8 Famous Athletes Who Actually Became Action Movie Stars

For every athlete who becomes a movie star, many others only get one chance and end up making awkward cameos with cringe-worthy lines. But the good part of it is that we do get some gems now and then, like Dave Bautista, Terry Crews, and a few others.

Here are some famous athletes who became legit action movie stars.

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds was a football star before Hollywood came calling. He even went to FSU on a football scholarship, but due to injuries, he had to make a choice and pick a different path. After years of working on TV, Reynolds became one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. He had the confidence, charm, and a mustache that soon became iconic. Movies like White Lightning and Smokey and the Bandit made him into a true Hollywood legend.

John Cena

Cena used to be a college football player before becoming one of the biggest names in WWE. For years, he was basically the company’s mascot. He had his catchphrases, unlikely wins, and millions of fans around the world. Cena started with small roles in The Marine and 12 Rounds, then he started using his charm and sense of humor to get more and more gigs, and now he’s the star of DC’s Suicide Squad and its spinoff, Peacemaker. We see him now!

Jason Statham

Before becoming Hollywood’s favorite bald man with an English accent, Statham was a professional diver. His acting career kicked off thanks to Guy Ritchie, who cast him in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and then Snatch, arguably two of his best movies. After that, Statham was fully prepared to establish a successful career characterized by furrowing eyebrows, driving fast, and beating up people. The Transporter, Crank, The Italian Job, The Expendables, The Meg, and the Fast & Furious movies all helped turn him into one of the most reliable action stars of the 2000s.

Dolph Lundgren

This Swedish tank looks as if someone had created him in a lab to be a perfect Hollywood action movie star. Lundgren is a legit martial artist with a black belt in Kyokushin karate. But don’t let those muscles fool you, because he’s also studied chemical engineering. His big role was, of course, in Rocky IV, where he became instantly iconic with very few words and a terrifying stare. Thereafter, Lundgren was cast in Masters of the Universe, The Punisher, Universal Soldier, The Expendables, and Aquaman.