Playing The Field: Athletes who tried their luck as actors

The history of cinema is littered with athletes who have, for better or worse, tried their hand at acting. Whether it's a once-off or a new career push at the back end of their competition days, it appears the appeal of the silver screen can be too much to resist for many sports stars.

Let's start with Michael Jordan, who participated in the failed 1996 blockbuster 'Space Jam' that brought together the NBA, Looney Tunes and Bill Murray. Less known is his cameo in 'He Got Game' by Spike Lee, released in 1998 and starring Denzel Washington.

That 1996 'Space Jam' also included cameos from other NBA stars such as Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues. In the second 2021 instalment, the protagonist from the world of basketball was LeBron James. Space Jam: A New Legacy was a flop and LeBron earned a Razzie nomination.

We cannot forget the eccentric Dennis Rodman, whom we have been able to see in some small roles, including several playing himself. Most notably he starred in 1997's ' Double Team' alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, remarkably while the Bulls were hot on their Jordan years.

Ronda Rousey is a successful fighter in WWE and in the UFC, but also a professional judoka who has participated in several Olympic Games (achieving a bronze in Beijing 2008). She is also a film and television star, with titles of some relief: 'The Expendables 3' (2014), 'Furious 7 (2015) and Blindspot' (2017).

A tough guy as a footballer and as an actor. He triumphed in Premier League teams such as Wimbledon, Leeds, Sheffield and Chelsea, and later dedicated himself to being an actor. With a filmography of almost 50 films such as 2000's 'Snatch', 1998's 'Lock and Stock, 2004's 'Eurotrip', 'X-Men: The Last Stand' in 2006, and 'Chuck' in 2010, among others.

Another footballer – arguably the best of all time – who tried his luck as an actor is none other than Pelé. It happened in 1981 in the film Escape to Victory and the cast mixed prestigious actors such as Sylvester Stallone and Michael Cane with soccer stars such as Osvaldo Ardiles and Bobby Moore.

Eric Cantona, the French striker who triumphed at Manchester United, made his acting debut in 1995 with Le Bonheur est Dans le Pré' (Joy Is On the Pitch) and, after that, other titles would come like 'L'Outremangeur ´ (2003) and 'Buscando a Eric' ('Looking for Eric') directed by Ken Loach. Whether he was on the field or on the set, his charisma shone through.

Not many know that Jason Statham, in his youth, was a cliff diver and was part of the British National Diving Team for 12 years. Little needs to be said about his acting career. Titles like 'Snatch', 'Transporter', 'The Expendables' and the 'Fast & Furious' franchise speak for themselves.

Esther William was a very important athlete in the speciality of artistic swimming but her Olympic dream was cut short by World War II. She did however manage to become a popular star for MGM films, especially in aquatic-themed titles such as 'Million Dollar Mermaid' (1952), 'Bathing Beauty' (1944) and 'Neptune's Daughter' (1949).

Professional fighter of the WWF and MMA (mixed martial arts), after his retirement he tried the honey of the interpretation and it did not go badly. He became known with 'The Scorpion King 3' ('The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption', 2011), 'Riddick' (2013) and, above all, with 'Guardians of the Galaxy' ('Guardians of the Galaxy ', 2014), where he played Drax the Destroyer. either…

Former Lakers player Pau Gasol appeared in several American television series. In 2009 he participated in 'Numb3rs' and 'CSI Miami'. In 2011 he collaborated with 'Cubed' and made a cameo in the telenovela 'Eva Luna'.

Perhaps one of the most obvious choices, ‘Arnie’ is almost certainly best known for his acting career. An icon of 90s action, his roles in 'Conan', 'Terminator', 'Junior', 'Eraser', 'True Lies' and 'Predator', to name just a few, are nothing short of iconic. But, before all that, he dedicated himself to bodybuilding professionally and achieved several international titles, including the ‘Mr Universe’ title.

Dwayne Johnson saw great success as ‘The Rock’ when he was a professional wrestler in the WWE, but those days seem like a distant memory for one of Hollywood’s now highest-paid athletes. Then the cinema would come: 'The Scorpion King' (2002), the 'Fast & Furious' franchise (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2023), 'Jumanji' (2017 and 2019) and Black Adam (2022 ).

The controversial tennis player who triumphed in the 80s has made several cameos. A few with Adam Sandler in 'Mr. Deeds' (2002), 'Anger Management' (2003) and 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008). But his CV actually includes 24 sporadic roles. In 2022, he released his documentary film: 'McEnroe'.

An American artistic gymnast, Mary Lou Retton won the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She appeared in series such as 'Baywatch’ and the movie 'The Ghosts Strike Back', (1988).

Another NBA star who tried to make it as a Hollywood star is Shaquille O'Neal. Cameos aside, he had starring roles in 'Kazaam' (1996), 'The Wash' (2001), 'Family Honeymoon' (2001) and 'Uncle Drew' (2018).

The famous Italian actor (real name Carlo Pedersoli) was a professional swimmer and participated in two Olympic Games (Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956) before he found a new life in comedies and 'spaghetti westerns' as Terence Hill.

Known for his role as Tarzan, a character he played in no less than 12 films between 1932 and 1948. Weissmüller’s filmography would go much further, with more than thirty titles until 1970. But before that he was one of the best swimmers in the world in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze.

Another former WWE wrestler and 16-time world champion also tried his luck in the acting game, and with great success. His first acting job was in 2006 with 'The Marine' and more than twenty titles followed. Perhaps chief among them is ‘Suicide Squad' in 2021.

Yes, he was Apollo Creed. But before that he had a career as an American football player, a sport he left in 1974 when he was a member of the Oakland Raiders. 'Rocky' is just one of the titles of his extensive filmography that extends to the iconic series 'The Mandalorian'.

He became known worldwide in the series 'My name is Earl', though made his name as was an accomplice of director Kevin Smith and a star in many of his films. 'Mallrats' (1995), 'Chasing Amy' (1997), 'Dogma' (1999) and 'Clerks (1994) were all cult classics. But, before all that, in the 80s and early 90s, he was a professional skateboarder.

Not quite a pro athlete but not far from it!The Pittsburgh Steelers signed O'Neill as an outside linebacker, but he left the team before the start of the regular season to focus on acting instead. His iconic roles in 'Married... with Children' and 'Modern Family' indicate he possibly made the right choice.

Sport and acting have always gone hand in hand for Chuck Norris. He fought in the movies and on TV with other actors and, at the same time, in his youth, he practiced different disciplines such as boxing, karate, judo, full contact or jiu-jitsu. He was a world champion of Karate Do and founded his own martial art.

A movie legend and also an absolute martial arts genius and was respected in both fields. Except by Quentin Tarantino, who ridiculed him in a hilarious scene from 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood'.

He was a truly exceptional football player and a passable actor (see, among his many titles, 'Carpicorn One' and 'The Naked Gun 2') and was starting to make a real name for himself in Hollywood when it all turned sour after he was charged with the murder of his wife Nicole Brown-Simpson in 1994. 

The Spanish power forward for Toronto Raptors showed his skills as an actor in the film 'Hustle', for his role as undiscovered Spanish baller Bo Cruz, whom Adam Sandler, recruited to the NBA.

His 101 years of life saw him win an Olympic medal (silver) in shot put at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, and a glorious acting career. Among his films are 'The New Adventures of Tarzan' (1935), ''Mildred Pierce' (1945) and 'The Treasure of Sierra Madre' (1948).

Crews played five seasons in the NFL passing through the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles, and the Rhein Fire in the European League of Football (ELF). NFL Europe. But he also tried his luck as an actor and has notched up more than 40 movies so far. Some of his best-known roles are in ‘Brooklyn 99’ ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ and ‘Deadpool 2’

The controversial American boxer, and two-time heavyweight champion, has worked as an actor in several films. Mostly a cameo star, but his roles in 'The Hangover' (2009), 'Hamlet Pheroun' (2019) and 'Vendetta' (2022) were great. He also has his own biographical documentary: 'Tyson' (2008).

Hillary Wolf's case is the opposite to that of the rest of the athlete-actors on this list. She started in the movies and then became a sports professional. She started out as Megan McCallister, Kevin's sister, in 'Home Alone' (1990) and Laura Chartoff in 'Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even', 1992 before changing tact. She triumphed as a judoka, winning four medals (one gold) at the Judo Pan American Games.

The former US professional cyclist, winner of seven Tours de France (later revoked for doping infringements) didn’t try the acting game too much but did have a notable cameo in a scene with Vince Vaughn in the movie 'Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story' (2004).

Tom Brady has done few cameos in his time but perhaps the best known is his role in 'Ted 2' (2015) alongside Mark Wahlberg.

One he best sports cameo in film history for sheer bizareness has to be that of NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in ‘Airplane’ (1980). Abdul-Jabbar appears acting as co-pilot on a long haul flight, before he is recognised and criticised by a boy who insists Abudul-Jabar doesn’t work hard enough on the basketball court, causing the co-pilot to loose his temper.