Goonies' (1985).

Sources: (The Hollywood Reporter) (Men's Journal)

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John Cena -

The famous wrestler has starred in numerous movies and TV shows over the years.

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Jason Statham -

The British tough guy and star of 'Transporter,' among other action movies, was actually a professional diver! He even competed for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

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Terry Crews -

You probably remember him from numerous movies and TV show such as 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' but Crews used to be a NFL player.

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LeBron James -

NL Beeld

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Bruce Lee -

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Jean-Claude Van Damme - The "Muscles from Brussels" is a former karate champion. JCVD went on to become one of the biggest action stars of the '80s and '90s.

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Lou Ferrigno -

You can catch a glimpse of Ferrigno's bodybuilding career in the 1977 documentary 'Pumping Iron.' Shortly after, he became known for his role in 'The Incredible Hulk' (1977-1982).

Getty Images

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -

You probably remember the legendary NBA player in the comedy 'Airplane!' (1980).

Getty Images

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

This former bodybuilding champion needs no introduction. He won numerous titles in the sport and went on to become an accomplished actor (and later, a politician).

Getty Images

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Ronald Reagan -

Arnold is not the only athlete-turned-actor-turned-politician in this list. Former actor and US president Ronald Reagan did the same. He used to be a football player.

Getty Images

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Jason Segel -

You might think the 'How I Met Your Mother' star is tall enough to be a basketball player, and you're absolutely right. He was indeed one in high school.

Getty Images

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Ed O’Neill -

The 'Modern Family' actor used to be a football player. He managed to combine both passions in the 1994 movie 'Little Giants.'

Getty Images

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - "The Rock" first started as a football player and then found huge success as a professional wrestler. All this before becoming the famous Hollywood star he is today.

13 / 30 Fotos

Dave Bautista -

Before starring in the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise, among others, Bautista was a very successful wrestler.

Getty Images

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Bubba Smith -

Before becoming Hightower in the 'Police Academy' franchise, Bubba Smith played nine seasons in the NFL.

Getty Images

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André the Giant -

The Frenchman started his career as a professional wrestler and became famous as both an athlete and as an actor.

Getty Images

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Michael Jordan -

Who can forget the great Michael Jordan in 'Space Jam' (1996)?

Getty Images

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Dolph Lundgren -

The Swedish actor might have become famous for playing the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV' (1985), but he is a former Kyokushin karate European champion (1980–81).

Getty Images

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Carl Weathers -

Another 'Rocky' franchise alumnus, you probably remember him best as Apollo Creed, but his background is actually not in boxing. Carl Weathers was in fact a linebacker.

Getty Images

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Chuck Norris -

Before he became the action star we all came to know and love, Norris was a karate champion. He won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968 and held it for six years.

Getty Images

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Jason Lee -

Before becoming an actor, the 'My Name is Earl' star was a professional skateboarder.

Getty Images

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Shaquille O'Neal -

Not only is Shaq a former NBA star, but he's also a successful actor. He started his acting career in 1994 with 'Blue Chips' and hasn't stopped since then.

Getty Images

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Vinnie Jones -

Talking about British bad boys, before Jones became one on the big screen, he practiced it extensively on the pitch. No wonder he's so believable!

Getty Images

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Dean Cain -

You might remember him for playing 'Superman' on the TV show 'Lois & Clark,' but before he became an actor, Cain was a football player.

Getty Images

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Mark Harmon -

Not only is Mark Harmon a former football quarterback, his father was also a famous football player—Tom Harmon. Though you probably know Mark best from shows such as 'NCIS.'

Getty Images

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Joel McHale -

The actor started his career as a football player at University of Washington, though reportedly not a very good one. He probably made the right decision in becoming an actor instead.

Getty Images

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Burt Reynolds -

The former Florida State University football player went on to become a famous actor, starring in movies such as 'Smokey and the Bandit' (1977) and 'Boogie Nights' (1997).

Getty Images

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Lawrence “L.T.” Taylor -

The football player can be seen in movies such as 'Any Given Sunday' (1999), 'The Waterboy' (1998), and 'In Hell' (2003).

Getty Images

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John Matuszak -

The former NFL defensive lineman became known for his acting in movies such as 'The Goonies' (1985).

Sources: (The Hollywood Reporter) (Men's Journal)

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Famous actors who started out as athletes

Stars who elevated their game

23/10/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Athletes-turned-actors

We've written before about the many celebrities who were student athletes before they became famous, but there are also many actors who started out in professional sports before venturing into Hollywood. Indeed, some of them actually made it big in both sports and acting.

From wrestlers to karate champions, and everything in between, in this gallery you'll get to know the famous actors who started out as athletes. Check it out.