Dwayne Johnson parlays wrestling stardom to box-office success

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Dwayne Johnson has already achieved fame and fortune even before he tried his hands in acting. As The Rock, Johnson was an iconic wrestler, one of the best in the world. And as Dwayne Johnson, the actor, he is highly regarded as a potent box-office star, with hit after hit under his best.

Dwayne Douglas Johnson was born on born May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California, to a family of wrestlers and wrestling enthusiasts. His father, Rocky Johnson, was the professional wrestler Rocky Johnson. His maternal grandfather, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, was also a wrestler. His maternal grandmother, Lia Maivia, was a pioneer female professional promoter who eventually took over her husband’s Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling after the latter’s death in 1982, until 1988.

Johnson also excelled in football. In fact, he won a scholarship by joining the University of Miami's team. He later played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League, although he was cut two months into the 1995 season.

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