Born on May 2nd, 1972 in Hayward, California and hailing from Miami, Florida, Johnson became a third-generation wrestler after shifting from a career in professional football to professional wrestling when an injury sidelined his gridiron aspirations. After flexing his acting muscles on television in Saturday Night Live and That 70's Show (in which he played his own father), The Rock made his feature debut with his role as the dreaded Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns (2001). Returning as the same character the following year in the appropriately titled, The Scorpion King, Johnson did little to enhance his reputation of a trained thespian, though he did get the summer film season off to a rousing start for audiences hungering for some energetic escapist fun. Recalling John Milius' 1982 hit Conan the Barbarian (another film that launched the cinematic action career of a little know athlete named Arnold Schwarzenegger), the sword and sand adventure raked in $36 million in its opening weekend and stuck at the top of the box office in the weeks following its impressive debut. Upon the film's release, audiences and action movie fans welcomed Johnson as the newest action hero in Hollywood and compared his presence on screen and physical appearance to the likes of Schwarzenegger
HEIGHT: 6'5"
SPOUSE: Dany Garcia (May 1997 -- Present); 1 child (Simone Alexandra, born August 14th, 2001).
- Played his own father, 'Rocky Johnson', in episode 1.14 of That 70s Show. His father (Rocky Johnson) and maternal grandfather (Chief Peter Maivia) were both professional wrestlers in the WWF.
- World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champion (with Mankind).
- Joined World Wrestling Federation in 1996 2-time WWF Intercontinental Champion 3-time World Wrestling Federation Champion.
- Played college and professional football until an injury ended that career. His shift to the WWF made him a third generation professional wrestler.
- In real life, is good friends with the Dudley Boyz and his on-screen enemy Shane McMahon.
- Was the first person to ever kick out the "Stone Cold Stunner" while fighting Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XV.
- At age 24, became the youngest Intercontinental Champion in WWF history.
- The Rock has said that his favorite eyebrow trademark (not including his own) is Groucho Marx's.
- Was a member of Miami's NCAA National Championship team in 1990.
- Received guidance and training from Bret "The Hutman" Hart when he first came to the WWF.
- First man to ever win the WWF title a record six times.
- In a 2000 episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live, Johnson proved his acting and singing abilities by performing in various skits throughout the show, including playing opposite Chris Kattan as the long-lost father of Mr. Peepers, and wearing a dress, lipstick and a wig playing opposite The Ladies Man. He also performed an a capella version of Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" with background vocals provided by Paul "Big Show" Wight and Mick "Mankind" Foley.
SPY-HUNTER (2005)
BE COOL (2005)
WALKING TALL (2004)
THE RUNDOWN (2003)
THE SCORPION KING (2002)
THE MUMMY RETURNS (2001)
- $5.5 million Scorpion King salary made Johnson one of the highest-paid first-time starring actors in history. Also, he was signed to the project on-the-spot based on his The Mummy Returns rehearsals.
- Attended Freedom High School, Bethlehem, PA.
- Has a wax figure likeness of himself at Madame Tussaud'smuseum.
- Was a teammate of Doug Flutie with the Calgary Stampede of the Canadian Football League (CFL).